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Henry's Island - Getaway Next Door










We are living in an era when our over dependence on technology touching new heights every day.  In every facet of life, we fall back on our gadgets. Thus, acquiring information related to tour and travel is no exception.  Instead of exploring beyond regular and redundant, be it for visit to places of interests or for that matter just a weekend jaunt, we start scouring internet. Often, searches yields places very popular and beautiful, yet sometimes it can overlook beautiful places normally unexplored.


This Holi (festival of color), it was an unpremeditated trip to Bakkhali, which ended up being at Henry’s Island, nearby Bakhkhali. Those, who are not acquainted with the name ‘Bakkhali’, it is a beach village in the southern fringe of West Bengal, State of India and the district being South 24 Parganas. Shortest distance from Kolkata to Bakkhali is 125 km ( Diamond Harbour Road {NH 12},  via  Sirakole – Usthi – Netra). If you take a detour via Sarisha-Diamond Harbour, the distance will become 133 km.   



Bakkhali itself is nature’s own place, but the beauty of Henry’s Island lies in its tranquillity and raw view of nature. Though unconfirmed, but we came to know from locales that the name ‘Henry’s Island’ has been given after a British surveyor with the same name who visited this place on 19th century.  Distance between Kolkata to Henry’s Island is 126 km. (by shortest route), albeit the leading road to this place starts taking a left turn at ‘Jetty Ghat’, Fraserganj, couple of km prior to Bakkhali. A board marking the direction of Henry’s Island is to be found on the leading road.   People of Kolkata and around who love pure nature will get exhilarated once they realize what treasure is lying so close, yet unexplored. We travel miles to have a glimpse of jungle, uninhibitedly flowing river, beautiful beach caressed tenderly by gentle sea waves, being completely ignorant of all these scenic beauty waving to us from so close. Even Bakkhali, with its all natural beauty remained virgin to be explored for long due to the lack of infrastructural development. The root cause being the unavailability of connectivity on Hatania Dowania, a slender River, en route to Bakkhali from Namkhana. Crossing the river was always been a big deal since couple of barges  were the only way for private and public vehicles to ferry across and they had to queue up hours before their turn. This was so very annoying and time consuming that tourist used to lose half of their enthusiasm crossing the river! There are also small country boats available for carrying cattle and other passengers but the pandemonium is one of the biggest setbacks for the development of Bakkhali and surrounding tourist spots.
I’ve been regular to Bakkhali for the last few years and seen the number of enthusiasts getting increased every year. But the biggest positive change which is going to catapult the number of tourist many fold, is the construction of Namkhana Bridge over River Hatania Dowania. The bridge is inaugurated but still some finishing work, including set up of toll booth is yet to be done.


Henry’s Island is an awesome place, once you reach there but the leading road to it from ‘Jetty Ghat’, Fraserganj is so slender you are bound to miss it, if not keep yourself alert or  your GPRS tracker on. The sinuous pathway surrounded by rural households will lead you to the entry gate of Henry’s Island. After tendering entry tickets you enter the precinct and leave behind all your worries. This place is being well looked after by State Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd., West Bengal and since your entrance to this place the more you head towards the beach you will be welcomed by surrounding mangrove forests,  small hutments in between and number of water bodies maintained for pisciculture. That means an organic combination of raw nature and civilization. Behold, your emotions here, because this is only the inception point of your amazement. The more you advance, you will realize, gradually you are getting into the lap of Mother Nature through a passage built by civilization where nearly all facilities are available. From restaurants to cafeteria, small accommodations to put up all are there within your reach. Booking though can only be done from there city office for which you can refer their website: http://wbsfdc.com   


Being a nature-lover, I was keener to see beyond these facilities and boy, I was treated sumptuously with view hardly anticipated. Entry to the through tbeach itself is an experience. Dawn or dusk, any time of the day will have its ethereal impression on you as you pass through the mangrove covered avenue. Once entered, you will realize, this beach is even bigger than the Bakkhali beach.  Since hobnob of crowd is generally lesser here, you can have quality time taking a stroll on the beach. Swarm of small red crabs was playing hide & seek with us. During low tide, the sea looks sedated and since the water recedes, the beach looks wider. 
West Bengal Govt. deputed Coastal Securities, though small in numbers are always watchful and will alert you not to venture out into the sea as there are hidden quicksand pockets on the beach. Also, during high tide water fills the creeks generally remain dry near the entry to the beach areas, unawareness can bring fatal consequences. At night, though the beach is restricted, but watch towers on the beach can be utilized for observing some wild animals like, wild boar, wild cats, dears etc.

If you are a nature enthusiasts and looking for a short trip at the weekend, what are you waiting for? Give this wonderful place a try.

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