Diamond Harbor is a small place rest at 51km south of Kolkata. Once the main port of the East India Company, it is the place where Hoogly river ( a tributary of Ganga) turns south and flows into open sea. It is good staging area for tourist destination in further south. It is most of the time crowded with jaded Kolkatians who comes here for idyllic weekend holiday. Hajipur later change into Diamond Harbor by British is place where big ships docks.



For travelers who just want to chill at a serene place outside of city ado, Diamond Harbor is inspiring enough to call for. For most of the Bengali families Diamond Harbor is an ideal picnic spot, a quick escape from regular routine and spending quality time with family on the gentle lap of river Hoogly. Apart from natural environment there are plenty of other attractions such as ruined Portuguese fort, Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, nearby Sagar Islands, Bakkhali and few more. River cruises on the Hoogly river is also a popular activity in Diamond Harbor.

Sight And Activities

Old Fort Of Portuguese And Lighthouse
Old Fort of Portuguese in Diamond harbor is now in the ruined state. This fort speaks the story of Portuguese colonialism in the eastern part of India. Once Diamond Harbor was the stronghold of Portuguese pirates and they built the fort to resist enemy to enter their territory. Old lighthouse is something straight out of Virginia Woolf novella. Visit the place in the evening to feel a relentless experience.

Sagar Island
Sagar Island lies close to Diamond Harbor and popular for Kapil Muni temple. Most of the time local people visit the place as Kapil Muni is revered ascetics among people here. Every year in the mid of January, a huge three day long Ganga Sagar mela festival is organized, second most largest fair after Kumbh Mela. The fair is attended by thousands of people from all over the world.

Bharat Sevashram
Bharat Sevashram is renowned charitable organization run by monks and ascetics. It is located near the Diamond Harbor railway station. There is a temple, monastery, charitable dispensary, free accommodation for guests and a secondary school in the campus. At the time of festivals the Sangha is flooded with people from nearby places and Kolkata. An off the track place to visit and learn the didactics of life.

Bakkhali
There are few but interesting excursion option from Diamond Harbor. Bakkhali is one of those. It is small beach town located nearby Diamond Harbor. The white beach is rather desolate and exposed but nice to stroll along the seaside.

Shopping In Joynagar Town
Close to Diamond Harbor Joynagar town invites people to see the rare 11th and 12th century manuscripts. You can shop some exquisite terracotta figurines, black stone images of Buddha, Mahavir and Vishnu. The excursion through a ferry ride on the river Hoogly is tender experience.