The Eastern Bypass , a ring road that eventually connects to the VIP road leading to the airport, has helped open up the eastern limits of Calcutta, allowing the city to spread. Sprawling suburbs like Salt Lake have become desirable and, close by, the Netaji Subhash Bose Stadium (also known as the Salt Lake Stadium) hosts occasional football tournaments and national events. A kilometre north of the stadium is Nicco Park (daily 10am-8pm; Rs25), extremely popular especially at the weekends, where the fee allows entry to ten rides including the water-coaster; most of the rides, however, are tame. Just to the east is Calcutta's latest pleasure complex, Aquatica (daily 8am-6pm; from Rs25; families only at weekends), which boasts a massive wave pool complete with beach, plus water rides like the Black Hole.

 

On the junction of the bypass and JBS Halden Avenue near Tangra, a large and somewhat dusty dinosaur greets visitors to Science City (9am-9pm; Rs10) which has faint echoes of Disney's Epcot centre in Florida, combining picnic areas with informative, interactive exhibits on different aspects of science and technology. Close to the airport in a rustic environment, Arts Acre (11am-5pm; free), 3km off the VIP Road, Kaikhali Junction, provides workshops for artists in a range of disciplines from ceramics to painting; you can see artists at work or visit the gallery.