West Bengal has quiet a few beaches, but most of them are very busy. In Oct 2010, we were in search for a secluded beach for a our group of fifteen. Someone suggested Tajpur and it turned out to be ideal. It lies beside Mandarmoni, a very popular beach resort. The seclusion of Tajpur can be attributed to the fact that the beach is separated from the mainland by a stretch of dense vegetation, that hides the beach from view. So, you will not see the ocean from the balcony of your hotel room. Also, you will have to walk quiet a distance to access the beach. This is not a problem if you have a car at your disposal. For these reasons Tajpur is ideal for tourists looking for a weekend away from the crowd.
We were a group of 15 with the youngest member being 2 and the eldest 72. We reached around midday in our resort, which is a sprawling property of a few acres. Each family was alloted a hut with on suite and own veranda. After a hurried lunch, me and Indra, decided to locate the ocean, which we can hear but cannot see. Our niece decided to come along. We unwisely decided to force our way through the dense jungle that separated the bridge from the mainland. It seemed quite harmless at first, but as we made our way through the dark forest, we noticed that the forest bed was flooded in most places with black, rotting water, and the few dry patches were covered with thorny bushes. We also surprised some wild ducks resting peacefully in the swamps. The next day we found a dog and a cow lying dead in these jungles. Both died of snake bites. These jungles and the surrounding countryside are full of dangerous snakes. They usually keep out of the paths, but in venturing out in the jungle on foot, we ran great risk that day.
After battling for 5 minutes we reached the beach, which was surprisingly red. A closer look revealed small crabs which seemed to cover every single inch of the beach. The beach itself was hard and covered with minute holes. At that time of the day, the ocean was far off. A gentle breeze took away the sting of the sun and we prepared for a long bath. The beach was completely deserted save ourselves and a few fishermen. As the day wore on, six cows added to our number. We could also locate one single shop along the beach, which sells tea, tea-biscuits and an occasional omelet.
The western end of the beach was cut off by a small river draining into the ocean. For this reason, in the ocean, there are currents flowing in from three different directions, which makes swimming a bit difficult. On the other bank of the beach we could see the beach resorts of Mandarmoni. Early next morning we bought some of the fresh fish caught by the fishermen and had them for lunch. We also took a boat-ride on the river. The scorching midday sun made it impossible to spend anytime at the beach, but in the evening, the beach is truly magnificent. A gentle breeze blows from the ocean. The boats just hover in the horizon, forming twinkling crown for the ocean. You could walk for miles without meeting any other soul. Tajpur is a perfect retreat for a peaceful weekend.
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| Our Resort at Tajpur |
After battling for 5 minutes we reached the beach, which was surprisingly red. A closer look revealed small crabs which seemed to cover every single inch of the beach. The beach itself was hard and covered with minute holes. At that time of the day, the ocean was far off. A gentle breeze took away the sting of the sun and we prepared for a long bath. The beach was completely deserted save ourselves and a few fishermen. As the day wore on, six cows added to our number. We could also locate one single shop along the beach, which sells tea, tea-biscuits and an occasional omelet.
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| At Tajpur |
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