Digha most romantic holiday destination of West Bengal

Digha, located in West Bengal is one of the most popular vacation destinations near Kolkata. It’s located in Purba Medinipur district of the state. An English tourist John Frank Smith, who fell for the beauty of Digha in 1923, began to dwell in this place and his descriptive writing gave this place its due fame.

Sunset at New Digha

After India’s independence a beach resort was made here complimenting the exquisite beach. This place even has been referred to as the ‘Brighton of the east’, in one of Warren Hastings letter to his wife back in 1780A.D. The heavenly beauty Digha was called ‘Beerkul’ initially.

Digha Sea Beach

Digha is a beach place and the beach waves hit hard here. The fact that Digha is just 187 Km’s away from Kolkata (one of the metros of India) results in more number of people thronging on to this haven.

Weather

Digha’s weather has the coastal feel to it. The rainy season undoubtedly has heavy rainfall (it can be to the extent of very bad sometimes)! Summers are sunny and make for a good sunbathing venture. Winters are cool as usual. Rainy season lasts from May to September/October and winter follows immediately from November to February. Nights are comparatively cooler and freezes during winters!
Best Times to visit
It’s actually ideal for perennial visit (depending on personal tastes). However, avoiding the main rainy season (June-July-August) would be better (Soil erosion and Tsunami instances in 2004 intimidated few tourists during the rainy season).

Home delivery: Food Stalls on the beach.

Getting there / Route information

Distance from Kolkata – 187 KM.
By Bus
There are daily buses to Digha from Kolkata. It makes for a short 5 hour journey. These buses can be easily accessed in various bus stands of Kolkata like Dharamtala, Kudghat bus stand (this may be ideal for those coming from the South Kolkata region of Tollygunge, garia etc). There are two buses from Kudghat bus stand at 6.30 A.M and 8.30 A.M morning.
By Train
The Shalimar-Digha express departing at 7.55 A.M from Shalimar reaches in a time span of 4-5 hours and it furthers leaves Digha at 1.30P.M back to Shalimar. The fares are reasonably Rs.56 for the general compartment and Rs.70 for the first class one. Some trains also commute from the famous Howrah station. There are two special trains during Sundays from Digha to Howrah at 1.30pm and 6pm. reserving seats for weekend trips and trips during holidays is advisable.
By Air
Kolkata being one of the metropolitans of India has good air access from many cities of India and the world.
Road Quality
The roads are fine. Not the best in India but not among the worst ones either.

Amaraboti Park

Major attractions

New Digha beach
It’s one of the classic beaches of the Bay of Bengal. The sea is shallow and calm up to certain miles. Don’t forget to swim in the beautiful waters. The sea is clean and isn’t flicked by many swimmers either. Beat the heat with sunbathing. You can have a warm sunbathing spree here as this place is less inhabited by prying eyes compared to other beaches!
Talasari beach
Talasari located around 8 to 10 KM from Digha houses this lovely beach.

Udaypur Beach

 This is a spectacular beach, almost virgin, 2 km west of Digha, in West Bengal Orissa Border. One part of this clandestine beach is in West Bengal and the other in Orissa. One enters this beach just walking or driving along Bengal-Orissa border. This beach has not been explored so far. The beach has some USPs which have to be experienced to be believed. The vegetation, typical of slopes in Eastern Ghats and the great Casuarina atmosphere, makes this beach, a one of a kind experience. The nearby delta, where the mighty Subarnarekha merges into the Bay of Bengal, is an additional attraction.

Shankarpur
Also known as virgin beach, only 14 km east of Digha. It is also a regular fishing harbour. This beach is mostly empty except on weekends. The mornings are cool, when fishermen can be seen hauling their huge nets out of the sea. The morning sun reflecting on the sea waves in the east, and the local fishboats on the coast offer excellent photographic opportunities.
The Marine Aquarium and Research Center (MARC)
Established in the year 1989 during the Seventh Five Year Plan. The major objective of the Centre is to display the marine biodiversity of the region and impart its values to the common people and to carryout the research activities.
MARC has largest inbuilt marine aquarium in the country and equipped with sea water circulation system and advanced filtration unit. The aquarium has 24 big sized (15x10x10’) marine tanks and 8 fresh water (3x2x2’) tanks which are equipped with compressed air supply, light and regulated supply of inflow & outflow of water.
Hundreds of visitors make it a point to view the Aquarium every day. The aquarium is opened to public on all working days from 9.3 0 A.M. to 6 P. M
Science Center
It’s the latest attraction in Digha. Informative and refreshing, it takes a sneak peek into the Jurassic age too.
Chandaneswar
Lord Shiva Temple at Only 8 km away from Digha the century old Temple of Lord Shiva at Chandaneswar,near Bengal and Orissa Border.Nearly half million people & pilgrims visit the temple atMaha Vishuva Sankranti or Gajan Mela : towards the end of bengali month - Chaitra

Subarnarekha River
The salty place where Subarnarekha River draining into Bay of Bengal, only 12 km away from Digha, located in Orissa-Bengal border. This is a new destination for Digha tourists.

Amaraboti park
Amarabati park is very beautiful park near to New Digha. It is very relaxing and entertaining. This park includes a kids zone where you can find lots of swings, merry-go-rounds, sea-saw. There is a lake at the center of this park, where you can have a boat ride also.

Accommodation

* Sandpiper Guest House, Barristers' Colony, Digha (Opposite Hotel Sea Coast), ☎ 033-24753441. Eight rooms, all having uninterrupted sea views and each capable of sleeping 4 adults. Ensuite bathrooms, marble flooring, multicuisine restaurant, secure car parking. Probably the best place to stay in Digha. Rs.800 upwards.

    * State Youth Hostel, at New Digha. Doubles with attached baths are Rs. 225/- per day. Booking can be done in Directorate of Youth Services, 32/1, B.B.D. Bag (South), Kolkata. +91 33 2248 0626.

    * Hotel Suman's [2]:: A very homely accommodation at New Digha, close to sea beach. Tariff are cheap and very reasonable, starts from Rs200/-. Toy Train, Railway Station, Amravati Park, Science Museum, Digha Mohona, Udaypur Beach are within 2 km range. Walking distance from Railway Station and Bus Stand. ☎ Phone No.:(03220) 266471/266271

    * Hotel Dolphin, ☎ +91 33 9062220367 (cbhoinfo@gmail.com). checkin: 12noon; checkout: 11AM. Ac, non-ac rooms, cottages, parking, garden, resturant. 550-5,000.  edit

    * Digha Tourist Lodge Booking can be done from Tourism Centre at 3/2, B.B.D. Bagh (East), Kolkata, +91 33 2243 7260. Dormitory beds Rs 100, doubles Rs 300,550,600,550 ( 4 Bed),700(DAB AC), Rs 900(DAB AC). (# Recommended)

    * Minalay and Minakshi of Benfish. AC double bed rooms Rs 550, non-AC doubles Rs 250, dormitory with 5 beds Rs 250.

    * Hotel Sea Hawk. One of the few places in town that doesn't hike up their prices as demand increases. Food is good and room services standard. From Rs 400 for a ground-floor sea-facing double up to Rs 1500 for an a/c double bed. (# Recommended)

    * Hotel Sea Coast, Barrester colony old Digha, ☎ + 93 3100 6392, [3]. checkin: 12 Noon; checkout: 11.45 AM. Star Hotel Conference Room,centralized a.c, bar & multicuisine restaurant sea facing rooms & family rooms also available. Rs 1000-2200.  edit

    * Hotel Gitanjali, +91 32 2026 6204. Doubles for Rs 550 and Rs 850 are good. If you are in a group the 4 bed room at Rs 1000 is really amazing. (# Recommended)

    * The Palm Resort, [4]. Probably the only resort in Digha with a swimming pool, gym, lake, lawns and villas.

    * Hotel Rajmahal. The less expensive yet quality hotel with restaurant near to sea beach. Rs 500-1500.

    * Hotel Sonar Bangla, Barrister colony, ☎ +91 9831254202. checkin: 12 noon; checkout: 11.30 AM. lift facility Ac / Non Ac Room. Rs 650 onwards.

    * Tanrango Lahori - a super delux hotel at New Digha with excellent location and environment!Rates are cheap and affordable ranging from Rs150/-(depends on season). Transport available from station.
    * Hotel Kamala Residency- 03220-266154. A new Hotel near the New Digha Beach.Good quality Hotel in terms of cleanliness, hospitality and services.Delux Double bedded non A/C rooms available at Rs 900,Double A/C at 1500 and Super Delux tripple A/C at only 1800.Breakfast included in the rent.Restaurant also serves quality food.

Steps ahead at Digha

Important Notice: -
# The hotel price always vary so please bargain, do not allow the rickshaw man to negotiate for your hotels.
# Do not stay at any hotel near the New Digha Amaraboti Park.
# Carry electric torches or emergency lamps. They will help in case of temporary power outages which are frequent during the summer.
# The sea becomes rough to very rough during high tide, specially during new and full moon. It is not safe to swim during high tide. There is a sea wall, which protects Old Digha from the erosion, it is also unsafe to cross the wall during high tide. Most of Digha has No Swim boards and so mind if you are the reckless type.

# Mosquito repellent. This is a must for visitors.