West Bengal is the fourth most populous state situated in the eastern part of India. It shares international borders with Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan and has a beautiful coastline of the Bay of Bengal. Its capital is Kolkata. West Bengal has a small coastline of 158 km, despite this, West Bengal is very famous for its beaches.
West Bengal is also home to a lot of Delta, formed at the base of the coastline which serves as big tourist spots. This state is also home to the world's largest delta, Sundaran.
Now among the sea beaches, Digha beach which is situated in the Purba Medinipur district is the most famous in West Bengal. The coastline is separated into two different parts namely Old Digha and New Digha. Other than this many other beaches are less crowded and good for a peaceful vacation. The less crowded beaches are very well maintained, even perfect for honeymoon goers. One can watch a beautiful sunrise while enjoying the lovely breeze and delicious foods on these beaches. The hotel rates here are affordable.
Photo Credit: Asim Mondal, Unsplash
Digha Sea Beach of West Bengal
Digha is the seaside town on the southern side of East Medinipur district and is surrounded by the Bay Of Bengal. This is one of the most famous beachside towns in West Bengal. Every year numerous tourists flock to Digha to spend a nice seaside vacation.
Key attractions of Digha Sea Beach
Old Digha
This is the oldest part of the town and also the most crowded part of the town. Even though tourists cannot take a dip at this beach it is famous for its picturesque views which get even better in monsoon when the waves crash at the boulders set along the sea. One can enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets sitting along the marble guard wall or the rocky boulders even though it is advised to not go too close to the water because of the strong crashing waves.
New Digha
This is a relatively new part of the town where the tourists can take a dip at the sea or enjoy horse riding or speed boating. The waves here, even though strong, are not as crashing as the ones of old Digha. This beach also has marbled guard walls along the beach which is crowded with tourists all the time.
There are various markets which sell local delicacies and handmade items.
How to reach Digha Sea Beach
There are various AC/ Non AC intercity buses which can take tourists to Digha. Other than that trains from Howrah station is available which takes around 3-4 hours to reach Digha.
Best time to visit Digha Sea Beach
Throughout the year
Photo Credit: Piyush Sinha, Unsplash
Mandarmani Sea Beach of West Bengal
Mandarmani is a small resort village near Shankarpur it is much less crowded compared to that of Digha.
Key Attractions of the Mandarmani Sea Beach
There are numerous sea-facing resorts lined up along the beach which present exquisite beach views.
During high tides, one can enjoy watching the sea just from the resort as they crash right in front of the gates.
One can enjoy some solitude here as the beaches here are less crowded and peaceful.
How to reach Mandarmani Sea Beach
One hire cars or Local autos to travel from Digha to Mandarmani. Other than local autos from Kathi station will also do the job.
Best time to visit Mandarmani Sea Beach
Throughout the year
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Shankarpur Sea Beach of West Bengal
At a distance of 15km from Digha is situated Shankarpur beach which is known as a virgin beach of the town. It is famous for its pristine, less crowded view.
Key attractions of Shankarpur Sea Beach
This beach is mainly for fishing by the fisher boats so tourists can get a sneak peek of fishing especially if they visit this beach in the morning.
The rows of local boats, the fishing nets and the vast sea makes the scenery highly photographic which is why this beach is famous among photographers.
How to reach Shankarpur Sea Beach
local autos or van rickshaws are the means of communication to this beach from both Digha and Mandarmani. Local cars from Digha station will also do the job.
Best time to visit Shankarpur Sea Beach
July to March.
Photo Credit: Ranjit Pradhan, Unsplash
Tajpur Sea Beach of West Bengal
On the shore of the Bay Of Bengal, Tajpur is another less crowded peaceful beach of West Bengal.
Key Attraction of Tajpur Sea Beach
This beach is famous for the densely populated Tamarisk trees that surround the beach.
There is an infestation of red crabs on this beach which is fun to watch when they are out in numbers.
There are several fisherman’s villages nearby so one can observe the life of fishermen here.
How to reach Tajpur Sea Beach
local autos from Digha railway station are one way to reach Tajpur. Other than that there are local vans and autos in Digha and Mandarmani to reach Tajpur.
Best time to visit Tajpur Sea Beach
July to March
Photo Credit: Arijit M, Unsplash
Sagar Sea Beach of West Bengal
Sagar beach is situated beside a small island named Sagardwip which is at the confluence of the Ganga River and the Bay Of Bengal. There are various religious beliefs entangled with Sagar which makes it famous among the pilgrims.
Key attractions of Sagar Sea Beach
Ganga Sagar Mela
In January thousands of pilgrims take a dip at Sagar during this fair(Mela). They perform some rituals while chanting holy names and soaking themselves in the holy water. Lots of tourists also visit to witness the biggest celebration of Sagardwip.
Otherwise, this is a calm and soothing beach where can enjoy some alone time.n
How to reach Sagar Sea Beach
Due to challenging accessibility, the road to Sagar is a combination of bus, taxi and ferry. There are buses from the esplanade in Kolkata which takes one Kakdwip after that they will have to reach Kuchberia by boat and from there, buses take them to Sagar. Other than this buses from Namkhana or Howrah junction will do the job.
Best time to visit Sagar Sea Beach
October to March, especially January.
Photo Credit: Soumyadeep Bhattacharjee Unsplash
Bakkhali Sea Beach of West Bengal
Bakkhali is one of the many deltaic islands of West Bengal. This island with a crescent-shaped beach has a stretch of 8 km from Bakkhali to Fresurgunj.
Key attraction of Bakkhali Sea Beach
This beach is famous for its serene and calm surroundings making it perfect for families as well as couples.
This beach is also famous for arranging picnics by the sea.
Bishhalakshmi temple at the end of the beach is also very popular among tourists
How to reach Bakkhali Sea Beach
Bakkhali can only be reached by road. People can take a hired cab from Kolkata. Other than that there are buses to Bakkhali from Dharmatala of Kolkata.
Best time to visit Bakkhali Sea Beach
October to March.
Henri's Island of West Bengal
Henry Island is a small village near Bakkhali. Which is known for its tranquil surroundings. It is a virgin beach 140 km away from Kolkata that is perfect for a quick vacation.
Key attractions of Henri's Island
One can enjoy swimming here as the tide is gentle and not so dangerous.
There are some resorts which have some of the best local cuisines to offer.
Sundari Tourist Complex is the watch which presents a beautiful panoramic view of the whole beach.
How to reach Henri's Island
A road trip through the diamond harbour, Namkhana to Kakdwip and then cross Hatania-Doania will take one to Henry’s Island. It is a 15-minute journey from Bakkhali.
Best time to visit Henri's Island
October to March
Udaipur Sea Beach of West Bengal
This beach is located between Odisha and Talsari and is one of the most beautiful beaches in west Bengal. This beach is at a distance of 3km from Digha Railway station and is also famous among tourists.
Key attractions of Udaipur Sea Beach
There are various interesting activities like speed boating, banana boat and bike riding.
Delicious local fish, mostly crabs, prawns and pomfret beverages along the beach can be enjoyed here.
Other than that, one can also enjoy a long walk on the beach and go swimming in the sea.
How to reach Udaipur Sea Beach
Local autos from Digha railway station are the best way to reach Udaipur. Other than that one can use small ferries known as bhatbhati to Udaipur.
Best time to visit Udaipur Sea Beach
July to March.
Junput Sea Beach of West Bengal
Junput is another tranquil beach in West Bengal. It is situated at the confluence of river Ganga and Rasalpur.
Key attraction of Junput Sea Beach
Surrounded by casuarina groves, this beach is known for its gentle ambience and calm waves.
There is also a lighthouse along the beach which is famous among the tourists as it shows the whole beach from above.
The Museum of Fishery department is situated here which is also very famous among the visitors.
How to Reach Junput Sea Beach
one will have to hire cars or auto from Digha, Mandarmani or Talsari to reach Junput which is about an hour's drive.
Best time to visit Junput Sea Beach
July to March.
