BANKIPUT, CONTAI – 160 KMS. FROM KOLKATA

• Weekend Tour

Bankiput is an unexplored beach bordered by a dense forest of Casuarina trees located very near to Kolkata. You would hardly find any mortal soul on the beach excepting the millions of red crabs popping their heads from their burrows. At Bankiput, it’s only the sea – the sand – and the silence for you. No speeding cars on the beach and no picnicking crowds would spoil your day at Bankiput. But, the “horizon-kissing” beach is not the only attraction in Bankiput – there is a fully operational Lighthouse in nearby Dariapur and an age-old temple of Kapalkundala (as mentioned in Bankim Chandra’s novel) too. If you have always dreamt of spending a day in a completely deserted beach lending your ears to the chirping birds and the crashing waves then Bankiput is the place to be this weekend.

Places to see in Bankiput: The lonely beach and casuarina groves stretching for miles. Other attractions at Bankiput include the Dariapur Lighthouse, Deshapran Fishing Harbour at Petuaghat and the Temple of Kapalkundala (as referred in Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel) all within 7 kilometers of Bankiput.

The Deshapran Fishing Harbour at Petuaghat is located where Rasulpur River meets the Bay of Bengal. It is one of the most picturesque fishing harbours in coastal Bay of Bengal. The 96 feet high Dariapur Lighthouse is another attraction here. It is a beautifully restored fully functional lighthouse and tourists are allowed to the top of the lighthouse too. You can catch an excellent panoramic view of the entire region and the sea from the top of this lighthouse. There is also a temple, which is said to have been referred by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in his famous novel Kapalkundala.

Nearby attractions of Bankiput: Bankiput is located quite near to Junput and Contai (Kanthi) so you can reach most of the popular sea beach destinations of coastal Bengal from here within an hour. Starting from the popular beach destinations like Digha, Mandarmani and Shankarpur to lesser known sea beaches of Talsari, Udaypur and Tajpur – all can be reached within an hour or so from Bankiput. The newfound eco-village of Monchasa is also nearby and can be reached via Kalinagar.

Things to do in Bankiput: The sunrise and sunset from Bankiput is something to cherish and so are the long walks along the deserted beach. In the moonlight nights, the beach and the sea turns into pure silver and you can witness the changing colour of the sea during the day. A visit to the Dariapur Lighthouse would be a rewarding experience. You can catch a great view of the whole area from this 96 feet high lighthouse. The Dariapur Lighthouse opens to visitors from 3:00 pm everyday.

How to reach Bankiput: If you are travelling by car then drive to Contai (Kanthi) and then take the road to Junput. After reaching Junput stand, you have to take the road connecting Baghaput. Just halfway towards Baghaput, you would find a bifurcation towards Bankiput. If you are taking public transport, then you can take shared trekkers to Junput from Contai (Kanthi) and then shared trekkers heading towards Baghaput and get down at Bankiput. You can also reach Contai (Kanthi) by train.

Best time to visit Bakiput: You can visit Bakiput anytime of the year. In the monsoons, you can see the dark clouds rolling into the horizon and in the winters

Lodging and Food at Bankiput: There is only one two-storey guesthouse with six Double Bed rooms at Bankiput. This spacious guesthouse is just a minute away from the Bakiput Beach. There’s a small pond, a lawn and facilities like attached Western Bathrooms, Electricity and Television in the guesthouse. The guesthouse can also arrange transport for local sightseeing to Dariapur Lighthouse and Petuaghat. Sumptuous Bengali cuisine is served in the guesthouse for the guests.