When we think about a beach from Kolkata, the first place which would come to our minds is Digha. But, Digha has now become overcrowded with visitors, commercial establishments and much more. A search along the unexplored path always brings you to some of the most unexpected and beautiful places; one such place is Bankiput.
Bankiput is a flawless beach which is bordered by the dense Casuarina trees. This virgin and unexplored beach remains away from the glare of commercialisation; hence, one would not come across the sound of cars and the maddening crowd. It is one place where, at times, you would not come across a single soul and only hundreds of red crabs making their way out to give you company.
Here it is only yourself and the vast sea whose waves come and kiss the yellow sands. The silence of the area is broken only to the sound of the waves, which makes it a perfect place to spend a secluded and relaxed, much-needed break away from the city life.
Daraipur Lighthouse
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The Dariapur Lighthouse is one of the major attractions at this beach. Scaling the heights of 96 ft, this lighthouse is fully functional and opens its doors for visitors at 3 pm everyday. One would get the chance to go atop the lighthouse and get a panoramic view of the entire sea and its surrounding areas.
Kapalkundala Temple
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Located at a distance of 7 km from the beach town is the ancient temple of Kapalkundala, which finds its name mentioned in the novel written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
Dedicated to Goddess Kali, the temple attracts a large number of pilgrims from various parts of West Bengal, Odisha and Bihar during the annual fair, which is held in the month of Chaitra in the Bengali calendar.
Pethuaghat Harbor
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One of the most picturesque harbours located in the coast of Bay of Bengal, Petuaghat Harbour or the Deshapran Fishing Harbour is located at the meeting point of Rasulpur river and Bay of Bengal.
The harbour is one of the best places to catch the fishermen in action with their boats and fishing nets. One would also come across a heap of freshly caught fish here.
Watch The Rising Sun
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If you are at the beach, it is a sin to miss the beautiful sunrise and equally beautiful sunsets. Only one way for you to wash away this sin is by getting up early and catching the rising sun against the horizon, which truly would be one of the most beautiful sights you would get to watch.
Take A Stroll Along The Beach
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Since the beach is a secluded and serene one, you can simply walk along the shore without any interference. It would truly be an amazing experience for you to walk down the sandy shores with the waves hitting your feet.
One could also opt to simply sit back and relax at the beach and count the waves; you would not realise how time would fly away!
Best Time To Visit
Bankiput is a year-around destination. However, every season has its own sense of beauty - the monsoon would bring along rumbling clouds with slightly rough seas. Winter would perhaps be the best time for one to visit, where one could take long walks across the shore.