Digha is the one of the most favorite holiday destinations of the people of Kolkata not only for its beautiful sea beach but also because a trip to Digha does not need too much of planning. You can just pack your bags and head to Digha without worrying about hotel and car bookings as there are plenty of hotels catering to both budget and luxury groups.
For those who are planning overnight, the best option is to go to Esplanade where buses ply frequently starting from 6/7 in the morning taking a little more than 4 hours at a nominal charge of Rs.350/- Other alternatives are trains like Tamralipta Express leaving Howrah at 6.40 a.m. arriving Digha at 10 A.M. or Digha-Duronto departing Howrah at 11.15 A.M. which takes 3 hours or to go by road to enjoy the smooth ride along 2nd Hooghly bridge and Kona Express. You can get a beautiful view of the villages in Bengal with green paddy fields and ponds on both sides. However, it is better to avoid the road during monsoon.
Digha is around 200 kms from Kolkata and will take approximately 4 hours to reach depending on the traffic and your number of halts. This beautiful beach can be visited throughout the year – be it to beat the scorching summer heat, or to enjoy monsoon or to beat the chill, Digha is the place for you. It is ideal not just for honeymooners or couples but also for families and friends. No matter how many times you visit, Digha never loses its charm and would make you long for visiting again.
The sea beach is full of food stalls, jewelries made of pearl and handicrafts. Beautiful ear rings, bracelets, bangles and decorative showpieces made from seashells are also available. Fish lovers would be delighted to know that fried fishes are available all over. You can stroll for hours on the beach or sit on the cement stairs of the river bank or on plastic chairs or benches, enjoy the breeze and gaze at the sea waves. The sunrise and sunset are enchanting. Those who enjoy taking sea baths should keep in mind that the sea of Digha is rough at times and one needs to be careful.
The tourist attractions in Digha are Talsari Beach, Marine Aquarium and Research Centre, Chandaneswar temple, Mohana and the virgin Udaypur Beach. All these places can be covered in half day. Evening should be kept free for the beach.
Shankarpur which is just 15 kms from Digha can be planned on the next day on your way back to Kolkata. However, if you prefer solitude, then you can stay here for a day. Shankarpur is free from the din and bustle of Digha. The sea is mostly calm here and the beach is remote.
You can also add the beautiful virgin beach Mandarmani to your itinerary which is just 30 kms from Digha.
If you are returning by train, again many options are available some of which are Digha- Duronto departing Digha at 3.35 P.M. arriving Howrah at 6.35 P.M. and Kandari Express starting from Digha at 6.20 P.M. reaching Howrah at 9.50 at night. For those who would like to return in the morning, they can take the Tamralipta Express starting at 10.25 A.M. taking 3.5 hours to reach Howrah.
A trip to Digha/Shankarpur means the check in and check out time in most of the hotels are 12 o’clock and 11 A.M. respectively. So travel plans need to be made accordingly.
For those who are planning overnight, the best option is to go to Esplanade where buses ply frequently starting from 6/7 in the morning taking a little more than 4 hours at a nominal charge of Rs.350/- Other alternatives are trains like Tamralipta Express leaving Howrah at 6.40 a.m. arriving Digha at 10 A.M. or Digha-Duronto departing Howrah at 11.15 A.M. which takes 3 hours or to go by road to enjoy the smooth ride along 2nd Hooghly bridge and Kona Express. You can get a beautiful view of the villages in Bengal with green paddy fields and ponds on both sides. However, it is better to avoid the road during monsoon.
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