Digha Beach

Digha is West Bengal's most visited seaside resort, set on the Bay of Bengal in Purba Medinipur district, roughly 180 kilometres from Kolkata. The main beach, along Sea Beach Road, is wide and low-gradient with shallow water, so the sea retreats far at low tide and waves break gently, which suits families and casual paddlers. A paved seafront promenade lines the beach, with hotels, food stalls selling fried fish, jhal muri and coconut water, pony rides, souvenir shops and shell crafts. Casuarina groves back parts of the shore. The Marine Aquarium and Research Centre, a short ride away, displays local sea life, and nearby Old Digha, Udaipur beach and Mandarmani offer quieter stretches. New Digha has a large temple complex dedicated to Jagannath, built as a replica of the Puri temple. Most visitors come for a half day to two days. Sunrise and sunset are the best times for walking and photography, with fishermen hauling nets in the early morning. The beach is open at all hours, with no entry fee. October to March is the most comfortable season, with warm days and cool evenings, while April to June is hot and the monsoon brings rough seas, and swimming becomes risky. Weekends, school holidays and public holidays are very crowded and hotel prices rise. Weekdays are calm. Trains run from Howrah to Digha, and buses depart from Esplanade in Kolkata, with a journey of about four to five hours. Visitors should heed red flags and lifeguard instructions because currents can be strong.