Sundarbans National Park

2 Days Independent Travel to Sundarbans National Park

Tour Code: TIN203
  Travel: Planning
The Sundarbans is more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) away from Kolkata, India. It is a swampy wetland with the largest and most famous natural mangrove forest in the world. Frequent hurricanes and waves make this area unsuitable for living, but it is an ecological paradise. Various kinds of rare birds, animals and plants are thriving here, forming the last natural protective screen for the Bengal tiger.

How to get to the Sundarbans from Kolkata, India
The Sundarbans can only be accessed by boat, of which Gosaba Island and Godkhali Island are the main inhabitant islands. But the entrance to the park is on Sajnekhali Island, where there is a watchtower, a museum, a mangrove interpretation center, a turtle farm and a crocodile enclosure. This is also the place to buy tickets. Below is the travel way from Kolkata to Godkhali, then to Sajnekhali, the main entrance to Sundarbans.

► Three ways to get to Godkhali from Kolkata:
• Rent a car to Godkhali and you will arrive in about 2 hours.
• The second is to take a train to Sonakhali, spending around 2 hours. But ticket reservation in advance is not available and the train is rather crowded. After getting off the train, you need to hire a car or take a bus from Sonakhalito Godkhali.
• The third way is to take a bus. The bus departs from Babu Ghat Bus Terminal on Strand Road, Kolkata every hour and the first bus is at 6:30. You will reach Sonakhali after 3 hours. Then take another bus to Godkhali.

► Two ways to get to Sajnekhali from Godkhali:
• One is to rent a boat from Godkhali, the price is high.
• The other is to take a ferry from Godkhali to Gosaba, then change to a tricycle to Pakhiralay village on the other side of the island, and then take a boat to Sajnekhali.

Things to Know before Sundarbans National Park Tour
• Foreigners need a permit to enter the Sundarbans National Park and must provide their passport. The permit can be obtained from the Ministry of Forestry in Sajnekhali, Kolkata or West Bengal Tourism Office at 2/3 BBD Bagh East near the post office. In addition, you need to book a private boat to tour the area. For your convenience, you may ask help from TravelChinaGuide to arrange the entire itinerary.
• The best time to visit The Sundarbans National Park is from October to February of the following year.
• In addition to the ticket fee of 200 rupee, there is also a sea entry fee of 400 rupee. Each boat must have a guide and the cost is 700 rupees.
Day 1 Kolkata - Godkhali - Gosaba - Sajnekhali
Take a ferry from Godkhali to go through the residential island of Gosaba, and then come to Backpackers eco village for lunch. You may check in a small hotel or bed and breakfast here in the evening. In the afternoon, follow the boat guide to visit the island on foot, and then take a boat to see wild animals in the depths of the mangrove forest, mainly the birds. You can also learn about the locals' lifestyle on the island. Later, enjoy more beautiful natural scenery by the river mouth.
Day 2 Visit the Sundarbans and return to Kolkata
Follow the guide to the reserve area, and then take a boat for a full day sea voyage. To see tigers, you need to change to a small boat to the tiger observation point. Tiger experts will accompany you all the way. However, it all depends on your luck whether you will see the tigers or not.

After the trip, take a tricycle on Godkhali, the largest inhabitant island, to the pier in the north, then take a ferry boat there for about ten minutes. Finally go back to Kolkata by bus.
This trip can be customized to meet your individual needs!