Things to do

If you come to Balakhana for 2 days and 1 night it is best to stay put on the estate.

The verandah is ideal for spending time with a novel, sipping a lemonade or tea or coffee. The grounds offer long walks amid trees and gardens, with deck chairs under umbrellas to sit amid the greenery, watching the many varieties of birds which you can identify from a book. If you prefer to unwind in the house, play snooker or billiards on the vintage Lazarus table, throw some darts, play a few rounds of ping pong or carom, or a few hands of cards.

On chilly nights gather in the living room around the fireplace. Go up to the roof and see the clear starry night. In the morning, go for a slow cruise on a country boat on the Jalangi, flowing 300 metres from Balakhana. In December and January, take a boat to the Purbasthali oxbow lake, watch migrant fowl and ducks and river dolphins.

Enjoy guided nature walks in the compound that has a interesting flora and fauna.