The watchtower
A climb of a few storeys for a view over mangroves, fish ponds and the sea line. Go in the morning when the air is clear.
travel guide
Henry Island: mangroves and an almost empty beach
Henry Island is next to Bakkhali, on the same road, and almost nobody stops there. It has a mangrove patch, fish farms, a watchtower with a view over the creeks and a wide beach where you may be the only people. About 119 km from Kolkata. The right way to do it is a morning here and the afternoon at Bakkhali.
travel guide
The short version
- Road distance from Kolkata
- 119 km
- From Barrackpore side
- 142 km
- Usual drive time
- 3 to 4 hours from Kolkata, 4 to 4.5 hours from Barrackpore
- Best time to go
- October to February
- Suits
- Couples, photographers, anyone who finds Bakkhali too crowded
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What you actually see there
The beach walk
A long stretch of sand reached through the mangroves. Empty even on a Sunday, and the tide comes in fast, so keep an eye on the water.
Bakkhali and Frazerganj
Fourteen kilometres away: hotels, food and the fishing harbour. Stay the night there and keep Henry Island for the next morning.
How to reach
The Bakkhali road via Diamond Harbour and Namkhana, about 119 km from Kolkata and 142 km from Barrackpore, with a bridge crossing on the way. There is no public transport that drops you at Henry Island itself, so a car for the whole trip is the only sensible way. Ask us to keep the car with you, because there is nothing to hire there.
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What we tell people before they go
Small things that decide whether the day is good or tiring.
Do this as a two day trip with Bakkhali. As a single day it is nine hours of driving for three hours of sand.
Carry water and food. There is very little to buy at Henry Island itself.
Watch the tide on the beach walk. The water comes in across flat sand very fast.
Road distances and drive times here are checked on road routing data and then widened for real traffic. Timings, ferry hours and entry rules change with the season, so ask us the day before you go and we will tell you what the road is like that week.
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Cars for this trip
These are the trips on our list that match this guide. Pickup is from your gate.
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We pick up from these areas
A day trip works best when the car reaches you early, from your own side of town.
questions
Questions about Henry Island: mangroves and an almost empty beach
How far is Henry Island from Bakkhali?
About 14 km, twenty to thirty minutes by car. Most people stay at Bakkhali and drive over in the morning.
Is there a hotel at Henry Island?
There is a small government lodging, but availability is uncertain, so we plan the stay at Bakkhali and treat Henry Island as a day visit. If you want us to try the lodge, tell us early.
not sure yet? send the date anyway. If we cannot do it, we will say so.
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want a car for it
Tell us the date and we plan the day
Send the date and how many people are going. We tell you which car fits, when the car should start, and the full price in writing before you decide.