Digha is a seaside resort town in the state of West Bengal, India. It lies in Purba Medinipur district and at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal. It has a low gradient with a shallow sand beach. It is the most popular sea resort in West Bengal.
Originally, there was a place called Beerkul, where Digha lies today. This name was referred in Warren Hastings’s letters (1780) as Brighton of the East.
An English businessman John Frank Snaith started living here in 1923 and his writings provided a good exposure to this place. He convinced West Bengal Chief Minister Bidhan Chandra Roy to develop this place to be a beach resort. An old Church is well famous in Digha, which can be seen near the Old Digha Main gate this place is also known as Alankarpur Digha. A new mission has been developed in New Digha which is known as Sindhur Tara which is beside Amrabati Park its a Church where you can wish for the welfare of your family and loved ones. The best way to visit is to book a local van rickshaw.
There are mainly three seasons in Digha, namely summer, monsoon and winter. Summer starts in April and continues to till June with an maximum temperature of 37 °C (99 °F). Although cold wind from sea keeps the weather pleasant in this time. Next comes monsoon in July and lasts till the end of September. Digha generally experiences an average rainfall with high humidity in the monsoon season. Winter sets in October and lasts till February with a temperature range from 24.3 °C. July to March is considered as the best time to visit Digha as weather stays most pleasant in these times.
Digha’s old beach is not as wide as it used to be due to heavy soil erosion. Big stones and concrete steps are used to hold together the beach. Another problem is the record number of storm surges that have caused many of the unplanned shacks and smaller hotels to succumb to the sea. Since it is one of very few popular beaches in West Bengal, it gets overcrowded, especially during the cooler winter break.
A new beach has been developed “New Digha” which is about 2 km (1.2 mi) from the old beach. This new beach is not only bigger than the old one, but might be considered a better one. It is clean and well-maintained and is not surrounded by a congested locality like the older beach. The latest attraction of New Digha is the Science Centre established by the National Council of Science Museums. The entire stretch of the Digha seaface from Old Digha to New Digha is filled with casuarina plantations, which looks beautiful.
Places of Interest :-
New Digha Beach
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 Deegha 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 getaway. Tucked away in southern West Bengal, this destination is a quaint holiday spot to spend time in the tranquil lap of nature. The Digha sea starts at about a mile away from the beach area, which is lined with casuarina trees as far as the eyes can see.
This beach is famous for its alluring sunrise and sunsets, which are beautiful beyond words. With the golden rays of the sun reflecting off the sparkling sea, this spectacle will surely last in your memories for a long time!
Talsari Beach
Lined with coconut and palm trees all along, Talasari beach is famous among sea food lovers for the delicacies it offers. The place has an amazing view with all the stretches of greens peeking through the mountains and the rivers.
Talasari is less frequented by people, making it ideal for solitude seekers. For adventure lovers, discovering all this untouched beauty will surely be a rewarding experience.
Udaipur Beach
The Udaipur beach in Digha is one of most pristine and exquisite sea beaches in India. This unexplored ‘virgin sea beach’ is located on the border of Orissa and is nestled between New Digha and Talsari. Though just 3 kilometres away from the Digha station, the beach seems to be miles away from it metaphorically. The lonely beach, far far away from the crowded and claustrophobic city life, is dotted with towering casuarina trees and the makeshift stalls of the fishermen who sell fish here. The place is especially famous for its scenic beauty, and people from all parts of the world visit the beach to capture these picturesque views in their sight forever.
You can choose from a number of exciting options of activities at the Udaipur Beach and enjoy yourself with friends and family. These include swimming, taking a long walk along the sea shore, enjoying adventure sports such as Speed Boat or Banana Boat, riding bikes, or tasting the local delicacies. The local shops at the beach serve lip-smacking traditional delicacies, which primarily comprises of seafood such as prawns and fish curry. Coconuts are also widely available here at super cheap prices.
The Udaipur Beach also guarantees to provide decent accommodation at affordable budgets. The tents that are run by West Bengal Tourism, and the OCEANA Tourist Complex, both being suitable options that you can choose from. The Udaipur beach is mostly uninhabited and will give you the feel of relaxing on a private beach. This romantic getaway can be the perfect destination for a honeymoon trip. All in all, the beach is a must-visit at least once in your lifetime to get a taste of what an unpolluted, real beach looks like.
Adventure Sports at Udaipur Beach
For all those who want to get their adrenaline pumping, indulging in adventure sports is a good option. Visitors can choose from a variety of water and beach sports like All Terrain Bike, Banana Boat, Speed Boat, etc. and enjoy with their family and friends. Other than this, you can also have fun with bike rides. You can hire a bike that you can ride till Talsari for as cheap as INR 50 to INR 70 per bike for a 3-kilometre ride.
Attractions Near Udaipur Beach
If you are not the kind of person who can spend hours alone is quietude, then check out the nearby attractions. You can visit the nearby beaches, such as Digha, New Digha, Sankarpur and Talsari. Bichitrapur, which is 25 kilometres away from the Udaipur Beach, is located upstream of the mouth of Subarnarekha River and is well known for its mangrove forest. A steamer ride here is a fun and memorable tour.
Talsari, located just 7 kilometres away, is another unexplored sea beach. With its lush green paddy fields, tall palm and coconut trees and stunning beauty, the beach is literally paradise on Earth. The backwaters of Talsari especially, never fail to fascinate the tourists.
Shankarpur Beach
15 km from Digha, Shankarpur is a virgin beach with a lovely view of the beach surrounded by local fish boats and rows of tress giving visitors the perfect Kodak moment. Near the beach, there are also a few temples in Shankarpur.
Chandaneswar Temple
Situated at a distance of 6-8 km from Digha, Chandaneswar Shiv temple has mythology and folklore depicting its creation and history. The temple plays host to a huge annual fair on the first day of Oriya calendar and sees an influx of a large number of tourists every year.
Marine aquarium cum regional centre
MARC – Marine aquarium cum regional centre – is a major tourist attraction for all Digha visitors. It has the largest inbuilt aquarium in India. The aquarium has three kinds of creatures: species of conservative importance, ‘local and curious’ species and freshwater species.
These species include sea anemones, lobsters, sharks, rays, butterfly fishes, sea snakes, horse shoe crabs and a bunch of other not-so-commonly-heard-of organisms.
