In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Contai
কাঁথি
Visit Contai as a day trip from Kolkata or a single night stay; train or bus (≈3 h, check), limited lodging, beach access nearby.
Contai is a small West Bengal town inland from the Bay of Bengal, serving as a base for trips to nearby beaches like Digha and Mandarmani. Reachable by train or bus from Kolkata in about 3 h; a single night suffices to see the market and railway station before heading to the coast.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- কাঁথি
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–₹1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,200–₹2,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Medical 102 · All services 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea with snack | ₹30–₹60 |
| Fish fry (local) | ₹80–₹150 |
| Auto‑rickshaw (5 km (3.1 mi))Auto‑rickshaw (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₹120–₹180 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CCU · Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport
- About 180 km (112 mi), 3‑h drive via NH 16About 112 mi (180 km), 3‑h drive via NH 16
Typical fares
- Kolkata → Contai (bus, air‑cond)
- ≈₹200, 2.5 h (check)
- Kolkata → Contai (train, 2nd class)
- ≈₹250, 3 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk within the town; local buses or auto‑rickshaws are available for short trips; distances are under 2 km (1.2 mi).Walk within the town; local buses or auto‑rickshaws are available for short trips; distances are under 1.2 mi (2 km).
See and do
Known for
- Kanthi railway station
- Bengali coastal cuisine
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Digha | Bus or shared taxi from Contai, about 45 min | ≈1 h |
| Mandarmani | Bus via Khejuri, 1 h 15 min | ≈1.5 h |
| Tamluk | Local bus, 30 min | ≈45 min |
Sleep
- Junput Resort
- Near Junput, 1 km (0.6 mi) from Junput Bazar; booking recommendedNear Junput, 0.6 mi (1 km) from Junput Bazar; booking recommended
- Bankiput Guest House
- 6 double‑bedded rooms, serves Bengali cuisine
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | নমস্কারnomoskar |
| Thank you | ধন্যবাদdhonnobad |
| How much? | কত টাকা?koto taka? |
| Where is the beach? | বিচ কোথায়?bich kothay? |
| I need a taxi | ট্যাক্সি দরকারtaxi dorkar |
| Water, please | পানি দিনpani din |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Limited lodging – book before arrival.
- Train schedules may vary; check the latest timings on Indian Railways.
- During monsoon, roads can be water‑logged.
Contai is generally safe; stay aware of monsoon flooding and keep valuables secure in crowded bus stations.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Contai yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Kanthi railway station
- Bengali coastal cuisine
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Contai: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Contai, revision 5012983 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5012983
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/contai). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.