However the Ganges has several distributaries in West Bengal (and Bangladesh), the most important being the Hooghly. Unlike the rivers of the north the southern rivers like the Damodar, Rupnarayan and Subarnarekha are not perennial rivers. The Subarnarekha takes a curve into Orissa before emptying in the Bay of Bengal. The Damodar, Rupnarayan and the Hooghly rivers merge before flowing into the Bay of Bengal.

The Ganges and its numerous distributaries form the world’s largest deltaic zone at the mouths of the Ganges. This deltaic region also has one of the world’s largest mangrove forests. Known as the Sunderban, this is one of the most unique ecosystems in the world.

Though West Bengal has a coastline, it doesn’t have too many beaches. The only beach of importance is Digha on the Bay of Bengal. The coastline is dominated by the mangrove forests for the most part.