About
Digha is one of the most popular vacation destinations in West Bengal, particularly for people from Kolkata. This beach-town is located in the West Bengal-Odisha border and is around 200 km from Kolkata. Back in the 80s, Digha used to be the top-most weekend beach destinations near Kolkata. With time, the region has lost out on its earlier grandeur and popularity. The once wet beach of Digha has given way to rough cut boulders; but with pleasant sunshine, breeze salty wind, rolling and roaring waves, lush green cashew forest, this beach destination has become ever popular among the weekend traveller and honeymooners.
History
Digha was originally known as Beerkul and it started gaining fame when in 1923, an English tourist by the name of John Frank Smith got so greatly allured by its charm and magnificence that he started living there and writing about Digha.
Twin Beaches
The Digha tourism authorities have developed a twin beach around 2 km away from the original beach which is bigger, better and much more well equipped. Unlike the original beach, this one is not affected by a large number of tourists flocking in winter as hotels are spaced out and traffic is well directed.
Seafood Paradise
Digha is a great place to enjoy an afternoon on the beach. The many shacks in and around the beach are known for serving the best of seafoods available. There are joints which serves fresh sauce-tossed fish, crabs and prawns.
The natural beauty of Digha with its swaying casuarinas and palm trees make for some breathtaking views. Spend an entire evening relaxing on the beach. You could help yourself to some interesting curios made from sea shells being sold at the countless stalls that line the beach.Get In & Out
Digha is well connected by Road and Rails links. The nearest airport is in Kolkata.
For great day outing from crowded Digha, people sometimes opt for nearby places like Junput, Mandarmani, Talsari, Tajpur etc.
By Train
Three trains run daily from Howrah Railway Station and sometimes special trains are announced on special occasions and holidays. Notices for such trains are to be found on widely circulated newspapers. Local trains from nearby locations are also available. Due to huge rush, it is advisable to make reservations in advance for weekends, national holidays and sessions like Durga Puja, Dipavali, Christmas etc.
By Road
The roads are excellent and one can easily reach Digha from Kolkata by private or public vehicle. Regular bus services from Kolkata and Kharagpur are available to Digha on a daily basis. Multiple departures are available every day. Digha is around 5 hours by road from Kolkata and is approximately 182 kilometers from Kolkata.
Get Around
You can drive over to New Digha, which is barely 5 minutes away. The van ride from Digha to New Digha criss-crossing through the palm forests is truly exciting. Thankfully, New Digha is more conducive to swimming so you could get into those swimming trunks and take a plunge here.
Digha is also home to a large marine aquarium that houses several species of marine animals. Do remember to stopover. Other local transport mode includes electric rickshaws and cycle rickshaws. However, the open motorcycle rickshaws are fun to ride.
No matter how constricted your weekend, if you are looking for a short getaway from Kolkata or Kharagpur, nothing could be better and easier to get to than Digha.
Shopping
The beach is lined with stalls and stores that serve good food, cold beverages and offer cheap ethnic and local shopping. You can buy various speciality items like Ornaments and curios made of sea shells, Hand woven mats made of weeds, Cashew nuts, Shankhas etc. Digha has something for everyone, people of all age groups. As mentioned earlier, the compelling factors are the cost and the proximity.
The Digha Boardwalk
This is the main boardwalk along the Digha seaface. One can spend an entire evening here amongst the teeming masses of carefree holiday makers and check out the wares of hundreds of makeshift stalls while enjoying the sea breeze. It is more than a mile long and continues on a long desolate stretch to New Digha - a van ride in the dark is worth every rupee. Enjoy cool sea breeze with melodious Bengali songs being played through loudspeakers creating a serene and soothing feel.
Casuarina Plantation
Casuarina plantations are abundant in and around Digha Beach. The road leading to the new beach from the old is lined with casuarina plantations and offers a breath taking view of the ocean. Close to Digha is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Swimming
The best place for a dip safely is at New Digha. The beach here is flat. Nowadays Old Digha is not safe and conducive for bathing, also it is very much crowded. New Digha has a beautiful long and flat beach which is ideal to take a dip.
Activities
Apart from Swimming, you can do various activities like Sunbathing, Horse-riding etc. You also enjoy playing Football, Volleyball, Cricket in the beach. The beach is also an ideal spot for watching sunrise and sunset which makes it perfect for photographers.
Stay Safe
Mosquito Repellent
This is a must for all visitors. Most shops in Digha sell repellent.
Emergency Lamps
Electric torches or emergency lamps can help in case of temporary power outages, which are frequent during the summer. However, now a days, most of the hotels in Digha have their own backup generators.
Safety at Sea
The sea becomes rough to very rough during high tide, especially during the new and full moon. It is unsafe to swim during high tide. There is a sea wall which protects Old Digha from erosion, and it is also unsafe to cross the wall during high tide. Most of Digha has No Swim warnings which you should mind. Always obey the commands of the khaki Coast Guards if you want to swim safely.
Climate & Season
Digha lies on 9m above sea level. Digha's climate is classified as tropical. When compared with winter, the summers have much more rainfall. The average temperature in Digha is around 27 °C. The rainfall here averages 1519 mm.
Best Time
Ideal time to visit Digha is in the Winters, though beware, it may get very crowded over the weekends.
6 available Attractions
As the name suggests, Old Digha is the oldest beach in West Bengal. Old Digha Beach is one of the less popular beaches in Digha and experiences relatively less tourism. Although there are no shacks or eating joints on the beach, there are however, stone seats made for people to sit and relax. There are stone crumbles and boulders formed due to erosion, that dominate the area. However, it is still ... more
Digha is a small beach town located in West Bengal. One of the most famous beaches in this city is the New Digha beach. Lying about 2 kilometers away from the Old Digha beach, this destination is a man-made attraction. It's preferred by tourists owing to its easier accessibility, larger expanse, and lesser crowd density.
The soft sands of the New Digha beach make up for a lovely weekend getawa ... more
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