The lively banter and bustle on busy streets, teeming with young scholars and seasoned industrial employees is the first thing you notice about Kharagpur. That is in fact, the very essence of this populous Bengali city. But as you move along, the faint traces of an old temple town, accompanied by the customary mythological tales, greet you. This somewhat dusty, yet scenic town is where the story of India’s foremost educational institution, IIT began in 1951. The scenic location of Kharagpur, along with its rich blend of different cultures from across the city, makes it all the more charming.
Though it may not be among the most popular tourist destinations in India, there is much to explore in Kharagpur. The esteemed institute IIT Kharagpur is one of the major attractions of the city. The institute’s annual book fair held in the month of January is worth a visit, especially for book lovers, but Kharagpur is also known for its railway station, which has one of the longest platforms in the world. Bustling with activity at all times, the station is worth visiting, even if you are not traveling here by train.
Like most Indian cities, Kharagpur is also connected with mythological legends that mark it as an important religious site. The Khargeshwar Temple, an old shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva is the most popular place of worship in the city. Kharagpur is also popular as a major industrial hub and can be visited for industrial tours. Despite its commercial development, the city continues to boast of scenic environs and beautiful views.
Kharagpur has a number of convenient options for travel within the city. The city buses ply on all major routes and are an economical way of getting around the city. Auto-rickshaws are easily available on the streets and are quite affordable, while offering some degree of comfort. For getting to places at shorter distances, you can also hail a cycle-rickshaw, as the fares are relatively low. Private taxi rentals are also available within the city, and though they may work out to be quite expensive, they offer the most comfort.
On a daily basis there are approximately 327 flights that operate at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India are the most popular airline brands that fly frequently to this airport.
Besides flying you can also reach Kharagpur through train.Kharagpur Jnis one of the most popular train stations in Kharagpur.On an average about 200+ trains pass through Kharagpur on a daily basis.Kolkata to Kharagpur, Baleshwar to Kharagpur, Bhubaneswar to Kharagpurare some of the most popular routes to Kharagpur with 175, 157, 153 trains weekly respectively.
By road Kharagpur is surrounded by Medinipur, Ghatal, Baripada which are 4.82 km, 34.19 km, 48.07 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.
Kharagpur has a total of 3 hotels.There are 3 hotels in Kharagpur with the popular ones being Hotel Park, Guin Bros Lodge etc.