Blue waters, golden skies, red crabs: The allure of Tajpur

If you are looking for a quaint, quiet place away from the humdrum of the city, Tajpur, located in Purba Medinipur, by the tranquil shores of the Bay of Bengal, could be what you are looking for. Located at a distance of about 172km from Kolkata, Tajpur is a worthy addition to the popular weekend getaway list for Kolkatans.

Pristine blue waters, clear sun-kissed beaches, mesmerising sunrises and sunsets, the casuarina trees and double-tiered shacks have all the makings of a relaxing weekend and a serene experience. Located between Shankarpur and Mandarmani, Tajpur’s biggest attraction is its wide beach.

Tajpur’s biggest attraction is its wide beach

Barnini Maitra Chakraborty

During low tide, the sea moves back a considerable distance. It’s a real treat to walk on the wet beach and collect sea shells. During high tides, the sea engulfs the whole beach. Tourists can then drop in at the two-tiered shacks to enjoy the foaming and frothing waves with a plateful of local maach bhaja, which, needless to say, are just lip-smacking.

Two-tiered shacks on the beach

Barnini Maitra Chakraborty

The beach at Tajpur is also home to red crabs. From teenie-tiny ones to those of larger sizes, they can be seen mostly in the evening, after 4pm. They are more visible and abundant as you walk along the beach towards the lagoon. And they love playing hide-and-seek with tourists – popping back into their holes as soon as they feel their footsteps.

Red crabs dot the beach

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On the opposite bank of the lagoon is Mandarmani. You can also see the bridge that connects Tajpur to Mandarmani. There’s a park that has been developed by the West Bengal government on this side of Tajpur. But the best part of this lagoon is the pleasure of a spectacular sunrise and sunset.

The lagoon separating Mandarmani and Tajpur

Barnini Maitra Chakraborty

As the sun rises, the sea has a silver hue and as it gets brighter, the sky and water meld into a rosy hue, and then finally, golden. Around 7am, it’s all white again.

The other tourist attraction of Tajpur is the lighthouse. Built in 2019, the lighthouse provides a picturesque, bird’s-eye view of the whole area. On reaching the top floor, the wind is overpowering.

The Tajpur lighthouse, and the view from the top

Barnini Maitra Chakraborty

Though not as many as Digha or Mandarmani, there are still many options for accommodation. These are mostly small cottages. Some hotels have also started developing along the other side of the road. The bookings are usually done as packages, where all the meals are included. While you shouldn’t expect fancy cuisine, the quality of the food – especially the fish – is quite good and flavorful. The shacks also provide different kinds of fish for maach bhaja preparations. You can even savour ‘deshi murgir jhol’ here. You can also gorge on a steaming hot lunch in the beach shacks.

The beach shacks serve up a delicious lunch

Rumela Basu

So, the next time you are looking for a low-key and relaxing weekend with sand between your toes and a fish fry in hand, Tajpur is a great choice.

How to reach

The nearest railway station is Contai, cars are available for hire there. By road, take the Kona Expressway via Kolaghat and Nandakumar. Then turn right towards Contai. From Contai, you have to reach Balisai, from where a left turn down a village road brings you to Tajpur. The road condition from Balisai to Tajpur is pretty rough.