West Bengal ·
Contai
Contai is a town in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal.
Contai at a Glance
Why Contai?
The highlights, landmarks and experiences that make this destination worth visiting.
- Junput Beach
- Kapalkundala Mandir
- Dariapur Lighthouse
- Bankiput Sea Beach
Contai at a Glance
Essential travel information to understand Contai before planning your visit.
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Explore Contai
Places to Visit
- Junput Beach: If you go there having the sea in your mind then you will be quite disappointed. The water has shifted far off from there and the only thing left is white muddy sand.
- Kapalkundala Mandir: Made famous by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's classic novel Kapalkundala. It is a story of a forest-dwelling girl named Kapalkundala, who fell in love with and married a young man from the city, but eventually found that she was unable to adjust herself to city life.
- Dariapur Lighthouse: Visitors can climb to the top and have a good view of the area
- Bankiput Sea Beach: It is fairly long beach, starting around 2-3 km from the resort. What is shown on the map is roughly the centre of the beach.
Things to Do
- Bankiput Sea Beach: It is fairly long beach, starting around 2-3 km from the resort. What is shown on the map is roughly the centre of the beach.
- Dariapur Lighthouse: Visitors can climb to the top and have a good view of the area
- Jagannath Temple: It was believed that Bhimsen Mahapatra, King of Odisha, built this temple.
- Junput Beach: If you go there having the sea in your mind then you will be quite disappointed. The water has shifted far off from there and the only thing left is white muddy sand.
- Kapalkundala Mandir: Made famous by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's classic novel Kapalkundala. It is a story of a forest-dwelling girl named Kapalkundala, who fell in love with and married a young man from the city, but eventually found that she was unable to adjust herself to city life.
Sightseeing Places
- Junput Beach: If you go there having the sea in your mind then you will be quite disappointed. The water has shifted far off from there and the only thing left is white muddy sand.
- Kapalkundala Mandir: Made famous by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's classic novel Kapalkundala. It is a story of a forest-dwelling girl named Kapalkundala, who fell in love with and married a young man from the city, but eventually found that she was unable to adjust herself to city life.
- Dariapur Lighthouse: Visitors can climb to the top and have a good view of the area
- Bankiput Sea Beach: It is fairly long beach, starting around 2-3 km from the resort. What is shown on the map is roughly the centre of the beach.
Places That Define Contai
Explore the most iconic landmarks and sacred sites.
Junput Beach
If you go there having the sea in your mind then you will be quite disappointed. The water has shifted far off from there and the only thing left is white muddy sand.
Kapalkundala Mandir
Made famous by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's classic novel Kapalkundala. It is a story of a forest-dwelling girl named Kapalkundala, who fell in love with and married a young man from the city, but eventually found that she was unable to adjust herself to city life.
Dariapur Lighthouse
Visitors can climb to the top and have a good view of the area
Bankiput Sea Beach
It is fairly long beach, starting around 2-3 km from the resort. What is shown on the map is roughly the centre of the beach.
Explore Destination on Map
Discover all sub-destinations, routes and detailed navigation information on an interactive map.
Explore Contai on Map
Open the destination map to discover attractions and routes.
Plan Your Trip
Plan Your Way
- When to Visit: Climate-based guidance for choosing your dates.
- Getting Around: How to reach and move around.
- Budget & Practical Tips: Costs and safety notes from local guidebook sources.
How to Reach
- By Air: The nearest airport is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), about 121 km from Contai.
- By Train: The nearest railway station is Kanthi railway station, about 2 km from central Contai.
- By Road: You can also take a bus from Kolkata to Contai (air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned are available). From the Kolkata side of the Hooghly River, you have to drive via NH 16 (formerly NH 6), Mecheda, Nandakumar and Henria to Contai.
Best Time to Visit
- Summer: Summer in Contai (Apr, May, Jun) averages 27–32°C with about 101 mm of rain per month.
- Monsoon: Monsoon in Contai (Jul, Aug, Sep) averages 27–31°C with about 550 mm of rain per month.
- Post-monsoon: Post-monsoon in Contai (Oct, Nov) averages 22–30°C with about 126 mm of rain per month.
- Winter: Winter in Contai (Dec, Jan, Feb) averages 15–27°C with about 3 mm of rain per month.
Weather
- Summer: Average highs of 32°C and lows of 27°C.
- Monsoon: Average highs of 31°C and lows of 27°C.
- Post-monsoon: Average highs of 30°C and lows of 22°C.
- Winter: Average highs of 27°C and lows of 15°C.
Suggested Itinerary
Choose the perfect duration for your Contai trip.
Spiritual & Religious
History
- Summary: Contai is a town in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal.
- Overview: Contai is a town in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal.
- Ancient History: The Sub-Division that covered 912 square miles (2,400 km2) was the second largest in Bengal .In 1863 when Nimak Mahal (the salt factory and business center) at Contai, in the teeth of a serious crisis, ceased functioning, the Sub-Divisional office was shifted from Negua to the abandoned Nimak Mahal building.
The Sacred Heart of Contai
A timeless journey of faith and devotion.
Significance
Among many festivals in Contai, "Gandhi Mela" is the most popular. It is held during January/February every year and it continues for 10 or 15 days.
Coastal Significance
Among many festivals in Contai, "Gandhi Mela" is the most popular. It is held during January/February every year and it continues for 10 or 15 days.
Maritime Heritage
In 1243, Contai was the site of the Battle of Katasin, in which Narasingha Deva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty defeated Tughral Tughan Khan, the Bengal governor of the Mamluk dynasty of Delhi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contai is most comfortable in January, February, March, April and May, when average daytime highs stay at or below 32°C and rainfall is low. The hottest month is June (average high 33°C) and the wettest months are June, July, August, September and October.
The nearest airport is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), about 121 km away. The nearest railway station is Kanthi railway station, about 2 km away. See the How to Reach page for road, rail and air details.
Main attractions include Junput Beach, Kapalkundala Mandir, Dariapur Lighthouse and Bankiput Sea Beach.
A stay of 1 day covers the main sights. Ready-made 1-day and 2-day itineraries are linked on this page.
Average highs range from 25°C to 33°C over the year, with about 2305 mm of rain in total.
Tour Packages for Contai
Your Contai Journey Starts Here
Explore top attractions, local culture, and the experiences that make this destination worth visiting.