MOUSUNI ISLAND

Some places stay etched on memories unexpectedly. I never knew such a small trip to an underrated place named Mousuni Island would leave such a beautiful impact. My family planned a trip to this island around January this year and I was hesitant to go for this 2 days and 1-night trip at first as I had my Board exams coming up but I am glad that I went with them as that refreshed my mind and gave a boost to study harder.

Mousuni, a small island near Namkhana, West Bengal, India (on NH 117). It took us around 4hours to reach ‘Hujjuti Ghat’ from Kolkata where we parked our cars and then took a boat ride to cross the Hatania Doania river. The boat ride is risky as they take 20 to 25 people along with their luggage across the river at a go but is an exciting journey at the same time.

Mousuni Island is located at the confluence of Sea and river. From waking up to the chirping of birds and the sound of waves till the setting of the sun with a mesmerizing golden ambiance, each and every moment spent on the island makes us love it even more. You can buy fresh fishes and crabs, collect seashells, make sand art, click photographs, and enjoy bonfires. It is an apt escape for your weekend at any point of the year but please make sure to check the weather report beforehand.

The residents of Mousuni Island are mostly underprivileged. Their main source of income is fisheries and tourism. It is a rural area and the kids lack education as schools are situated far away from the village. Even though they have the minimum amenities I could see they had peace. We offered a child some chips and to our surprise instead of having all of it alone, he shared that small amount with his siblings. This incident made me realize that we don’t need a lavish lifestyle to be happy and we can be happy with no grandeur.

Kids having fun

A woman collecting dry fish which is a source of their income

I would like to end this blog by telling all of you that Mousuni is like a beautiful song composed by the river and the sea and a perfect escape from the chores of the city.

Sometimes you just find happiness in the heart of the people you hold dear.