I used to visit West Bengal only during my vacations twice every year, which mostly (actually only) included visiting my relatives. But this time due to the pandemic, since I am staying in my hometown, I decided to explore a few places nearby.
West Bengal is a coastal state in India, so there are bound to be many beaches to explore here. Digha being the most popular among the list of beaches in West Bengal, there are many less known beaches too, Bakkhali being one of them.
Bakkhali is one of those beaches which are not widely known to the public but are gradually gaining popularity. One of the highlights of this beach is its beautiful untouched sand and the phenomena of tides.
Yes!!
The TIDES.
Pretty similar to Chandipur beach in Odisha, the sea vanishes at Bakhhali beach during the low tide. And when I say vanishes, it literally vanishes for a few miles.
How to reach
There are 2 options to choose from when traveling from Kolkata – By road or By rail.
By Road – Bakkhali is 120 km from Kolkata. This will take a little more than 3 hours.
By Rail – The nearest railway station to Bakkhali is Namkhana, which is just 25 km away from the beach. Take a train from Howrah Railway Station to Namkhana. Post this, hire a cab to reach the beach.
I traveled from my hometown, Diamond Harbour, which is just 80 km from Bakkhali. I booked a cab for the day, leaving at 9 in the morning, and returned the same night at around 9.
Bakkhali Beach
Well, I have already described a lot about this beach in the intro itself.
By the time I reached the beach, there were few streams of water flowing instead of the sea due to low tide. But it was such a joy to just sit at the beach in silence with just the wind blowing.
Let me mention a few points that I experienced for the first time at a beach. The chairs available at the beach area are on an hourly basis with a minimal amount of INR 10 per hour. But remember that there are different vendors for the different areas the chairs are placed.
Places nearby
Even though this place itself is quite wonderful to just lounge at, there are a few other places I had browsed to visit too.
Henry’s Island
I have literally never seen such a quaint place before. This is like a higher version of the untouched beach.
You can reach by taking a toto (local transport) from Bakkhali beach. Entry to this beach is just INR 15. You can take your car/toto inside to the parking lot from where you need to venture out on foot.
Even the path leading to the beach was quite picturesque. From a distance, you can spot the beach among the small space between the mangroves.
The beautiful golden sand, blue sea, and lush green mangroves create this wonderful scenery that you can enjoy for hours. Only if you can tolerate the heat. There are no sheds or stalls here. Only a few benches and a watchtower.
I was totally in love with the sand. No garbage or waste to worry about. Such clean beaches are very rare to find these days which is why I loved this place so much.
Note- Carry water and food with you as there is no such arrangement inside.
Crocodile Breeding Centre, Bakkhali
Truth be told, I did not visit this place. Even though I had it planned in my travels but the sun was shining so brightly that it just felt impossible to walk for such distances.
But from my research, it is a great place for environmentalists and naturalists. So if you are one, do give this place a try.
Food
Since this place is not very famous, there are very few restaurants to choose from. The road leading to the beach has many hotels and restaurants but at the beach, it is better to enjoy at the beach stalls.
Beach Stalls
You will get a variety to choose from the beach shacks.
- Phuchka (a but obvious snack)
- Jhalmuri
- Ice cream
- Aloo kaabli
- Seafood, freshly cooked right in front of you
- Coconut water
Restaurant
Beach restaurants mostly have various types of seafood to offer. Of course, rice. Being the staple diet of Bengalis, rice is offered with most of the dishes served here along with some side dishes and dal, making it a complete thali.
Final thoughts on Bakkhali Beach
It felt like a perfect getaway for me. The cool breeze was so damn refreshing and watching the sunset is always a great way to call it a good day.
Since this place is still pretty untouched, it is a great place to explore for those who want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Tips
- Carry enough cash as most vendors here don’t accept card or online payments.
- Apply as well as carry sunscreen.
- Keep your valuables with yourself at all times.
- Be careful to not venture out for long-distance on the sea bed during low tide. If you do, make sure to confirm from the locals about the safety and timings of the high tide.