Digha is West Bengal's most visited sea resort, a strip of shallow, gently sloping beach about seven kilometres long in Purba Medinipur district, close to the Odisha border. It was once called Beerkul, and the British saw it as a seaside retreat in the late 18th century; the phrase 'Brighton of the East' is attributed to Warren Hastings in 1780. The modern resort took shape after an Englishman, John Frank Smith, settled here in 1923 and later persuaded the state's first Chief Minister, Bidhan Chandra Roy, to develop it.
What you get is a domestic family resort rather than a polished beach destination. The sea is silty and brownish, the shore is lined with concrete embankments and casuarina, and the best moments are the ordinary ones: a sunrise walk on the sea wall, jhalmuri from a stall, the fish auction at Mohana. Old Digha is the older, denser end, with the market and many guest houses. New Digha, about two kilometres away, is calmer and closer to the science centre, Amrabati Park and the new Jagannath temple beside the railway station.
Digha suits short stays of two or three days, especially from Kolkata. It is easy on older travellers if you accept the heat and humidity, stay near the beach and keep outings short. Day trips go east to Shankarpur's fishing harbour or west across the state line to Talsari beach and the Chandaneswar Shiva temple in Odisha.
Time the trip carefully. October to March is the comfortable season, with December to February the most pleasant. The monsoon months bring heavy rain and a rough sea, and cyclones are a risk on this coast at certain times of year, so check forecasts before travelling.
Before you plan
Digha at a glance
- Best months
- November to MarchNovember to March; December to February is the most comfortable. June to September is very wet, with a rough sea.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 to 3 days2 to 3 days; a long weekend covers the beaches, the main sights and one day trip
- Airport
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose…Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Kolkata, roughly 180-190 km away; allow about 4-5 hours by road
- Railway station
- DighaDigha (DGHA), the terminus of the Tamluk-Digha branch line, close to New Digha beach
- Getting around
- Autos and local taxis within the resortAutos and local taxis within the resort; hire a car for Shankarpur, Talsari and Chandaneswar
- Daily budget
- Varies widely with season and hotelVaries widely with season and hotel; check current rates, since prices rise sharply at weekends and holidays
- Senior comfort
- Good with planning: flat promenades…Good with planning: flat promenades and indoor sights, but heat, humidity and limited shade on the beach
- Language
- Bengali locallyBengali locally; Hindi and some English in hotels and shops; Odia across the border in Odisha
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Digha: January, February, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Digha itinerary
One good day
1 day in Digha
Start at sunrise on the Old Digha sea wall, then ride to Mohana to see the fish market and auction before it thins out. Have breakfast near the beach, rest in the heat and visit the Marine Aquarium and Regional Centre or the Digha Science Centre as an indoor break. In the late afternoon, go to the Jagannath temple near the railway station, then finish with the evening promenade and a browse through Nehru Market.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Digha
Walk the Old Digha sea wall at sunrise, then go to Mohana for the fish market. After breakfast and a rest, visit the aquarium indoors. Return to the beach before sunset and end with Nehru Market for shell jewellery and sweets.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Digha
Sunrise on the sea wall, Mohana fish market, a midday rest and the aquarium. Finish at Nehru Market in the evening.
Day-by-day plan →
