Breathtaking
Beaches premise the perfect escape to tranquility !!! The coastal strip of West
Bengal, extending from the Gangetic delta land to the border of Orissa, presents
some beautiful options in sea resorts - Digha, Shankarpur, Junput, Bakkhali,
Sagardwip. All of these offer wide, flat, hard beaches, a gently rolling sea,
rows of casuarina forests and a pleasant, warm weather round the year.
Down south from Calcutta, the coastal areas of West Bengal present eye-catching
beautiful options: - Digha - Shankarpur - Junput - Bakkhali - Frazergunj and
Sagardwip.
Digha
The Southern West Bengal is endowed with the most famous beach on the eastern
coast of India – Digha. The beach town of Digha is famous all over for
flat, hard beaches. The beauty of this place was discovered as early as the
days of Warren Hastings. Digha was known as Beercool at that time. Digha beach
is girdled with casuarina plantations along the coast. The sea is calm and shallow
for about a mile from the beach making it quite safe for swimming.
Frazerganj
The white sand beach, is entirely different from the other beaches. It is pristine
pure and holds the charms of a beach unspoilt. It can be accessed from Calcutta,
and is a three hours drive on very good roads. The destination is also all too
famous for the migratory birds that can be sighted over there
Shankarpur
Shankarpur, a virgin beach as yet, is a recent discovery. It is a twin beach
of Digha, around 10 km. from it. It offers nearly all the pleasures of a private
beach. This beach too is cupped with casuarina plantations. Shankarpur is only
14 km. east of Digha, along the Digha-Contai Road. It is also a regular fishing
harbour. Shankarpur is now developed as a sea resort with hotels, tourist lodges
and other facilities.
Sagardwip
A lovely destination combining pilgrimage and fun, situated on an island in
the Sunderban, holds the charms of a completely unspoilt beach on the estuary
of the mighty Ganga. Sagardwip presents a quiet, silvery expanse of beach and
the calm sea provides the perfect setting for a quiet weekend.
From Diamond Harbour one has to travel to Kakdwip (30 km. past Diamond Harbour),
then to Herwood Point (Lot No. 8), cross the ferry to the other side of the
river Muriganga. The other side is Kachuberia. From Kachuberia, a journey by
bus, minibus or trekker to Sagar Island. West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation
runs direct buses between Esplanade and Lot No. 8 and ferry vessels across the
river.
On Makar Sankranti day in winter (mid-January), pilgrims from all over India
congregate at Sagardwip to take a holy dip at the confluence of the river Ganga
and the Bay of Bengal. After the holy dip, they offer ‘Puja’ at the
nearby ashram associated with the legendary sage Kapil Muni. This has been a
famous pilgrim centre from the ancient times. Gangasagar Mela, held on the occasion
of Makar Sankranti is the largest fair in West Bengal.
The lighthouse at Sagardwip provides a panoramic view of the surroundings.
Bakkhali
It is so near Calcutta and yet so very different from the bustling metropolis
that is Calcutta. Bakkhali is only 132 km from Calcutta. From Calcutta to Namkhana
by bus (105 km.), then a short diversion by the ferry across the Hatania Doania
river, and then another hour and a half bus journey to Bakkhali. En rout, there
is Diamond Harbour (48 km from Calcutta) where there is a comfortable Tourist
Lodge for accommodation.
At Bakkhali, the beach is long and sandy, the waves twinkling in the sunlight.
Dense casuarina groves drape the beach. Red fiddler crabs march in line on the
beach.
Junput
Junput is 40 km. from Digha by bus, with a change at Contai. The place offers
beautiful sea-view and lines of casuarina trees. The beach is unspoilt. Brackish
water fish cultivation and research are done here by the State Government Fisheries
Department.
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