Ringed by casuarina trees and a famously gentle shore gradient, Digha has drawn beach lovers for centuries. British-era travelers once dubbed it the “Brighton of the East,” and today it remains Kolkata’s favorite seaside weekend—easy to reach, easy to love. The coastline is split between Old Digha’s protective sea wall and the broader sands of New Digha, with fishing harbors and quiet creeks a short ride away.

Beyond lazy beach hours, you’ll find family-friendly sights like the Marine Aquarium and the Science Centre, paddle boats in leafy parks, and sunrise markets where the day’s catch changes hands. Seafood shacks fry bhetki and pomfret to order, while hotel restaurants dish out prawn malai curry, crab masala, and classic Bengali thalis.

Practical notes: the sea can be rough in monsoon (June–September); heed lifeguard flags and local advisories. Best weather is October–March. Carry some cash for markets and e‑rickshaws, and plan early lunches if you’re eating at beach shacks—they serve until the fish is gone.

Digha

Digha is really two moods: Old Digha’s wave-battered promenade good for dramatic sunsets, and New Digha’s wider, walkable beach suited to families and sunrise runs. Day trips fan out to Udaipur’s dunes and shacks, Shankarpur’s fishing harbor, and Odisha’s Talsari Beach, where red crabs skitter over rippled sand at low tide.

Top sights include the Marine Aquarium and Regional Centre (India’s largest in its category), Amarabati Park for boating under casuarina shade, and the Digha Science Centre’s hands-on galleries that kids adore. Food-wise, think tea in clay cups at dawn, jhalmuri on the promenade, and a plate of fried fish as the sun dips.

Getting there

• Fly to Kolkata (CCU), then continue to Digha. Search flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Kolkata to Digha is ~185–200 km.
• Train from Howrah/Santragachi to Digha: ~3.5–4 hours on daytime chair-car expresses; expect roughly ₹150–₹600 per seat depending on class. Check timetables and fares on Trip.com Trains.
• Intercity bus from Kolkata (Esplanade/Howrah Maidan): ~4.5–5.5 hours, ₹350–₹700. Private car hire takes ~4–5 hours via NH16 + SH4.

Where to stay

• Old Digha: Sea-facing hotels near the promenade are great for sunset walks and night markets. Compare stays on Hotels.com (Digha) or browse apartments/guesthouses on VRBO (Digha).
• New Digha: Wider beach, more family hotels, quick access to the market and park. Look for sea-view rooms and on-site dining on Hotels.com or VRBO.

What and where to eat

• Old Digha staple: Purbasha Restaurant (near Beach Road) is a long-running favorite for bhetki fry, crab masala, and Bengali thalis; ask the day’s catch and prices by weight.
• Sea-facing hotel dining: The in-house restaurants at Hotel Sea Hawk (Old Digha) and Hotel Sonar Bangla (New Digha) serve reliable prawn malai curry, chingri cutlet, and steamed rice with kasundi.
• Beach shacks (Udaipur/New Digha): Numbered thatch shacks fry fish to order; try pomfret tawa fry, jumbo prawns, and crab curry. Go early for best selection and insist on weighing the fish.
• Breakfast and snacks: Market-lane halwai near New Digha Bus Stand for kochuri–alur dom and jalebi; promenade vendors for jhalmuri, ghugni, and clay-cup dudh cha.

Day 1: Arrival, Marine Aquarium, and Old Digha Sunset

Morning: Travel to Kolkata by air via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com, then connect to Digha by train on Trip.com Trains (about 3.5–4 hours). Alternatively, a private car ride from Kolkata takes 4–5 hours.

Afternoon: Check in at your hotel in Old or New Digha via Hotels.com or VRBO. After a quick lunch (try Purbasha’s bhetki fry or a simple veg thali), wander to the Marine Aquarium and Regional Centre to see local marine life—helpful for kids before they hit the beach.

Evening: Stroll the Old Digha sea wall for a dramatic sunset and wave spray. Snack on jhalmuri and coconut water, then dine at Hotel Sea Hawk’s sea-facing restaurant; order prawn cutlets, steamed rice, and a mustardy kasundi dip. Cap the night with a slow walk through the souvenir stalls along Beach Road.

Day 2: New Digha Mornings, Amarabati Park, and Science Centre

Morning: Greet sunrise on New Digha Beach—it’s broad and perfect for long, flat walks. Grab a breakfast of hot kochuri–alur dom and jalebi from stalls near the New Digha market, or tea and toast at your hotel café if you prefer a sit-down start.

Afternoon: Head to Amarabati Park for paddle boating under casuarina trees. Continue to the Digha Science Centre where interactive exhibits are a hit with families; plan 60–90 minutes. Lunch back near New Digha market: quick plates of fish curry–rice at small bhojanalayas, or a vegetarian thali if you’re keeping it light before the evening surf.

Evening: Return to New Digha beach for a sand-between-the-toes sunset. In the dry season, you’ll often find ATV rides and occasional parasailing; always check lifeguard flags and operator credentials. Dinner at Hotel Sonar Bangla’s multicuisine restaurant—order chingri malai curry, roti, and a side of sautéed seasonal greens.

Day 3: Udaipur Beach and Talsari Red-Crab Flats (Day Trip)

Morning: Hire an e‑rickshaw or cab to Udaipur Beach (about 3–4 km from New Digha). It’s quieter, with dunes and casuarina groves. Settle into a numbered thatch shack, pick your fish or prawns by weight for lunch, and walk the shoreline while it’s cooked—bring sunscreen and cash.

Afternoon: If the tide is favorable, continue to Talsari Beach across the Odisha border (roughly 20–30 minutes from Udaipur by road). At low tide the flats reveal ripples dotted with tiny red crabs—great photos, but tread gently. Optionally, detour to the nearby Chandaneswar Temple for a short cultural stop.

Evening: Drive back to Digha before dark. Freshen up, then try dinner at Purbasha if you missed it earlier, or the in-house restaurant at Hotel Dolphin for a straightforward Bengali platter (bhaat, dal, bhaja, and a fish curry). Pick up mishti doi from a local sweet shop for dessert.

Day 4: Shankarpur Harbor Dawn, Digha Gate, and Departure

Morning: Early run to Shankarpur Fishing Harbor (about 20–30 minutes). Watch boats unload and the fast-paced fish auctions; have muri-ghugni and a hot chai from dockside vendors. It’s a vivid look at the working coast—ask before photographing fishermen.

Afternoon: Return to Digha, snap a photo at the Digha Gate, and shop the market for shell crafts or packets of dried fish (keep them sealed for travel). Enjoy a last lunch near New Digha—simple fish curry–rice or veg thali—then depart by train on Trip.com Trains or by road to Kolkata for your evening flight via Trip.com Flights.

Evening: If you have extra time, return to Old Digha for a final promenade walk and a cone of soft-serve; otherwise, settle into your transfer. Safe travels!

Local logistics and tips

• E‑rickshaws and shared autos cover most hops (₹10–₹30 per person in town). Private tuk-tuk or cab for day trips: ₹1,200–₹2,500 depending on distance and season.
• Swimming: obey red/yellow flags and local announcements; currents strengthen near high tide and during monsoon. Footwear helps on rocky stretches of Old Digha.
• Seafood shacks: confirm price per kg before cooking; most close once fish sells out. Carry small notes for snacks and shacks.

Four days in Digha balances easy beach time with small adventures—quiet Udaipur dunes, bustling Shankarpur, and the glow of Old Digha at sunset. With fresh seafood, gentle mornings, and short day trips, this coastline makes an unrushed, deeply local escape from Kolkata.