Mandarmani ~ a Pristine Beach of East India

Mandarmani is one of the recent developed tourist destinations of West Bengal. It is quite near to Digha- the most popular sea beach of West Bengal. 

It’s been a long time since we had a family outing. The plan was to spend some quality time with each other in the lap of nature.

On 28^th May 2015, we (a group of 6 members) started our journey to Mandarmani around 8:30am from Chinsurah in a SUV- Tata Sumo Gold. Since this was our first family trip with both parents and in-laws, all were equally thrilled and looking forward to have an enjoyable trip together. The road was pretty good except Delhi Road- where works are going on to make it wide. We had a smooth journey enjoying music and chit-chats. After a span of nearly 2 hrs, we stopped at Sher-e-Punjab, the famous landmark Restaurant at Kolaghat, for breakfast. The food is undoubtedly good here. Having done with our breakfast, we again set out for Mandarmani. This was the only stop we took on our way to Mandarmani.

We had made a prior online booking at The Candlewood Park Beach Resort for a night stay. With the help of Google map, we easily located our hotel. The backyard gate of the Hotel leads to Sea. The first glimpse of the sea right after getting out of the car was amazing. After quickly complying with check-in formalities, I along with my hubby rushed to the backyard gate for an open view of the sea. It was low tide time. Wide stretch of beach was visible. Mandarmani boasts of a long motorable beach in India, the longest I have seen so far in my life.

|| The Iconic Yellow Taxi of Kolkata plying on the beach ||

After quickly having lunch, we moved out of the hotel to experience the motorable beach of Mandarmani before high tide hits the shore. We booked a motored van-rickshaw for a trip from our Resort to Mandarmani Mohana (river delta- the confluence of River and Bay of Bengal). The ride in itself was one kind of an experience. The beach was almost vacant. I thoroughly enjoyed the secluded clean wide stretch of beach while riding to Mohana. Mandarmani is an ideal place to relax, away from the cacophony and enjoy sea view and the breeze.

|| Riding on the motor van-rickshaw ||

On reaching the Mohana, we found that there is a clear demarcation of the area by small bamboo sticks beyond which no vehicle is allowed to go. One has to walk through the wide stretch of beach to reach the exact Mohana point. Out of curiosity, I asked a local tea vendor the reason behind this restriction. He informed that the movement of vehicles on the beach is leading to extinction of red-crabs from this area. In order to save red-crabs, they have secluded the area from access of motor vehicles. Besides, the sand of that area is too soft, any car may get stuck and it will be very difficult to get out of it.

|| Our motor rickshaw -van waiting outside the fence ||

 

|| The fence to protect Red- Crabs ||

|| Red Crabs on Mandarmani Beach near Mohana ||

High tide was approaching. The sun was playing hide and seek with us behind the clouds. The beauty was breath-taking! There were hardly 15 people on the beach at that hour. Only 3 of us from our group went to the Mohana point to see the confluence of river with the Bay of Bengal. And to my wonder, it was only 3 of us at Mohana at that hour. By the time we reached the point, sun was about to set. The shimmering sunset added to the beauty, which was absolutely divine. I was lost in all together different world enjoying peace and calmness of the place. The silence was broke with a phone call, when my dad called us to return soon as high tide is approaching, we can no longer access the motorable sea beach and have to take our way back through concrete road. Due to high tide, we had to take alternative way to return to our Resort.  The alternative way to our Resort made me experience the rural life of the area – the broken alleys, the green fields, and pisciculture.

|| The Sea ||

|| Sun playing hide and seek behind the cloud ||

|| Sun playing hide and seek behind the cloud ||

|| Mohana ||

Having returned hotel, there wasn’t much to do. We sat at the backyard of the hotel facing the sea although nothing was visible in the dark. All you can hear is the sea waves breaking on the shore. We just enjoyed the sea breeze under the moon lit sky. It was so soothing.

|| Enjoying Sea from backyard of the Hotel ||

On the following day, we woke up as early as 4:15am to watch sun-rise. It was absolutely dark at that hour. Only I and my husband were sitting at the backyard of the hotel. Around 4:40am, the darkness started evading. The gate of the hotel was locked. There was a narrow passage, we somehow made our way through the passage and were out. At 4:45 am, I and my husband were the only two on the beach. The feeling of being alone, just with your partner on such a secluded beach early morning was very thrilling and romantic.

Due to clouds, we couldn’t experience ‘sun-rise on the beach’ in the truest sense of the term. At around 5:30am, Sun peeped out of the cloud and smiled at us. By then, parents woke up. They joined our company. 2-3 localites could be seen. The scene of a dog bathing and enjoying in ecstasy in the waves was eye-catching.

|| Sunrise at Mandarmani ||

|| The Golden Reflection ||

|| Sunrise at Mandarmani ||

|| A dog enjoying in ecstasy in the waves ||

I and my hubby were so overwhelmed by the beauty of sunset at Mohana that we thought of visiting it again during day time. On our way to Mohana, we found few people in front of Sun City Resort enjoying water sports. Parasailing, jet-ski, Speedboat was available. Not many were indulging in water sports though. Few shacks have come up on the beach near Sun City Resort. These were few of the notable changes since my visit in 2008. The beauty of Mohana during daytime was all totally different from the one we experienced during sunset. Large scale of red-crabs on the beach was a treat to the eye.

|| En route Mohana ||

 

|| Shacks in Mandarmani ||

The serenity and tranquility of the sea beach at Mandarmani was so divine that I wished to stay a day longer here than to spend a day at the hustle bustle of Digha. However, prior booking at Digha was already done hence we had to check out on 29^th May 2015.

Mandarmani with its calmness and beauty stole my heart away. Being less populated, the charm of the place is rightly preserved. There is still no power in Mandarmani. However, we found electric poles being set up. On conversation with localites, they said that they hope to get electricity within 10 years. All Resorts are run on generators. Inspite of several hardships in this area, you will come across amiable people around. Resorts are trying their best to provide best of amenities- AC, Food inspite of infrastructural lacunae.

At the hour of bidding adieu to Mandarmani, I actually had a mixed feeling. On the one hand, I want the place to develop. I want the world to know about the serenity and tranquility this beach of my home state offers. I really want West Bengal Tourism Department to promote this place. At the same time, I realized that with the evolution of time, Mandarmani is bound to become a commercial tourist destination and lose its virgin charm.