Life needs to be somewhat unruly like a mountain river. Whenever difficult problems like stones come forward and want to block the path, you have to break everything and make your own way. Travel is an addiction to some people, but to me travel is synonymous with the feeling of being "alive". The addiction leaves, but the feeling of being alive doesn't.
So again on a fine Saturday winter morning, we decided to leave our cozy bed and start another adventure. It was a nice sunny day, our two wheeled vehicle rolled on and the wheel calypso started. We, the WHEEL CALYPSO team, Shreyashi & Indranil were all set to get off the tourist trail and spend a winter weekend exploring a lonely, pristine sea beach near Kolkata. Destination for the day was Lal kankra beach, or some call it as ANDAMAN of West Bengal, a less explored beach, originally known as Dakkhin purushottampur beach. It's in East Midnapore district of our beautiful Bengal. The distance we covered in this trip, one way was 168 kilometers.
How to reach this place by road?
Well, although the google maps nowadays, leave literally no chance to anyone for explaining directions to some destination, we had this trip done and dusted and so didn't want to miss a chance to explain the directions a little, more or less in our own way. Starting from Kolkata, we have to go straight to Nandakumar more via Alampur, Dhulagarh, Bagnan, Kolaghat, and drive along the Kolaghat Haldia highway. From Nandakumar more we have to take Kanthi Nandakumar Road to the right. Moving on straight, we'll reach Mecheda bypass bus stop, we've to take Kanthi Bypass Road to the right from here. A little further we have to take the Digha Road on the left and just after that a little further on the right along the Soula Kanthi Road we have to move straight. After about 10 kilometers, we have to take the marine drive from the three-way junction. This road goes straight towards Lal Kankra Beach. So, when you're on this trip, even if your google map doesn't work, just note down the names of these places and take help of local people, you'll reach.
For 4 wheeled drivers, on this trip you'll have to cross 3 toll gates, costing you approximately ₹170/- if paid online.
How to reach this place by public transport?
For public transport, you may take SBSTC buses till Chowlkhola more from Kolkata, or get in a train to Kanthi or Digha, then reach Chowlkhola more by bus. From Chowlkhola more, you'll have to reserve auto or toto till lal Kankra beach.
Where to stay?
There are not many options available for night stay near this beach, you may either book a stay at Mandarmani and visit this place as sightseeing or can book your stay at Icchedana beach camp just at the beach.
What will be your expenses?
This time, it was our day trip, so we didn't book a stay but, we just booked our food there. For the lunch, Non Veg fish thali costed us ₹170/- per person that day. Their stay at the small tent costs ₹1450/- per person per day including food (breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner).
Vlog: https://youtu.be/gV-QWwPJ2_c
