Bakkhali lies about 125 km south of Kolkata on National Highway 12. The journey crosses the rice fields and fishing villages of South 24 Parganas and ends at the sea.
By car
Head south from Kolkata on NH 12 through Diamond Harbour and Kakdwip to Namkhana. At Namkhana the highway crosses the Hatania Doania River on a 340-metre cable-stayed toll bridge that opened in 2019. Before then, vehicles had to wait for a ferry. From the bridge it is a short drive on to Bakkhali.
OpenStreetMap routing gives about 124 km and 1 hour 46 minutes of driving without traffic for the fastest route; going through Diamond Harbour town adds about 13 km. Real journeys take longer because of traffic and stops. Leaving early avoids city traffic, and in mid-January the stretch to Kakdwip can be crowded with pilgrims heading for the Gangasagar Mela.
By train
Local trains run from Sealdah on the South section to Namkhana. From Namkhana, buses, trekkers and other shared vehicles run on to Bakkhali. Check the current timetable on the official NTES or IRCTC channels before travelling. The road from Namkhana to Bakkhali is about 27 km.
By bus
Buses run from Kolkata towards Namkhana and Bakkhali. Schedules and operators change, so confirm departure points and times locally on the day.
Tips for the journey
- Carry cash for tolls, food stops and local transport.
- Fuel up before the last stretch if you are driving.
- Our drone video on the home page was filmed over the Namkhana bridge on the way in.
Sources: Wikipedia articles on Bakkhali, Fraserganj, Henry's Island, Jambudwip and the Hatania Doania Bridge (accessed November 2026). Travel times are estimates; conditions change, so check locally.
