Digha has lured beach-lovers for a century, ever since a British traveler dubbed it the “Brighton of the East.” What began as a quiet fishing coast is now West Bengal’s favorite seaside escape, offering mellow waves, long promenades, and dunes fringed with casuarina trees.

Come for simple pleasures—sunrise walks, fried fish on the sand, and the sound of boats returning to the mohana (estuary). Stay for short excursions to Udaipur Beach’s water sports and Shankarpur’s working harbor, plus easy family attractions like the Marine Aquarium and Digha Science Centre.

Practical notes: Expect peak season around October–March with cooler, comfortable weather; monsoon seas (June–Sept) can be rough. Swim only where lifeguards and flags indicate safety, carry cash/UPI for beach stalls, and come hungry—Digha’s prawn, crab, pomfret, and hilsa are the stars of the table.

Digha

Digha spreads across two main strips: Old Digha, with its storied promenade and sea-facing eateries, and New Digha, planned later with broader beaches, parks, and wider streets. Both are walkable and connected by autos and e-rickshaws (locally called “toto”).

• Top sights: Old/New Digha Beaches, Marine Aquarium & Regional Centre (MARC), Digha Science Centre (planetarium shows), Amarabati Park (boating + ropeway), Udaipur Beach, Shankarpur Beach.
• Why go now: Post-monsoon skies (Oct–Mar) bring vivid sunsets, mild evenings, and excellent seafood seasons.
• Flavor to seek: Prawn malai curry, crab masala, fried pomfret, hilsa (seasonal), jhalmuri and ghugni on the beach, and hot jalebi after dusk.

Where to stay: Browse stays across Old and New Digha on VRBO and compare seafront hotels and family resorts on Hotels.com. For beach access, Old Digha puts you right on the promenade; for newer parks and wider sands, aim for New Digha.

How to get to Digha:

• From Kolkata by train: Howrah/Sealdah to New Digha: ~3.5–4 hours; typical fares ₹150–400 (chair car to AC). Search times and tickets via Trip.com Trains. Morning departures get you in by lunch.
• By bus or car: Esplanade (Kolkata) buses take ~4.5–5 hours (₹300–600). A private car via NH16/NH116B is ~185–195 km, 4–5 hours plus tolls.
• Flying in: Nearest major airport: Kolkata (CCU). Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com, then continue by train or road.

Day 1: Arrival, Promenade Sunset, and a Seafood Welcome

Morning: Travel toward Digha. If you’re coming from Kolkata, target a morning train so you arrive by early afternoon. Keep a small daypack handy—sunscreen, hat, and a light scarf are useful on breezy platforms and beaches.

Afternoon: Check in at your hotel in Old or New Digha. For food and views nearby, settle into a late lunch at Purbasha Restaurant (Old Digha), a long-running favorite for Bengali thalis—try prawn malai curry, fried pomfret, steamed rice, and a side of shukto. If you prefer a quieter sit-down, The Bite at Hotel Dolphin serves dependable fish fingers, hot soups, and classic veg curries—great if you’re traveling with kids.

Evening: Stroll the Old Digha promenade for your first sunset. Vendors ladle out spicy ghugni, toss crunchy jhalmuri, and fry prawn and bhetki to order—watch for the freshest catch displayed on ice. Grab tea from a beachside stall or a coffee at your hotel café, then dine on crab masala and butter naan back at Purbasha or opt for tandoori pomfret at your hotel’s multi-cuisine restaurant if you’re staying in New Digha.

Day 2: Udaipur Beach Adventure and Shankarpur’s Golden Hour

Morning: Start with a hearty local breakfast—The Bite (Hotel Dolphin) does fluffy luchi with aloo tarkari and strong coffee; many hotels in New Digha offer South Indian plates and omelets. Head 15–20 minutes by auto or hired toto to Udaipur Beach (near the Bengal–Odisha border). The shore is backed by whispering casuarinas and dotted with seasonal shacks.

Afternoon: Try light adventure: ATV rides on marked tracks (~₹300–600), speedboat spins when seas are calm (~₹300–500 per person), and parasailing if operators deem conditions safe (~₹1000–1500). For lunch, pick a shack grilling the catch of the morning—prawn fry, bhetki tikka, or pomfret stuffed with masala, served with lime and onion. Carry small notes for easy payments.

Evening: Continue 25–30 minutes to Shankarpur Beach, a quieter, working coast with boats pulled onto the sand—great for photography at golden hour. Return to Digha for dinner: choose Purbasha for hilsa (in season) or prawn malaikari with steamed gobindobhog rice. If you want a change of scene, many hotel restaurants in New Digha grill fresh pomfret and serve North Indian mains—ask for the day’s catch and request tandoor or pan-fry based on size.

Day 3: Mohona Fish Market, Aquarium, Amarabati Park, Departure

Morning: For an authentic start, swing by the Digha Mohona Fish Market just after sunrise to watch the bustle of boats offloading baskets of prawn, crab, and bhetki. Grab chai and hot jalebi from nearby stalls, or return to your hotel for breakfast. Then visit the Marine Aquarium & Regional Centre (MARC) in Old Digha (typical tickets ~₹20–50) to see local and exotic marine species and learn about the Bay of Bengal’s ecosystems.

Afternoon: Head to Amarabati Park in New Digha (entry ~₹20–30). Paddle a boat across the lily-dotted lake, then take the ropeway for a breezy aerial view of the greenery and townscape (usually ~₹80–120). If time permits, stop by the Digha Science Centre for interactive exhibits and a planetarium show (typical tickets ~₹30–60; check showtimes on arrival). Lunch nearby—hotel restaurants in New Digha often do quick combo plates (veg thali, fried fish with rice) so you can keep to schedule.

Evening: Shop the New Digha Market or Old Digha Sea Beach Market for shell craft, conch bangles, jute totes, and cashew packets. Aim for an early dinner or takeaway—crab curry or bhetki paturi travels decently for a short ride—before your afternoon/early evening departure. Trains back to Kolkata typically take ~3.5–4 hours; check options on Trip.com Trains. For flights onward from Kolkata, compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Coffee, snacks, and sweet breaks to try across the trip:

• The Bite (Hotel Dolphin): Reliable coffee, sandwiches, and Bengali breakfasts—good for families and early risers.
• Old Digha Beachfront stalls: Chai, jhalmuri, ghugni, and fresh jalebi after sunset; the atmosphere is half the fun.
• Hotel cafés in New Digha: Many serve espresso-based drinks and bakes—ask for in-house specialties if you prefer a quiet sit-down over street snacks.

Insider tips: Bring a quick-dry towel and spare plastic bags for sandy footwear. Respect lifeguard flags; currents can be deceptive in monsoon months. For seafood, ask which fish is “today’s catch” and request simple pan-fry with salt and pepper to taste true freshness.

In three days, Digha gives you everything you came for: sunrise silence, splashy afternoons at Udaipur, and sunset colors over a working coast at Shankarpur. You’ll leave with sand in your shoes, the warm burn of chili and lime on your tongue, and plans to return when the tides turn again.