Mandarmani...;)

So we decided to go the nearest sea cost near Kolkata - Mandarmani. Of course first time I heard it from my co-workers, they told me that it is amazing place to spend weekend, so we went there. ;)))

Mandarmani is a beach resort in Purba Medinipur district of South Bengal , one of the southern districts of West Bengal . It is almost 180km from Kolkata Airport on the Kolkata - Digha route and just 14km from Chaulkhola .Mandarmani is one of Bengal’s recently developed tourist destination that lies close to ever-popular Digha and Shankarpur. With sun and surf, pristine sea beach and untrammeled silt coloured sand, this beach is slowly becoming popular among the tourists. Mandarmani boasts of a 13 km long motorable beach, probably the longest motorable beach road in India.

So we went there by bus early in the morning on Saturday, the way there took us 4,5 hours, then we took a taxi and drove more 15 km till the hotel, that took us more 30 minutes way. We knew only one hotel "Sana beach", that suppose to be best one there, but we decided to go there only because it was close to the sea and our friend told us that it will cost approximate 500 Rs per person (approximate 12 $, 353 Rub). But when we came there the cost was 2400 Rs (approximate 56 $, 1694 RUB) per 2 people, it was the cheapest and all these rooms were already booked, so the only one opportunity was for 3000 RS and more. We didn't want to spent a lot of money on hotel, that is why we were thinking about finding another one. We were told that it would be impossible to find something cheaper, but we decided to try to find something more. And we were right, we found one good hotel, the next after "Sana beach", so it was also close to the sea, but the price per person per night 200 Rs (5 $, 141 RUB) and for 250 Rs. it was possible to order lunch, dinner (like it usual for Indian people, at 22.00 pm), snack (was at 19.00 pm) and breakfast, tea at any time. ;))) it was nice to fine this place. ;)))

So we enjoyed our trip a lot, the sea is very clean and nice, it is not overcrowded at all, just few people on the beach... But all of them was very curious to us, cause we are foreigners and cause we were in bikini. I will explane, there were only I and one my friend from Colombia, we were the only girls who were wearied in bikini, usually majority of people in India swim in clothes, of course it is strict to women about the clothes on the beaches... hehe but we didn't care about that, we wanted to have a rest, relax and take our time... It was very good, it was worth visiting even than trip there by bus was very tiring... But it gave us chance to experience this trip like local people!!! I like traveling like that!!! ;))) I advice you to experience if you are in Kolkata it as soon as possible!

For those who want to go to Mandermani by bus like we please find the information below:

From Kolkata, catch a bus at Esplanade or at Howrah headed for Chawalkhola, or any bus headed towards Digha. From Chawlkhola there are cycle-rickshaws and auto-rickshaws which you can take to Dadanpatrabar. From Dadanpatrabar, you can again get some cycle-rickshaws, but it is best to take the transport from Chawalkhola till Mandarmani since transport availability from Dadanpatrabar is very uncertain.

Get down at Chawalkhola, and look for private cars. You may contact Bisu for a drop to Mandarmani. Fare would be about 200 to 250/- for a drop at Mandarmani sea beach.

State Transport Buses are available cost Rs 76. A number of deluxe coaches run daily, Rs 100-110. Whiteliners is the nicest option, departing Esplanade at 7:30AM, Rs 205. Now (May 14th 2010) the Whiteliners bus service will charge you 200 with an additional Rs. 5 as resevation charge.(Careful while booking as most of the time bus is canceled for mechanical failure.

A/C Volvo buses of Royal Cruiser (Joy Dada) are plying from Kolkata to Digha from which one can disembark at Chawalkhola. Leaves IBT at 6:45 AM and Esplanede at 7:45 AM. Ticket price till Digha is Rs 325.

Hotel details:

Samudra Bilas Resort, you dont have to book it before ;) but I have contacts of their booking office:
The Tour Explorer, Mobile: 9874681828, 9836699515
Advice you!!! You will not regret, staff is very polite there!