Purba Medinipur, West Bengal

Digha-Contai Coastal Seafood & Fish

Fresh sea and river fish, crab and prawns from the district's Bay of Bengal coast, centred on the Digha Mohana fish market, where vendors arrive very early in the morning with heaped carts of freshly caught sea creatures from the nearby sea. Fishing and fish processing are among the main industries of the Contai sub-division, and the catch feeds the fish-fry stalls and seaside restaurants that line the coast. Families queue on weekends and during puja holidays for fried ilish and other fish at these stalls, and visitors often buy fresh fish from Digha on the way home. A buyer gets a direct-from-the-sea supply of ilish, pomfret, prawns and crab.

Typical price: ₹200-800

Buying tip: Reach the Digha fish market in the early morning for the freshest catch, and in the heat either eat it cooked at a nearby fish-fry stall or ask a local shop to pack it in ice, as fresh fish does not keep in warm travel.