Mandarmani Trip

Itinerary:Kolkata>>Mandarmani>>Kolkata

About:Mandarmani is a beach in South Bengal. It is known as the longest motor able beach of India (14 kms). Pristine and relatively tourist free, it is situated 180 kms from kolkata. Quaint fishing boats dot the beach and give it an old world air. Go to this beach if you like to spend a quiet holiday without doing too many things. If you are the busy sort who likes to keep doing something then it is not for you. Read a book, drink some local coconut water r simply laze around.
Time of Trip: September 6th and 7th, 2008

Duration: 2 days

Hotels stayed at: Masara beach resort

6th September,2008.

We left Kolkata at about 7 am in the morning.Sitting in Tata Sumo cars we went along at a fair clip for some time before suddenly getting caught right in the middle of a traffic Jam of trucks in a place called Kolghat.I've seen this phenomena of traffic jams of trucks in a fair few of my road trips in various parts of India.After sitting in the hot and humid car ,finally we moved on.The rest of the journey was relatively easier.

Just before we reached Mandarmoni we turn off into a small dirt track.From here there is no proper road and we just have to go through really bad roads.We took a couple of jolts allright.
We passed narrow roads with villages looking at us withvarious levels of boredom.

The beach comes into view very suddenly.One second you are riding a car in the middle of bad roads and dusty villages.A sharp turn later with a gasp you realise that you are on the beach itself.Te only way to explore this beach is to drive on the beach itself.It is know as the longest motorable beach in India.

We soon drove to our resort which was situated bang on the beach itself.It was decent.












pic 1: The Masara Beach Resort,Mandormani

We immediately descended on the beach,forgetting about lunch in our excitement in seeing the beautiful beach.And beautiful it certainly was.Beautiful beaches in India are not really about aquamarine blue waters or virgin white sands.It is simply the absence of large crowds.

The beach was pristine and unspoilt.Well I am sure it will only be a few years because it descends into a popular but dirty beach like Digha.

This beach was characterised by a large strip of clay before just before deep waters.We had to wade over this sticky strip carefully slipping and sliding before we reached the sand of the ocean floor beyond.Lots of fishing boats lined the beach.

pic 2: Lonely fishing boat on pristine Mandarmoni

pic 3: Lonliness ,Thy name is Mandarmoni

pic 4: Three boats on the beach,Mandarmoni

After a quick dip,we went back for a full lunch.

After a short nap I descended on the beach again in the evening all by myself with a book.I sat reading on the beach for hours till it grew dark.All around me I saw noone.The waves splashed with a mighty roar on the shore.For some time I forgot who I was,the cares and worries of the world I was in.It was magical.

I met some kids of a fisherman's family and took a quick snap.

Pic 5: Kids on the beach at twilight,Mandarmoni Beach












Pic 6: Large streches of the Beautiful Mandarmoni beach at twilight

As the beach was not very safe at night I could not go for a walk.Therefore we had to settle for Dumb Charades and some other games.I got bored after a while and went off to sleep.

7th September,2008

We got up early to watch the sunrise on the beach.It was beautiful,although nothing spectacular.

Pic 8: After Sunrise on Mandarmoni

After a heavy luch we decided to head back to Kolkatta.

We got caught at exactly the same place in the traffic Jam.We reached home by around 9 PM.

Wonderful weekend Getaway!!!