Susunia Pahar

Rural Bengal has several colours that is often hard to document. In the summers when the heat waves blow over - nothing survives; in the rainy season everything turns pristine green and kash flowers appear in autumn, palash in the spring and mustard blooms from mid-winter. Winter also heralds the arrival of "khejur er rosh".

Typical Countryside.

We had made reservation to stay at the Murut Baha Eco Park - which was the best accommodation lying at the foothills of the Susunia Hill. The rooms are organized as cottages. An in-house restaurant prepares the food. Try to stick to typical Bengali dishes like dal, alu bhaja, chicken curry for discerning taste.

Mustard fields in early morning

In the evening, I sat in the verandah and watched the Susunia Hill then dark and invisible, and sipped onto some whisky. Since alcohol is not available in Susunia, it is best recommended to carry the same or you may opt to buy it from Chatna which is around 9 kms away. 

In the evening we had some veg pakodas and chicken pakodas. Dinner was a simple and straight forward. Rice, dal, alu bhaja, chicken  kosha and sweet.  

A late start from Kolkata meant that we reached Susunia very late in the day. Took a bath of hot water and rested with a cup of tea and some pakodas, enjoying the complete serenity.

Bullock Cart

Next morning, we took an early morning walk and the smoky smell of fog, village tracks weaving around mustard fields that have just started to bloom..fields have dried and are burnt yellow now, but that film of dew over haystacks..good things in life!

Route:  Kolkata - NH2/Durgapur Expressway (Burdwan - Durgapur) - Mejia Crossing - Deul More - Susunia.

Note: Both Susunia and Biharinath follow the same highway. For Susunia take a left turn from Kushtholia More

Distance from Kolkata: 215kms

Time Required: 5 hrs(depending on driving style)

Things to See:The Susunia Hill, Village landscapes

Accommodation: Murut Baha Eco Park (www.rupasibangla.in), Susunia Eco-Tourism Centre, WBSFDA