Asia > India > West Bengal > Mandarmani
Mandarmani is a beach on the Bay of Bengal coast in East Midnapore district, about 180 km from Kolkata. It has become popular with Bengali city-dwellers as an alternative to the more crowded Digha, 35 km to the east. The beach is long — around 16 km of continuous sand — and famously driveable at low tide, when the compact sand allows cars and jeeps to cruise along the water's edge. This is the distinguishing feature and part of the fun.
The village is smaller and quieter than Digha, with a string of beach resorts and simple lodges rather than a town centre. Accommodation ranges from basic guesthouses to mid-range resorts with sea-view rooms and swimming pools. The seafood — fresh catch from the fishing boats — is the highlight of eating here.
Tajpur, a few kilometres from Mandarmani, is a quieter and less-developed beach that is being gradually promoted as a resort. Gadiara on the Hooghly River bank is a popular picnic spot reached from here.
The season runs from October through March. Summer is hot and the monsoon (June–September) makes the sea rough.
