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Digh a
is West Bengal's most popular sea resort. Originally known as Beerkul,
it is mentioned as the "Brighton of the East" in one of
Warren Hasting's letters (1780 AD) to his wife.
In 1923, an English tourist John Frank Smith was charmed by
the beauty of Digha and started living here. His writings about
Digha slowly gave exposure to this place. After independence, he
convinced West Bengal's chief minister Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy to
develop Digha as a beach resort.
A small town, Digha is crowded with hotels generally around one
main road. Its proximity to Calcutta (187 kms) attracts tourists
throughout the year. Digha is a hard beach where one can drive during
low tide. The beach is however facing the problem of sea erosion.
Bathing is advisable only during the low tide. One can view both
sunrise and sunset at Digha sea beach.
New Digha
New Digha is an extension of Digha. It too has several hotels.
There is a small park with a lake here.
Shankarpur
Not far from Digha (appx 14 kms) is the Shankarpur Fishing Harbour
Project. It is also being developed as a beach resort.
Chandaneshwar
Only 8 kms from Digha, Chandaneshwar is the site of an old Shiva
temple.
Access
Air : Calcutta is the nearest airport which is about 210
kms away from Digha.
Rail: Though Contai Road (37 kms) is the nearest railway
station for Digha but Kharagpur ( km from Digha & km from Howrah)
and Mechheda ( km from Digha and km from Howrah) on the South-Eastern
Railway are the most convenient railheads for Digha from where buses
are available which takes 4 hours.
Road:
Route1. Calcutta-Howrah-Mechheda-Norghat-Contai-Ramnagar-Digha:
185 km.
Route2. Calcutta-Deulti-Kolaghat-Kharagpur-Digha: 243 km.
Route3. Tarakeswar-Harinkhola-Arambag-Vishnupur-Kharagpur-Digha:
355 km
Bus : Regular direct buses are available from Calcutta to Digha.
C.S.T.C. Express buses ply from Esplanade (Calcutta) from 0630 hours
to 1000 hours (Fare Rs.30/-). Luxury buses from West Bengal Tourist
Bureau, 3/2 B.B.D.Bagh departs daily at 0700 hours (Fare Rs.40/-).
Digha - 'Brighton of the East'
The beautiful beach languorously stretches to about 7 kms and is one
of the most popular getaway in West Bengal. The wide and scenic beach
is calm and shallow for about a mile, which makes it safe for swimmin
and has the whispery, languid, soft-focus and charm which is so graciously
Bengali. Truly speaking the placid sea water makes it a haven for
bathing.
About 8 km away from Digha is an old Shiva Temple called Chandaneswar.
In fact it is just across the border in Orissa. Another three km from
Chandaneshwar on a country track lies the serene beach of Talsari
with a Panthashala of Orissa Tourism, offering basic accommodation
at reasonable prices.
Digha is one place which is frequented by tourists throughout the
year. Pounding waves, nice beach, exotic seafood and a great weather
together make Digha a place to freak out. If you find Digha too crowded
then you could move off to Shankarpur .
Shankarpur has to its credit all the advantages of Digha, minus the
crowd. Shankarpur is only 14 km. east of Digha, along the Digha –
Contai Road. It can boast of a wide and unspoilt beach, casuarina
groves by the side of a gentle sea and a good climate round the year.
It is also a regular fishing harbour.
The shortest way to reach Digha is via Mecheda and Contai though the
distance is almost 185 km. Bus services are available at frequent
interval starting form early morning . Both CSTC and private luxary
buses are available throughout the day. Calcutta is the nearest airport
which is about 210 kms away from Digha.
Digha Tourist Lodge run by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation
offers comfortable accommodation. There are some lodges and cottages
under the Digha Development Authority – Saikatabas, Tourist Cottages
Aparajita and Nabagitika, Malancha, Dormitories Chhayanat, Sanjojan,
and for daytrippers – Kshanika. There are a number of small private
hotels and some better accommodation available too .
Those who want to get shopping pleasure can get some curious made
of sea – shell, the reputed Madur of Midnapore (hand-woven mat made
of weeds) in colorful designs, and cashewnuts may be purchased at
Digha. Only 8 kms from Digha, Chandaneshwar is the site of an old
Shiva temple. Also Lankeswari (14 km.) and Kapal Kundala Temple (45
km.) near Contai may be visited.
Another excursion can be made in Junput which is only 40 km. from
Digha by bus, with a change at Contai. The place offers beautiful
sea-view and lines of casuarina trees. The beach is unspoilt. Brackish
water fish cultivation and research are done here by the State Government
Fisheries Department.
For accommodation, there is an Inspection Bunglow under the Superintendent
of Fisheries, Junput. There are a few hotels and a tourist lodge also.
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