The Place : Mon Chasha Eco Village District : East Midnapore

“Mon Chasha” is a blend of authentic village culture, pure earthen tradition, the cultural heritage of a rural life and a true sentiment of natural India.Mon Chasha was set in motion in 2012 to help the local people, the economy & the locality through tourism. The idea is to create job opportunities for the villagers, while also ensuring that tourists have a good time seeing and experiencing real village life. Mon Chasha emphasises on exploiting the inimitable tourism scope offered by the village which helped the village to retain its originality & uniqueness.

Contai is well connected by railway network and buses from the city of joy. You can take Tamralipta Express from Howrah station at 6.40 in the morning and reach Contai at 9 and take an auto to Monchasha Eco Village resort, or board Howrah Digha Superfast Express at 11.10 in the morning from Howrah and reach Contai at 1.50 in the noon and take an auto or a rickshaw to Mon Chasha. Two other trains connecting Howrah and Cointai are Paharia Express and Kandari Express, leaving Howrah at 10.44am and 4.50 in the evening respectively.Pick up and drop services are available from Contai (Kanthi) railway station and Kalinagar Bus Stop by Maruti Van or Ambassador Car. You can also avail the trekker service from Kalinagar Bus Stop to Paushi. Buses are also available from Kolkata to Contai, which takes about 4 hours to reach Contai, from there you can also take a rickshaw for Mon Chasha Eco Village district.

Exploring the location is indeed a fun. The Shalmoli Bithi, which is the plantation area of the project offers a real visual treat. You will find wide species of fruits, flowers, vegetables and spices.Visit Ishani and Naitri, the huge fish tanks (jheel), where large numbers of fish including Rui, Katla, Mrigel, Kalbous, Carp, Telapia, Puti, Mourala are bred completely naturally. For the conservation of traditional cultural heritage, “Sahajiya” has been built, which is a platform for local cultural performances as Chhau, Raibneshe Jatra Pala, Baul Fakir Darbesh and other programmes. The Sahajiya cultural centre is a straw / hogla thatched circular clay court beautified with green grass. Guests need to sit on the ground over hand crafted Madur. Do not miss Nabya Nakshi, the handicraft centre promoted by this project. There is also a plan for promoting Nakshi Kantha, one of the most treasured handicrafts of Bengal, to support the local self help group. You can also visit Aamar Bangla, where you will find numerous attractions like Dhenki, Kumorer Chaak, Taant, Langol , Hand Painted Alpana, Pot Chitra, Typical Styled Tulshi Mancha, Machh Dhorar Jal, Chhip, Gachhe Jholano Hnarite Payra, Mouchak, Borshar Toka, Kendupatar Borshati, Lau Macha etc.

Food is very authentic Bengali menu served at Banglar Mookh – the dining place. It is a three block open area, where you can relish an assorted menu of Bhat, Kolmi Saak, Goynabori, Chachchari, Ghanto, Khichuri, Labra, Murighanto, Chhnechki, Dalna, Chokka, Ambol, Chachchori, Chatni – Achar – Tok, Papad, Pithe – Puli – Payes.