Eco Urban Village — Attraction in West Bengal

A village within an urban setting, offering a taste of rustic delights to the visitors, New Town Kolkata’s Eco Urban Village is a gust of fresh air amidst the humdrum of city life.

Developed on a 3-acre plot with natural vegetation adjoining a 23-acre water body, the Eco Urban Village is a perfect picnic spot close to New Town’s Eco Park. However, the picnic experience offered by Eco Urban Village has been deliberately planned to be quite different from that of Eco Park. Opened on 24th December 2014, New Town’s Eco Urban Village has remained a picnickers’ paradise.

Concrete is very pleasantly absent at the Eco Urban Village, except for the two rest rooms attached to the picnic areas, reflecting the careful planning that went into its development.

The place has been strictly made plastic free and noise free, ensuring that the environment is not jeopardized.Visitors can even get their bicycles to ride around the property.

There are two areas reserved for picnics, with separate cooking and eating zones. Besides, to keep the children engaged and entertained, the playground has swings and seesaws.The winding trail cutting through the greenery by the lake has become a walkers’ and joggers’ favourite. Also, there are colourful paddle boats available for those who wish to take a ride on the lake.

The centre of the park has a beautiful “Akhra” or circular meeting place with its sloping thatched roof made of rice straw and its open sides. The decorative woodwork that embellishes it has been painstakingly hand-carved by Bengal’s skilled artisans. This is a typical rural structure, which is found in the Purulia and Bankura districts of West Bengal. Over time, this space has become a venue for “adda” and interactive conversations.

Additionally, there are two add zones, modelled on the “Kalo Bari” of Shantiniketan, at the picnic spots to the east and west of Eco Urban Village. The facades of these areas are decorated with sculpted art in black.

Bird Watchers’ Heaven The water body near the boundary of Eco Urban Village attracts at least 17 types of migratory birds from countries in South East Asia. This makes the place a much loved one for bird watchers. Binoculars are also available on rent to encourage visitors for bird watching.

Open-Air Gym Eco Urban Village has a special attraction for fitness enthusiasts, a colourful open-air gym facility has been introduced here recently. The gym features different kinds of exercise equipment, which can be accessed by all free of cost.

How to reach Eco Urban Village is situated a couple of kilometres inside the lane facing Eco Park’s Gate 3 and Mishti Hub. The crossing is as known as Owl Junction, or locally Pecha Morh, owing to the placement of two wise owls at the crossing, which makes the spot quite easy to locate.

Timing Open from Tuesday to Sunday (9:00 AM to 6 PM) Closed on Monday Entry Fee Rs 10 per head (3...

Eco Urban Village

The spot has been developed by HIDCO (Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation), West Bengal. India. Few Day-cottages (up to 7 PM) are there in the spot and the rate is Rs 750. This spot was chosen for the annual picnic of Retired IOFS (Indian Ordnance Factory Services). The picnic venue attracted many officers in this year. Total 106 retired officers were present and all praised the village within city. About catering: While booking, Eco Urban Village just said about enlisted caterer and we opted to engage one of them. But it is not a compulsion and we could have taken any caterer. However, the quality, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, items were good enough. Behaviours of the catering crew was liked by most of us. Parking: There is parking area where many cars can be accommodated.

About the spot - Eco Urban Village: The area is huge (stated that it is over 15 acres). This plot has natural lake. There is boating (paddle boat) which visitors can use. Ornithologists, that is, Birdwatchers say that 17 types of birds from lands as far away as Indonesia and Philippines are coming in seasons. The chairman cum managing director of HIDCO was keen to develop this spot for bird-watchers, picnic-goers and other visitors. Eco Urban Village has a rural ambience with straw sheds for visitors and not of concrete. I could see man-made resources like concrete, tiles and other masonry items only in the toilets. The toilets were neat and clean without any smell, must be due monitored maintenance. Swans were swimming peacefully in the lake. In my opinion, ‘Eco Urban Village’ is a gift of HIDCO to those who prefer to spend weekends in an environment remaining away from Urban/City hassles in a pollution-free place with serene and tranquil environment. I am sure any visitor will get peace and be able to get some innovative ideas. I went to attend the picnic with my wife. But I forgot her presence when I was roaming around in solitary mood. I remembered many anecdotes of my past life. I just recall William Wordsworth’s, “They flash in the inward eye which is the bliss of solitude.” Hats off to HIDCO CMD and his able team. It is needless to say that I took many photos to encourage...

A village within an urban setting, offering a taste of rustic delights to the visitors, New Town Kolkata’s Eco Urban Village is a gust of fresh air amidst the humdrum of city life. Developed on a 3-acre plot with natural vegetation adjoining a 23-acre water body, the Eco Urban Village is a perfect picnic spot close to New Town’s Eco Park. However, the picnic experience offered by Eco Urban Village has been deliberately planned to be quite different from that of Eco Park. Opened on 24th December 2014, New Town’s Eco Urban Village has remained a picnickers’ paradise. Concrete is very pleasantly absent at the Eco Urban Village, except for the two rest rooms attached to the picnic areas, reflecting the careful planning that went into its development. The place has been strictly made plastic free and noise free, ensuring that the environment is not jeopardized.Visitors can even get their bicycles to ride around the property. There are two areas reserved for picnics, with separate cooking and eating zones. Besides, to the keep the children engaged and entertained, the playground has swings and seesaws.The winding trail cutting through the greenery by the lake has become a walkers’ and joggers’ favourite.Also, there are colourful paddle boats available for those who wish to take a ride on the lake. The centre of the park has a beautiful “Akhra” or circular meeting place with its sloping thatched roof made of rice straw and its open sides. The decorative wood work that embellishes it has been painstakingly hand carved by Bengal’s skilled artisans. This is a typical rural structure, which is found in the Purulia and Bankura districts of West Bengal. Over time, this space has become a venue for “adda” and interactive...