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24Sep2022

Indian Sundarban - Tourism Information

The tourism in Indian Sundarban is broadly divided into three areas/zones: Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary, North 24 Parganas Forest Division and South 24 Parganas Forest Division. The only accessible place of the core area, which is known as Sundarban National Park, is Netidhopani* Camp.

Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary:

The most preferred way to reach Sajnekhali WLS is to travel by road (in a hired cab) from Kolkata to Gadkhali (approximately 90 kms) and board motorized boat. The other cheaper option is to take a local train till Canning (nearest rail-head to Sundarban) and a shared Tata Magic from there till Gadkhali. From Gadkhali, one needs to travel to Sajnekhali Forest Office to obtain entry permit and mandatory guide. The motorized boat, which one gets on to at Gadkhali, is the only mean of traveling in the forest area. It can be pre-booked or hired on-the-spot when one gets down at Gadkhali. Permit for Netidhopani* Camp is also issued from this office.

Sajnekhali WLS is around 360 sqkm of area consisting of several islands, criss-crossed by numerous waterways. The area needs to be explored on a motorized boat only, as getting down on land is prohibited (apart from few camps). Once inside the forest, tourist will move around the Pirkhali block (consisting of 7 islands) and Panchamukhani block (consisting of 5 islands). The only places where one can get down are Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, Dobanki and Netidhopani* Camps.

Apart from obtaining permit and guide at Sajnekhali Camp, one can also visit the Mangrove Interpretation Center and 2 watch towers. There is a sweet water pond and few observation lines (clearing in thick mangrove forest done by Forest Department for wildlife viewing) visible from one of the watch towers, which is a favorite place for animals to hang around. Sudhanyakhali Camp, too, has a watch tower, a sweet water pond and observation lines. This camp has a good track record of tiger sightings. Dobanki and Netidhopani* Camps are similar, however, Dobanki has a 500 meter canopy walk which takes tourists through the thick mangrove forest at an elevated level. The different creeks/rivers which tourist can go through inside the WLS are Sudhanyakhali, Sadakkhali I, Sadakkhali II, Bon Bibi Bharani, Pirkhali, Khonakhali, Dobanki, Nobanki, Deul Bharani, Panchamukhani, Choragaji, Borogaji, Sundarkhali and Netai.

Forest entry timing is sunrise and exit timing is sunset. However, the different Camps have their own timings which vary from season to season.

Places to stay:
There are numerous private options to stay which are there in the adjoining islands namely Pakhiralaya, Bali, Dayapur and Satjelia. One may opt for stay in the boat also which can a very different kind of experience. WBTDCL operated Sajnekhali Tourist Lodge is the only option of staying inside the forest in this WLS. Rooms in this tourist lodge can be booked online.

*PS: Netidhopani Camp permit depends on prevailing weather conditions and is not issued round the year. Rest of the area in this zone is open round the year.

North 24 Parganas Forest Division:

The tourism zone in this forest division consists of Bagna Range and Bashirhat Range. Like Sajnekhali WLS, entry point to this zone should also be preferably Gadkhali and needs to be explored on a motorized boat only. The entry permit can be obtained either at Sajenkhali Forest Office or at Kumirmari (Bagna Range). There are 3 camps in this zone where one can get down - Jhingeykhali, Burirdabri and Horikhali Camps. Burirdabri is most famous among all as it has a thrilling Mangrove Walk apart from 2 watch towers, 2 sweet water ponds and few observation lines. The Mangrove Walk is a concrete pathway at the ground level, protected by wooden/metal fencing. At the end of this path, located is the 2nd watch tower (wooden) from where a view of the forest on Bangladesh side is possible. Jhingeykhali has a watch tower, sweet water pond and observation lines. There is nothing much to do at Horikhali Camp, though the forest cruise till this place can yield some sightings.

Forest entry timing is sunrise and exit timing is sunset. However, the different Camps have their own timings which vary from season to season.

Places to stay:
Best option is to stay near Sajnekhali WLS and explore this area. The Satjelia island is somewhat closer to this place. Jhingeykhali has a tourist lodge and the bookings can be obtained from the Forest Department office at Canning. Staying on the boat is one another option.

PS: Permit to this area depends on prevailing weather conditions and is not issued round the year.

South 24 Parganas Forest Division:

Entry permit and guide for this area needs to be procured either from Jharkhali Range Office or Kaikhali Forest Office. Jharkhali is directly connected to Kolkata by road (approximately 100 kms) and like Gadkhali, can be reached via Canning also. Kaikhali too is directly connected to Kolkata by road (approximately 90 kms) and also can be reached via Canning. Like rest of the areas, this area too needs to be explored on a motorized boat only. Places like Bonnie Camp, Kalash Camp and Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project can be visited. The Kalash Beach which was accessible to tourists earlier, has now been kept off-limits. Both the camps have watch towers and sweet water ponds.

Forest entry timing is sunrise and exit timing is sunset. However, the different Camps have their own timings which vary from season to season.

Places to stay:
Though there are few private options in Kaikhali, staying on the boat is the best for this area. A rest house at Bonnie Camp which earlier was allowed for tourists, have been closed down now.

PS: Permit to this area depends on prevailing weather conditions and is not issued round the year.

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