Digha Travel Guide
Those who are looking for some fun under the sun can opt for Digha, the ideal beach destination to have a fun-filled weekend. It has been termed as the ‘Brighton of the East’ by Hastings. Digha today is known for its sandy white beaches, deep azure waters and some fun-filled activities on the beach. Those who prefer a worry-free vacation will be pleased with the not-too-commercial ambiance of Digha. The sunrise and sunsets of Digha are quite impressive, and if you are an early bird you can catch the ‘nuliyas’ or the fishermen setting out for a catch in the sea.
There is a shallow sand beach which extends up to 7 kilometers in the coastline. The water is not turbulent near the beach, and you can enjoy a swim here. Around the beach you will see the lovely Casurina trees welcoming you with its lovely sway. It is said that the presence of the Casurina trees help to restrict the erosion of the sand dunes. And as you look at the distance in the waters of Bay of Bengal, you will have a sudden glimpse of the ship slowly moving towards the horizon and you realize that life is but an empty dream, and as long as you live in the present, you need to enjoy life to the fullest.
Digha was known as Beerkul during the time of Hastings. In the year 1923, John Frank Smith, an English tourist was absolutely mesmerised by the beauty of this place and started staying there. He started to write about this place, and Digha gained prominence among the many tourist spots of West Bengal. After India was declared independent, it was John who convinced Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy about the potential of the place so that it can be converted to a beach destination.
How to Reach Digha
- By Air – The Kolkata Airport is the closest airport to Digha. It is only 210 kilometres away from Digha. And you can hire a car to travel to your destination.
- By Rail – Direct trains are available to Digha from Howrah. You have to get down at Digha Flag Station. Otherwise you can also catch a train to Kharagpur, and then catch another connecting train to Digha or a nearby station known as Ramnagar which is only 7 kilometres away from Digha. There is a DMU service available from Santragacchi as well. Digha Superfast Tamralipta leaves Howrah early in the morning and reaches Digha at 10 am. From the station, you can hire un-metered taxis, auto rickshaws, and rickshaws to reach your hotels.
- By Road – From Dharmatala Bus Stand in Kolkata, you can avail buses to Digha every half an hour. There are super fast bus services which have less halts. AC buses are also available to eliminate the riding discomfort. It takes approximately 5 to 6 hours to reach Digha. Buses from other districts like Burdwan, Midnapore, Howrah and Bankura are also available.
Distance of Digha from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Kolkata |
183 |
|
Kharagpur |
130 |
|
Mandarmani |
30 |
Weather
Digha Temperature:
- Summer (Apr to Jun) — Temperatures are hot and range between (24°C) to (35°C)
- Monsoon (Jul to Sep) — Regular rainfall happens. For people who want to enjoy the sea during monsoon
- Winter (Oct to Feb) — Temperatures are low and range between (12°C) to (24°C)
- Best Season to Visit — Oct to Feb is the best season for tourism
What to See in Digha
Nearby beaches: Along the coastline of Bay of Bengal, there are a series of beach destinations like Tajpur, Shankarpur and Mandarmuni. All these places are located at convenient distances from Digha. You can hire a car and visit some of these places.
The Marine Aquarium and Research Centre or MARC: This was established in the year 1989. The aim of this museum cum research centre is to emphasize on the marine biodiversity of this place. Also, this museum takes an effort to educate the common people about the flora and fauna of the place. Research activities are also carried out. This has the largest in-built marine aquarium in India. Apart from the species, you will also have a advanced filtration section which helps in sea water circulation.
At a distance of 8 kilometers away from Digha, you can find the beautiful Shiva temple in Chandaneshwar. This is a sacred place among the pilgrims and devotees of Shiva.
Subarnarekha River
Only 12 kilometres away from Digha, the Subarnarekha River merges with Bay of Bengal. This is positioned on the Bengal-Orissa border. If you want, you can visit this place too.
Other Details
What to Do
Recently a lot of water sport activities have been introduced on the beach of Digha. You can indulge in scuba diving or surfing, if you want to. Or if you want, you can simply take a dip in the water and laze around on the beach.
Where to Eat
Check out the Elgin restaurant which serves excellent seafood items. If you want to taste the fresh catch from the sea, then this is the place to be.
For some good Bengali delicacies, you can visit the Bay Cuffe Restaurant. The delicious Bengali food items are the specialties of the place.
You can also check the Amantran Restaurant in Hotel Geetanjali. You will like the variety and the ambience is quite good.
Like Goa, Digha has a set of temporary shacks on the beach, where you get fried fishes of all kinds. If you want, you can have a bite.
What to Buy
The local shops are full of beautiful items and jewelleries made of seashells. These are considered as specialties of Digha. Take your pick from a seashell-girdled mirror or a small conch, or the white pearly ear drops. Browse through the local shops at your leisure during evenings and pack some souvenir back home.
Get Around
For roaming around Digha and New Digha, which is an extension of the old beach destination, you can hire un-metered taxis, auto rickshaws and rickshaws. Also, in the evenings to explore the beach more, you can simply walk on the beach. There is no dearth of activity there and the cool breeze will soothe your tired soul.
Top Destinations - West Bengal
Popular Tour Plans - West Bengal
1-3 Days
1. Murshidabad (2N/3D)
2. Digha (2N/3D)
3. Tajpur (2N/3D)
4. Bakkhali (2N/3D)
5. Sundarbans (2N/3D)
6. Kamarpukur-Jairambati-Bishnupur (3N/4D)
4-6 Days
1. Bakreshwar-Tarapith-Santiniketan (4N/5D)
2. Mandarmani-Digha (4N/5D)
3. Jaldapara-Chilapata-Buxa Tiger Reserve-Jayanti (5N/6D)
4. Lava-Lolegaon-Rishop (6N/7D)
5. Darjeeling-Gangtok (6N/7D)
7-10 Days
1. Jaldapara-Lataguri-Murti-Chapramari-Jhalong-Bindu-Suntanekhola (8N/9D)
2. Darjeeling-Kalimpong-Pelling-Gangtok (9N/10D)
3. Darjeeling-Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung (9N/10D)
4. Darjeeling-Pelling-Gangtok (8N/9D)
>10 Days
1. Darjeeling-Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung-Pelling (11N/12D)