Road to Godkhali
Via Basanti Road through Canning, with a tea stop on the way. The last 15 km is narrow, so leave a margin.
travel guide
How to reach the Sundarban from Kolkata
The Sundarban trip has two halves. First the road: about 82 km from central Kolkata and 105 km from Barrackpore to Godkhali jetty, two and a half to three and a half hours. Then the boat, to Gosaba, Pakhiralay or Sajnekhali. You cannot drive into the forest, and one day is not enough, so plan two days and one night.
travel guide
The short version
- Road distance from Kolkata
- 82 km to Godkhali jetty
- From Barrackpore side
- 105 km to Godkhali jetty
- Usual drive time
- 2.5 to 3.5 hours to the jetty, then 1 to 2 hours by boat
- Best time to go
- October to March. Avoid the monsoon and the peak of summer
travel guide
Stops on the way
Godkhali to your lodge
The boat takes you across to Gosaba or Pakhiralay, where the lodges are. Your car parks at Godkhali and waits.
Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, Dobanki
The watchtowers and creeks you actually came for, all reached by boat with a permit and a guide arranged by the lodge or boat operator.
What we do and what we do not
We drive you from your gate to Godkhali and back, and we can arrange the lodge. The boat, the forest permit and the guide are handled by the boat operator or the lodge, and rules and permit fees are set by the forest department, so we do not promise a particular boat route or a tiger sighting. Tell us your date and group size and we tell you what is realistic.
travel guide
What we tell people before they go
Small things that decide whether the day is good or tiring.
Leave by 6am. Boats do not wait, and the last stretch of road is slow.
Carry ID cards for everyone; they are needed for the permit.
Full sleeves, mosquito repellent, a cap and a torch. It gets dark early on the water.
Road distances and drive times here are checked on road routing data and then widened for real traffic. Timings, ferry hours and entry rules change with the season, so ask us the day before you go and we will tell you what the road is like that week.
travel guide
Cars for this trip
These are the trips on our list that match this guide. Pickup is from your gate.
questions
Questions about How to reach the Sundarban from Kolkata
How far is the Sundarban from Kolkata?
The road part is about 82 km from central Kolkata to Godkhali jetty and about 105 km from Barrackpore. After that everything is by boat.
Can the Sundarban be done in one day?
A short boat ride and back, yes. The watchtowers and the deeper creeks need a night, so we suggest two days. If you only have one day, Piyali Island gives you mangroves and a boat without the rush.
not sure yet? send the date anyway. If we cannot do it, we will say so.
Travel guides
Read next
want a car for it
Tell us the date and we plan the day
Send the date and how many people are going. We tell you which car fits, when the car should start, and the full price in writing before you decide.