Digha is the most popular beach resort in West Bengal. Described as the 'Brighton of the East', Digha was discovered in the late 18th century by the British. The sea at Digha has a low gradient with a shallow sand beach and gentle waves. The mile-long beach has a firm base, and aeroplanes have also landed on it. 

The Digha market co-ordinates with local sea tides. The market is open at low tide. Cottage crafts of Digha and Midnapur are available at the beach and at other outlets in town. 

The Science Centre is the latest attraction of the beach resort. Established by the National Council of Science Museums, the Centre offers a wide variety of mechanisms to make science an enjoyable learning experience. A fun glass measures individual height. A skeleton gives company for bicycle racing. An Eskimos' Igloo turns out to be a planetarium. Also in the enclave is the Centre's Science Park, which offers entertaining educational opportunities. A park representing the Jurassic Age has also been built at the Centre. 

Asia's largest Marine Aquarium is opposite Digha's hospital. 

The Amravati Lake near Digha offers boat rides. A Snake Farm near the lake, established by expert Dipak Mitra, is an added attraction. 

How To Get There 
The distance between Calcutta and Digha is 174 km. A longer route via Kharagpur is 234 km. The average travel time on direct bus services from Calcutta to Digha is five hours. Buses leave Calcutta from the Shahid Minar and Howrah bus terminus in central Calcutta, from Ultadanga, Dum Dum, Karunamayee and the Dunlop Bridge in north Calcutta, and Dhakuria, Garia and Gol Park in south Calcutta. Night buses ply between Calcutta and Digha via Kolaghat, Kharagpur and Belda. 

Train services are available at half the cost of bus travel, with stops at Kanthi, Kharagpur and Mecheda.

Accommodation 
There are more than a hundred hotels, lodges, bungalows and holiday homes at Digha. Advance booking is advised. 

Junput is yet another beach resort of Midnapur, although the beach here is usually exposed only when the tide ebbs. The casuarina or jhau trees, kissed by the gentle breeze at Junput, are a soothing sight. 

After independence, Junput was overlooked for development as a beach resort, Digha being chosen instead. Later, Junput was harnessed for scientific research and industry. A centre for studies in marine biology is the nucleus for the area's sea-fish research and shark oil extraction. Junput also has a farm for breeding ducks. 

Junput is 40 km. from Digha and regular bus services are available. A bus from Digha would lead to Junput via Kanthi. Kanthi and Junput are eight kilometres apart.

Only 13 km. from Digha is the old fishing village of Shankarpur. It is fast developing into a wonderful beach resort. Apart from the long, tree-lined beach, the main attraction is the Shankarpur Fishing Harbour Project. 

The attached Matsyagandha Rest House of West Bengal Fisheries Corporation is a pleasant halt, and can be booked from Calcutta. There are numerous private hotels and lodges.

Situated at 130 km. from Calcutta and 80 km. south of Diamond Harbour, Bakkhali lies along the eastern shores of the Bay of Bengal. It is Bengal's second seaside town after Digha. The casuarina-lined beach is made of clay rather than sand and it does not quite fit the popular picture of a beach resort. 

The casuarina tree roots extend from the silver beaches into the seawater, forming unique structures. It is a very interesting phenomenon, but bathers are advised to be careful. The famous 16-headed date palm is to be seen at the Bakkhali bus stand itself. Behind the bus stand is a little bridge, by crossing which visitors can gain access to enclosed areas of the Forest Department where the desolate mangrove forests make for an interesting afternoon walk. 

Fraserganj and the island of Jambudwip are two neighbouring attractions very close to Bakkhali. 

How To Get There 
Buses leave Calcutta for Namkhana throughout the day (6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) from the Shahid Minar bus terminus. Buses can also be boarded at Belghoria and Garia. At Namkhana, one has to cross the Hatania-Dowania River by ferry or barge, from where private buses take the passengers to Bakkhali. The LTC Barge was built in 1996 and has greatly enhanced traffic flow across the river. Buses and cars board the barge to cross the river. 

There are buses from Salt Lake, which halt at Shahid Minar terminus, cross the barge at Namkhana and then go on directly to Bakkhali. These buses take five hours to reach Bakkhali and charge Rs. 40 per head. 

If the prospect of this long journey by road seems exhausting, one can always opt for a train from Sealdah (South) Station, which goes to Keronjia, after which the visitor has to board a bus for Namkhana. 

A trip to Bakkhali may be completed in a day. Whole-day conducted tours can be booked from Calcutta.