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The strategic location of the state of West Bengal ensures that its geographical bounties are plenty. The wonderful Bengali cuisine, the language, the literature and art apart—Bengal’s landscape has beautiful treasures to offer. You will find all kinds of terrains here, right from the snowy Himalayan belt towards the North to the colourful marine life towards the southern belt.
Seafood and Bengali culture are inseparable, and that brings us to the serene coastal belt in the state. Here is a list of the 10 best beaches in West Bengal that you should add to your travel bucket list.
1. Digha Beach
Located close to the West Bengal-Odisha border, the Digha beach is blessed with rich marine life. Locals and curious travellers look forward to the annual Durga Pooja festivities, conducted with much splendour on this beach. Quintessential beach food stalls, serving Bengal's famous food, are a staple at Digha beach. You can explore both, the old and new Digha beaches on the same day.
The best time to visit this best beach in West Bengal is during Durga Puja in September-October.
2. Tajpur Beach
With the greenery and ‘Bheri’ or fishing lakes on the route, Tajpur is a sought-after destination for being among the more private and preserved sea beaches in West Bengal. Peak travel months are usually between September to March, when you can find good accommodation options and pleasant weather conditions.
From Kolkata, it takes you four hours to reach Tajpur, which is located on the southern side of West Bengal.
3. Bakkhali Beach
The Bakkhali beach in Kolkata is located around 130 kilometres away from the main city. Known for its sandy coast spread over several miles, red crabs, and the surrounding mangrove forests—Bakkhali attracts several enthusiastic explorers, making it one of the busiest beaches in West Bengal. Even with the seasonal rushes in the latter part of the year, the pristine beach remains worth visiting.
4. Mandarmani Beach
The beautiful Mandarmani beach offers you a whopping 7kilometre long belt. You can also indulge in exciting water sports like the banana boat and jet skiing, making this among the more favoured destinations for groups. You can reach the beach in about 3.5 hours by road from Kolkata city.
5. Frazerganj Beach
The Frazerganj beach is at a walkable distance from the Bakkhali beach, situated almost adjacent to it. The beach forms a beautiful crescent and is scarcely populated by tourists. The best time to visit here is from December till March for a thoroughly memorable experience!
6. Falta Beach
If you are into bird-watching, this is the best sea beach in West Bengal. The seasonal migration of birds is an experience that will leave you in awe of nature and her wonders. While you are here, you can also visit the Diamond Harbour Beach for a fuller experience. Falta Beach hardly takes 2 hours to reach by road from Kolkata.
7. Junput Beach
On the same coastal line as Mandarmani and Digha, the Junput Beach is popular for its exquisite sea-view resorts and one-day beach trips in West Bengal. Beaches like Junput are often explored at the end of monsoon by travellers who want to take a peek into the local life.
8. Sagardwip Beach
Nestled on one of the islands in the Sundarbans, Sagardwip literally means 'an island surrounded by sea'. With the Ganga river's estuary Gangasagar' on one end, this beach is considered sacred. Pilgrims visit the place particularly in January for the Ganga Sagar fair. At other times, when there isn’t as much crowd, the beach is peaceful and calming. The secluded location of this sea beach in West Bengal doesn't affect its connectivity; you will easily find public transport and can even take a private vehicle here.
9. Shankarpur Beach
Placed between New Digha and Tajpur beaches, the stunning Shankarpur beach is being developed as an experiential destination along the Digha beach line. This particular beach can be reached in under 4 hours from Kolkata, and is well-known for its fishing activities. The luxury properties being developed around this beach make this an exclusive getaway.
10. Talasari Beach
The relatively unexplored Talasari beach, which actually is situated in Orissa, is at an easily accessible distance 4 hours away from the city of Kolkata if you take the bus. The quaint beach can be reached via a quick boat ride that acts as the perfect precursor to the quaint beach naturally adorned with conifers.
The scenic beaches in West Bengal offer limitless joy and tranquillity to the mindful traveller. Backed by well-managed tourism industry, you will find these little havens to be as beautiful and clean as ever. So, go the Bengal route for your next beach vacation!
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