Remote Bengali beach resort near the Sundarbans, reached by ferry and edged by delta islands.
Bakkhali is a small beach resort about 132 km south of Kolkata, close to the edge of the Sundarbans. It is more remote than Digha — reaching it requires a bus from Kolkata to Namkhana, a ferry crossing of the Hatania Doania river, and another bus — which keeps the crowds down. From Bakkhali beach you can walk to Fraserganj, the small settlement nearby, and take a motor launch to Jambudwip, a forested island in the delta managed as a wildlife reserve.
The combination of beach, ferry crossing, and proximity to the Sundarbans gives Bakkhali a slightly adventurous feel that more accessible resorts lack. Henry Island, a few kilometers east, has a good mangrove walk and a watch tower over the estuary. Accommodation is basic; it is not the place for comfort. But for a day or two away from Kolkata with the feeling of real remoteness, it rewards the extra travel time.
Guide
Getting There
Getting to Bakkhali requires some patience, which is part of what keeps it from being overrun. From Kolkata, the most comfortable approach is by train from Sealdah station to Namkhana — trains run several times daily and the journey takes about two to two and a half hours. From Namkhana station, a shared auto or bus runs to the Hatania Doania river ferry ghat, where a small ferry crosses to the far side. From the far bank, another bus or auto completes the journey to Bakkhali, with the whole journey from Namkhana taking about an hour.
Alternatively, direct buses from Kolkata (Esplanade or Babughat bus terminus) cover the full distance to Bakkhali in three to four hours but involve crossing the same ferry. Private cars can be hired from Kolkata for the convenience of door-to-door travel without the ferry interruption — the car crosses on the ferry while passengers walk on and rejoin it on the far side. The ferry cannot be reserved; it runs on a first-come first-served basis and can cause delays during festivals and weekends.