The rajbari (palace built by a zamindar) at Itachuna, about 95km north of Kolkata by road, packs a punch with its stately 18th-century architecture and traditional-style interiors, fine Bengali food and overall bucolic ambience. Its spacious, tastefully appointed rooms are named after relatives in a typical Bengali family, and the food is a delectable spread of signature Bengali cuisine.
A one-way car trip from Kolkata costs about ₹3500. Or you could take a frequent Burdwan (Barddhaman)-bound main line local train from Howrah to Khanyan station (₹15, 1¼). From there, a shuttle rickshaw (₹10) will drop you at the property, 2km south.
Itachuna is a possible base for visiting the former colonial towns on the Hooghly River north of Kolkata.