Mandarmoni Tourism And Travel Guide

Lying in East Medinipur district at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal in the state of West Bengal is the small beach town of Mandarmani. Over the last few years Mandarmani has garnered much popularity and has become a regular tourist seaside destination for the people of the state after Digha. A few hours’ drive from the city of Kolkata is all it takes to reach Mandarmani. The perfect weekend getaway, it has people chilling on the beach taking the much needed break from the hustle and bustle of city life. Here is a snippet of travel guide to explore tourism in Mandarmani.

By Air:

The nearest airport to Mandarmani is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in the capital city of Kolkata. From the airport tourists can take a private car or prepaid taxi to travel 180 km distance to reach Mandarmani.

By Rail: 

Mandarmani has two railways stations located 17 km and 20 km away in Contai and Digha respectively. There are regular trains plying between Contai, Digha and Howrah and Sealdah. From the station tourists can take local transport or arrange for a hotel pick up.

By Road: 

Many people prefer to travel to Mandarmani by road. It is mere 4-5 hours drive from Kolkata to Mandarmani. People can travel by private car or hire a taxi or a cab. There are state transport and private buses operating regular bus services from different parts of Kolkata like Gariahat, Esplanade and Howrah.

Getting Around: 

Given a small place that it is, people prefer to walk around to explore the beach and the surrounding places. For travelling longer distances to other nearby beaches they can use their own cars or book cars from the hotel.

Summer (March to May): 

As a coastal town, summers in Mandarmani are hot and sultry. It experiences very high humidity and not at comfortable for roaming around or going sightseeing. Temperatures reach 36°C and never go below 22°C mark. The scorching heat makes it difficult to laze around on the beach. Evenings are the only time when weather becomes a tad cooler and people can go for a stroll.

Monsoon (June to September):

Monsoon in Mandarman is much awaited and brings respite from the terrible heat of the summer months. Rainfall on the beach is gorgeous and feels beautiful. The freshness is intoxicating and the cool breeze in the evenings feels lovely. It may not be however great for sightseeing.

Winter (December to February):

Winter is undoubtedly the best time for visiting Mandarmani. The clear blue skies, the perfect weather with a slight chill in the air, the wide blue expanse of the sea stretching out before the tourists makes Mandarmani a charming destination for tourists. People can spend time on the beach and indulge in sea sports.

Driving on the Beach: 

Stretching for almost 13 km, Mandarmani has the longest motorable beach in the country. It is an amazing experience driving on the beach with the sea on one side and beautiful trees lined up on the other end. Some amount of caution however must be exercised to prevent any untoward incident.

Strolling on the Beach:

No matter which season, a stroll on the beach in the early mornings and evenings is always a pleasurable experience. Feeling the light breeze on the face, the freshness in the air, the small waves breaking at their feet is the recipe for a perfect holiday. Watching a sunrise in the wee hours of the morning can be a rejuvenating experience.

Beach Hopping:

Mandarmani has a number of beautiful beaches located in close proximity. A few kilometres drive from Mandarmani can take tourists to some amazing locales, stunning virgin beaches lined with casuarinas and tamarisk trees. Udaipur, Tajpur, Sankarpur and Digha are some of the beaches tourists could explore during their stay in Mandarmani.

Beach Activities:

Mandarmani beach now organizes beach activities and sea sports for the enthusiasts. For those who are not satisfied with merely chilling on the beach or strolling, Mandarmani now has Jet Ski, banana boat rides, ATV bike rides for tourists to indulge in. Others can engage in a game of beach volleyball and similar activities. They are fun ways to spend time while on the beach.

Like most places in Bengal, Mandarmani too is a food lover’s paradise, particularly if they are seafood lovers. Freshly caught prawns, lobsters, pomfrets, nicely cooked with spices make delectable dishes. Apart from these one will find all varieties of fish and they are delicious. There are a number of good restaurants here apart from the ones in the resorts. Indulge yourselves in yummy food while soaking in the sun in Mandarmani.

While there are no big malls or supermarkets in this small seaside town, you can nevertheless pick up few local items that this region is popular for. Roasted cashews are delicious and sold in many shops. There are cashew plantations in the vicinity and you will find all varieties of cashews. They make a good gifting item. Jute items and seashell products like jewellery or home decor are equally popular here. Pick up some as a souvenir of the trip.