South 24 Parganas: Beaches, Islands and the Sundarbans
Accommodation in South 24 Parganas
The South 24 Parganas destination includes white-sand beaches, islands, mangroves and diverse wildlife. A tower-like temple and a lighthouse also add distinctive touches. When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to first consider which of the region’s different sides you want your trip to focus on: a beach stay, organised boat trips, or explorations of natural and cultural sites.
The beach and how to get to Bakkhali
Bakkhali has an approximately 8-kilometre-long white-sand beach that stretches to Frasergunj. This approximate length gives the stretch of beach a clear sense of scale and makes it a distinctive part of the destination. If you want the beach to be the focus of your stay, you can use Bakkhali and Frasergunj as a guide when searching.
The road to Bakkhali passes through Diamond Harbour and Kakdwip to Namkhana. There, cars or buses are carried across Hatania-Doania Creek on a special ferry. If you are planning to travel by car or bus, this ferry crossing is part of the route to take into account.
The Sundarbans and wildlife
The Sundarbans are a World Heritage Site and the world’s largest estuarine forest. They are also home to Bengal tigers. Organised boat trips into the Sundarbans are run by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation or private operators from Canning, Basanti or Gosaba. For travellers who want to make a boat trip the focus of their stay, these departure points are a useful starting point for planning the rest of the journey.
A special wildlife attraction is the Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project, the only crocodile project in West Bengal. Its breeding station is set up for saltwater crocodiles and Batagur baska turtles. The project is located on the bank of the Saptamukhi Estuary, next to Lothian Island. Nature lovers will find a different focus here than on a beach trip or an organised boat excursion.
Smaller animals, including fishing cats, jackals and monitor lizards, are among the well-known residents of Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary. The habitat is also home to birds such as the red-breasted flycatcher, oriole, paradise flycatcher and drongo. Private buses, auto-rickshaws and Totos go to the sanctuary. This provides a useful guide to getting to this natural area.
Islands, mangroves and distinctive places
On Henry Island, a walking trail passes through a mangrove area, accessible via a small bamboo bridge. Henry Island is about 20 minutes from Bakkhali by Toto. The walking trail, bridge and journey time are useful details if you would like to make this excursion a separate part of your trip.
Jambudwip is a remote island in the Bay of Bengal, about 8 kilometres southwest of Frasergunj or Bakkhali, in South 24 Parganas district. The route first goes through Frazergunj, followed by a motorboat journey. The island is uninhabited outside the fishing season, which runs from October to February. These details give the island a distinct character shaped by the seasons.
Sagardwip also has its own distinctive appeal: a lighthouse there offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. Jatar Deul offers a different sight: a tower-like temple nearly 30 metres high. Those who want to combine nature spots with a cultural destination when planning their trip will find options to suit different interests within the district.
Discover more places
More places in South 24 Parganas: Lakshmipur Abad, Baruipur, Bijaybati, Durganagar.
Go to the regional travel overview: West Bengal.
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