By Saheli Pal on July 18, 2018
The Ichamati River is a transboundary river that divides Bangladesh and India as it flows through both nations. Due to siltation, the river has a thin flow of water during the dry season and floods during the rainy season. Experts are in charge of the situation, and the governments of Bangladesh and India are negotiating possible solutions. Just ten minutes by boat will take you to Taki, where the two countries' political boundary is located.
Taki is a stunning refuge on the banks of the Ichamati river, about a two-hour scenic drive from Kolkata. Surprisingly, Bangladesh is located on the opposite side of the river and it serves as a gateway to the Sundarbans. Taki, which is famous for the opulent homes of the former zamindars of the state, emits an earthy appeal that will linger in your memory long after you have departed.
Even if most of the buildings are in disrepair, Taki's simplicity is enough to draw a nature enthusiast. Among the many activities available here, visiting Machranga Island by ferry from the ghat is a must-do. The river surrounds the island on all sides, making for quite the visual feast. On your walk to the island, keep an eye out for the remnants of Zamindar Roychoudhury's opulent home that are being absorbed by the river. Machranga is the ideal location for a peaceful picnic surrounded by nature.
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Idol of Ma Durga during immersion on Ichamati River, Taki.
Taki, situated on the bank of the river Ichamati is in the North 24 Paraganas district of West Bengal. It is about 67 KM from Kolkata and can be reached by train and road. One can reach Taki in 2 hours. It is a gateway to Suburban. Taki came up as a settlement about 400 years back even before Calcutta ( now Kolkata). Man Singh the Moghul General camped near Taki to fight the local Zamindars. Ichamati river has many a tale to tell the tourist.
Dussehra Celebration
Taki is most visited on Dusseraha Day. Tourists flock to the riverside to watch the immersion of the idol of Ma Durga. Ichamati river is divided by a rope. One side is India and the other side is Bangladesh. On Dussera Day boats full of people come up to the rope from Bangladesh to watch the immersion ceremony. If you are lucky you can receive the sweets thrown to the people in boats on the Indian side. Idols numbering nearly 100 are immersed in the Indian side.
The immersion which starts in the afternoon continues till sunset. I along with my family members sat in one of the boats with experiencing the immersion ceremony. After the immersion, married women participate in, `Sindoor Khela’ a popular ritual. My visit on that day lingers in my memory.
Nearby Attractions
The following day I took a morning walk on the bank of Ichamati. The morning breeze was simply invigorating. Later in the day, I visited the area called `Mini Suderban’. The trees and the wet mud give a vision of the Suburban Delta. There is a famous Kali Temple built over 200 years ago known as `Taki Kalibari’. Ramkrishna Mission has a centre and runs a school.
The people of Taki are courteous and my visit to the place did not ever remind me of being away from my home. Hilsa Fish from the Ichamati river is an added attraction of the destination. The curry served at lunch was mouth-watering. I put up `Bishram Baganbari’ beside the Ichamati river and enjoyed the stay in the widely spread heritage guest house having a big pond with various types of trees. Watching ducks in the pond was enjoyable. My two-night trip to the place continues to give me pleasure.
Below is the ancestral house of Retd. General Shankar Roy Chowdhury belongs to the Zamindar family. General Roy Chowdhury took part in the War against Pakistan in 1971 when Bangladesh was formed separating from Pakistan. The place has a battalion of BSF who guard the river bank. In the house of the General, Durga Puja is held each year where tradition is brought to the fore.
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House of famous Zamindar Retd. General Shankar Roy Chowdhury Photo: Saheli Pal
Written by Saheli Pal
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