Bakkhali

Bakkhali is seaside hamlet in Namkhana (community development block) in Kakdwip subdivision of South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India. It is located on one of the many deltaic islands spread across southern Bengal. Most of the islands are part of the Sunderbans forests. Some of these are joined together with bridges over narrow creeks. This small island juts out into the vast expanse of the Bay of Bengal.It has a 7 km long beach stretching from Bakkhali to Frasergunj.HistorySir Andrew Fraser, Lieutenant Governor of Bengal (1903–1908) in the early twentieth century, is credited with "discovery" of the place. In recognition of his efforts a part of the town is named Frasergunj. There is a dilapidated house near the beach, which according to the locals was the one in which Fraser used to stay.ActivitiesBakkhali is unique in many ways. The windmills in Frasergunj serve as a power generating location.The rickshaw van is the only form of local transport..Fishing is the primary occupation of the people all. Agriculture is almost non-existent because of the extreme salinity of adjacent sea which indundates the land heavily affecting the fertility of the land.There is a fishing harbour at Frasergunj and Benfish, a wing of the state government has a presence nearby. Bakkhali and Frasegunj are unadulterated by urbanisation. One can still hear the cock crow at dawn and watch ducks puddle around muddy pools in the backyards of houses. One can see fishing nets spread everywhere. Country boats carrying sackfuls of dried fish is a common sight.