Digha is West Bengal's most popular sea resort. Originally known as Beerkul, it is mentioned as the 'Brighton of the East' in one of Warren Hasting's letters (1780 AD) to his wife. -

In 1923, an English tourist John Frank Smith was charmed by the beauty of Digha and started living here....

Digha is West Bengal's most popular sea resort. Originally known as Beerkul, it is mentioned as the 'Brighton of the East' in one of Warren Hasting's letters (1780 AD) to his wife. -

In 1923, an English tourist John Frank Smith was charmed by the beauty of Digha and started living here. His writings about Digha slowly gave exposure to this place. After independence, he convinced West Bengal's chief minister Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy to develop Digha as a beach resort.

A small town, Digha is crowded with hotels generally around one main road. Its proximity to Calcutta (187 kms) attracts tourists throughout the year. Digha is a hard beach where one can drive during low tide. The beach is however facing the problem of sea erosion.

Bathing is advisable only during the low tide. One can view both sunrise and sunset at Digha sea beach.

Digha is one of the most popular tourist sports in West Bengal.The beauty of this place was discovered as early as the days of Warren Hastings. Todays Digha was known as Beercool at that time. The sea at Digha is calm and shallow for about a mile from the beach making it quite safe for swimming.

New Digha:

New Digha is an extension of Digha. It too has several hotels. There is a small park with a lake here. 

Shankarpur:

Not far from Digha (app. 14 kms) is the Shankarpur Fishing Harbour Project. It is also being developed as a beach resort.Shankarpur has to its credit all the advantages of Digha, minus the crowd. Shankarpur is only 14 km. east of Digha, along the Digha Contai Road. It can boast of a wide and unspoiled beach, caesarian groves by the side of a gentle sea and a good climate round the year. It is also a regular fishing Harbour.

Shankarpur will soon be developed as a sea resort with hotels, tourist lodges and other facilities.

Chandaneshwar:

Only 8 kms from Digha, Chandaneshwar is the site of an old Shiva temple. An old Siva Temple, 8 km. from Digha. Also Lankeswari (14 km.) and Kapal Kundala Temple (45 km.) near Contai may be visited.

Junput:

Junput is 40 km. from Digha by bus, with a change at Contai. The place offers beautiful sea-view and lines of caesarian trees. The beach is unspoiled. Brackish water fish cultivation and research are done here by the State Government Fisheries Department.

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