In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Panihati
পানিহাটি
Visit Panihati for a half‑day stop to see riverside temples and the historic Gandhi Memorial Asram; add a night only if staying in Kolkata.
Panihati is a heritage town on the Hooghly River, just north of Kolkata. Its main attractions are clustered along the river and reachable by train or ferry, making a 4–6 hour visit feasible. Overnight stays are optional and usually tied to Kolkata accommodation.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- পানিহাটি
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–₹1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,200–₹2,000 excl. bed · High ₹2,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire and ambulance 101 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Street pani puri | ₹30–₹60 |
| Tea stall chai | ₹15–₹30 |
| Auto‑rickshaw (2 km (1.2 mi))Auto‑rickshaw (1.2 mi (2 km)) | ₹30–₹50 |
| Ferry ride | ₹20–₹40 |
| Entry to Baro Mandir Ghat | ₹10–₹20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CCU · Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport
- About 15 km (9.3 mi) south; taxi ~30 minAbout 9.3 mi (15 km) south; taxi ~30 min
Typical fares
- Agarpara ↔ Sealdah (train)
- about ₹120, 15 min (check)
- Panihati Ghat ↔ Dakshineswar (ferry)
- ₹30, 15 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Local trains (Agarpara, Sodpur stations) run every 15 min; ferry from Panihati Ghat crosses the Hooghly; rickshaws and auto‑rickshaws for short hops.
See and do
Known for
- Baro Mandir Ghat (12 Shiva temples)
- Giribala Dasi Thakurbari (Radha‑Krishna temple)
- Gandhi Memorial Asram (Satish Chandra Dasgupta’s ashram)
- Nihar On The Ganges (heritage resort)
- Panihati Ferry Ghat
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dakshineswar Temple | Ferry from Panihati Ghat, about 15 min, then walk 5 min | ≈30 min |
| Khardaha | Auto‑rickshaw from Sodepur, ~10 min | ≈20 min |
Sleep
- Nihar On The Ganges
- Heritage house turned resort in Sukchar; good for one night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | দুঃখিতdukhito |
| Thank you | ধন্যবাদdhonnobad |
| How much is it? | এটা কত?eta koto? |
| Where is the toilet? | শৌচাগার কোথায়?shauchagar kothay? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Monsoon floods can suspend ferry service; check schedules in June–Sept.
- Train tickets may be sold out during Kolkata rush hour; buy in advance.
Generally safe for day visits; watch for traffic on riverbanks and keep valuables secure on crowded trains.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Panihati yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Baro Mandir Ghat (12 Shiva temples)
- Giribala Dasi Thakurbari (Radha‑Krishna temple)
- Gandhi Memorial Asram (Satish Chandra Dasgupta’s ashram)
- Nihar On The Ganges (heritage resort)
- Panihati Ferry Ghat
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Panihati municipality official site: panihatimunicipality.in
- Wikivoyage: Panihati, revision 5303780 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5303780
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/panihati). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.