Because there came another weekend with an additional holiday so we packed our bags and decided to go on a weekend trip. Now we had to decide our destination unlike other times we had made our choice.
So this time it was about beaches of West Bengal and we were looking for some unexplored beaches and we found a deltaic Island in the southern part of Sundarbans.
All done with packing we were ready to leave. One of our friends had to drop her plans because of the office emergency. We had our train at night 9:40 pm from Ranchi and by 7:00 am we were at Howrah station.
DAY 1:
Freshened up and booked a cab to Bakkhali from Savaari.com I must mention they are good with services and are helpful. We had to wait till 9:30 for the cab by then we began with the video blogging and had breakfast at Comesome. Soon the cab was there and we got comfortable in there the driver was friendly and helpful. Thumbs up to Savaari.com.
Soon we were out of the main city and were driving along the river Hooghly, the road was calm and there were small houses and vast lush green fields. We crossed Diamond Harbour and Kakdwip and reached Namakhana.
Here we had to take the boat which will carry our car to the other side of the river. But here the problem arose there are only two ferry to cross and it carries all the vehicles from trucks to buses and cars as well. Due to some reason they were taking only selected vehicles and the process being too slow. There was more than a kilometer of cars and trucks lined up. All of the tourists were getting agitated because the line was not moving and the ferry was also not running because of the fiasco created by the agency running the entire system there. After waiting for around 2 hours we decided to leave the taxi and cross the river by the small boat carrying the passengers only. So we left the taxi and went to the boat. This was the best thing we could do, so we went down near the boats usually they carried around18-20 passengers in one trip but one of them offered to take only 4 of us in only Rs 40. We agreed and sat on it with our luggage even though we took hardly 3-4 minutes and that was too good.
The river was flowing in its fullest speed and there were fishing boats around and we crossed that river just standing on the boat. On the other side we had to pay the tax as well which was Re 1 , unbelievable!!!
Note: If you are going by your own car you will have to wait in a line to cross by the ferry so the other options are:
Option 1: take a train from Howrah to Namakhana, cross the river by the passenger boat and take a cab or bus to Bakkhali.
Option 2: Take cab till Namakhana nead the ferry point and take cross the river by the boat and then bus or cab to Bakkhali.
Option 3: Take a bus till Namakhana and cross the river by boat and the take another bus or cab from the other side of the river to Bakkhali.
Then we went to the bus stand where instead of waiting for the bus we opted a van as we were getting impatient to reach there. In 40 minutes we were at the gate of our hotel. It was Hotel Ambravati. Went to our rooms got fresh and ready to hit the beach it was dusk. The beach was not more than 400 meters away.
The beach facilities are well provided for the tourists. There are paved informal spaces, shops, parking space and public toilet is also built.
We moved where we heard the waves and first thing that we saw was a row of fresh fish stalls. There were around 6-7 kiosks where one can have fresh fish as cooked in different style.
Not being a sea food lover this was the first time that I saw so many varieties of fishes. Being hungry we ordered a few prawns, stingrey and pomfret (one that I learnt to eat in my Chandipur trip). Fresh, fried and best.
Note: Don’t miss trying these here, they cook it for the customers there in front of you and they have a huge variety.
After having our stomach full we went close to the waves and spent some time there with waves in our feet and clouds on the top.
After spending some time on the beach we headed back to the hotel.
DAY 2:
It was going to be a bright and beautiful day. We took our breakfast in the hotel and planned to go to Henry’s Island first. This spot was approximately 7 kms from the hotel. We booked an e-rickshaw so that’s it’s easier to return from there. Once we got down there and started moving we realized we were amid the mangrove forests.
The water level had covered the main stem of the trees we first walked on the path made by filling the soil and keeping it compact with the help of retaining wall.
Then came the bamboo bridge painted blue and white which was kind of cute. In the mangrove forest this little bridge definitely stood out.
As we crossed the bamboo bridge we could see a wide area of swampy land and the trees were all colorful. Apart from green there were leaves and wild flowers of yellow, orange, pink, white, purple etc.
After this again we crossed the path made with the help of retaining wall and the construction was still in progress.
Next was the groove like way, exposed brick paving and the walkway is covered with tree branches and climbers from both sides.
Walking across this pathway it felt like a whole new place and once the brick paving ended we stepped on the white sand beach, fine white grains and a little muddy because of the delta region. It was such a small and calm beach and there were note more than 15-20 visitors. There are Kiawe trees scattered on the beach and because of these thorny trees the beach are is more confined.
We tried to make our way among these thorny trees and away from the crowd . moving just 15-20 meters away we were all hidden from the crowd all alone watching the waves rising , roaring and falling and kissing our feet.
A place where one can hear only nature, the music of the sea. The water is muddy but the beach is clean.
We spent around 45 minutes there walking, talking and playing around and moved back to the parking.
While moving back we went over the watchtower. This has been built to enjoy the view of the Sundarbans forest and we didn’t wanted to miss it. Here’s few of the view to share: the vast stretch of the Sundarbans forest merging with the sea. What a beauty nature has for us to enjoy.
We then went to the crocodile breeding center which fell short with our expectations.
It’s a very small place with barely 2-3 crocodiles to be spotted but more than that there is an area where they breed spotted deer.
Few swings and some benches with shaded areas, a pond and few houses of the employees there, that’s it.
They are still developing the place and we had our time joking around and having fun.
Back to hotel for lunch and a little rest. We wanted to visit Jambu dwip but we were running short of time so we planned to skip it.
Note: Keep a day separate for Jambu dwip a beautiful and isolated island. A little adventure on the sea.
We planned to visit Frazerganj beach which was again approximately 5-6 kms away. So we took an e-rickshaw.
As we were approaching the beach we saw the wind mills for which this place is known. There are few building structures which are ruined and there was only one kiosk there. This beach was different from the Henry’s island it is dark sand beach. The waves were way far from the beach around 600 meters away but as the sand was wet we can say that the at night the beach faces the rashes of high tides.
The broken structures and brick walls were scattered ahead. The villagers have tried to put in all of these broken pieces together with the help of bamboo and woods, a kind of retaining wall.
We walked on the beach and were amazed by its stretch there were no other tourists expect for us only few villagers were there. We enjoyed the sun and walked on that dark sad beach.
As we were walking we saw a group of fishermen repairing the boat and it was one of the rarest and amusing sights. First they would put the black tar and the splash the diesel and finally flame it.
We kept moving and soon we saw the red crabs. I had read about the red crabs in this beach but had never imagined to see them in such a huge number.
Initially we would walk towards them and they’d hide in the sand and as we would cross them and turn they’d peep out of their holes. Amusing and cute as well. It was difficult to get few clicks of them. We didn’t want to miss a chance to shoot them and capture few moments of them running around.
So we came up with a plan Bikram placed his camera near one of the holes made by the crab and four of us dispersed and then started the chase. We tried to push the crabs towards the camera and finally were successful in doing so and captured a few red crabs running around. We did it thrice and it was fun.
One of the crabs became too friendly with the camera and kept dancing it front of it.
We kept walking and enjoying the peace and calmness. The beach has a vast stretch we kept walking and couldn’t see its end.
There were local kids playing football on the beach and our friends also stopped by to play a little with them.
The place was so amazing and peaceful that I must share the calmness and few captures of the place.
We spent around 2-3 hrs there and then moved to the Bakkhali beach where we planned to capture the sunset.
Unfortunately the sun went down hiding behind the clouds but we were not disheartened instead we loved the clouds and the blue sky of the dusk.
It grew dark and clouds came rolling over , the cold breeze was still that pleasing.
We again wanted to have some sea food so ordered variety of fishes again and it was our dinner. Then back to the hotel after the tiring day.
DAY 3:
That morning we had to leave from Bakkhali .Thinking of other alternatives around we decided to take the bus back to Kolkata. Morning at 6:30 there is a state bus but we did not get the seat as they had already been booked.
Note: It’s better to book the bus tickets a day before to avoid any hassle.
So we took the next bus which was at 7:00 am. When we reached Namakhana it was 8:15 around and the ferry had not started yet on enquiring we found that it would start plying from 9:30 am. We had an hour more so we move around and took breakfast at a small hotel there.
Finally the ferry started but there were around 10-12 vehicles ahead of us and we thought that that the wait will be long. But luck strikes at the right time being the state government bus in the second trip our bus was taken across. It was fun to ride on a bus which was on the boat on Hoogley River.
Crossed and the journey started as usual. We reached Kolkata by 1:00 pm. And were hungry so rushed to Dharamtala and had an amazing lunch at The Scoop. Met some old friends. Finally time to go home so took the train at 10:10 pm and got comfortable and sat together recollecting few memories of this small weekend trip.
The journey captured in a half an hour video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6YD2QqPRwo&feature=youtu.be
The trip was soulful and memories captured are beautiful. Credits to the photographer and his friend. See his work..
You can find him at his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/picturespeaks/
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