<Previous Page>

At a distance of 51 km. from Calcutta, the port town of Falta is situated on the eastern bank of River Bhagirathi. Now an important industrial town, it also has a significant place in India's colonial history for it was here that the East India Company set up camp after its defeat at the hands of Shiraj-ud-Daulah in 1756.

A popular tourist attraction is the garden house of Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose, where the scientist is reported to have made many of his discoveries. 

How To Get There
Buses leave Calcutta from the stands at Babughat and Taratolla and go directly to Falta in two hours. 

Just two kilometres ahead of Bakkhali is the quaint little fishing village of Fraserganj. Originally called Narayanitala, the place was renamed after Andrew Fraser, who fell in love with it and tried his hand at converting it into an ideal sea resort. But the seaside town that he built, along with its famous sanatorium, the shops, the roads, have all been washed away by the waves. With time, Fraserganj has been rebuilt and today it stands as an attractive fishing village and tourist spot.

Only ten kilometres by boat from Fraserganj, is the island paradise of Jambudwip. The whole island, except for Mandirtala, is submerged in the sea for half the year and emerges only from March/April to September/October. A major attraction is the fishing colony is set up from October to January.

How To Get There 
Fraserganj may be reached by bus directly from Namkhana too. Private buses are available throughout the day.

Southwest of Bakkhali, only ten kilometres by boat from Fraserganj, is the island paradise of Jambudwip. The whole island, except for Mandirtala, is submerged in the sea for half the year and emerges only from March/April to September/October. 

Jambudwip boasts of an interesting variety of aquatic life. Every year, a fishing colony is set up from October to January. One could spend the day among the fishing folk, go out with them on a day's fishing expedition, and sniff at the sea air, which is perpetually heavy with the smell of drying fish. 

Near at hand are the ruins of an old lighthouse, which make for a great site to explore. 

Kakdwip is 91 km. from Calcutta and 43 km. from Diamond Harbour. Here the Ganga is very wide, and Kakdwip is now an important junction for water transport. It is of historical importance as well, for it served as the headquarters of the great Te-bhaga rebellion of undivided Bengal.

Another interesting spot is the Kakdwip Research Centre, which is engaged in the development of culture technologies for local shrimps and fishes. 

How To Get There 
Buses leave Calcutta from Shahid Minar and Garia bus stands and go directly to Kakdwip. The journey takes about two and a half hours. 

Once upon a time a den of pirates, Nurpur is now an important junction for water transport. It is a picturesque town on the banks of the Hooghly. Mingling with little local boats are huge ships sailing forth into the Bay of Bengal. Back on land, there is an orphanage built by missionaries, nestled in coconut groves. 

<Previous Page>