sundarban trip blog by trekmate.in

For trek in india and nepal trekmate.in

I have created this blog just for review purpose and mainly the conducted tour of West Bengal Tourism 1 Night 2 days package tour to the Sunderbans. Before booking this package i was very curious to know about the services and all the facilities beforehand but no luck with the Google search except few haphazard images. I hope this blog will help every tourist willing to go for this amazing trip to the Sunderbans before taking any decisions.

You can easily book this tour via West Bengal Tourism site westbengaltourism.gov.in. You have two options for the same package. One is 1N 2Days Package and another one is 2N 3Days Package.

Lets start the review.

We have opted for the 1N 2 Days package and we have booked seats for the vessel "Chitralekha". There is another vessel called "Sarvajaya". But "Chitralekha" is more specious and big but "Sarvajaya" has A/C facilities in some seats.

We have booked 1 five-berth cabin and 1 four seat birth. In "Chitralekha" there are total 2 cabins and 1 coupe. Also there is a 10 seat dormitory in the lower deck. Other than that there are 8 births and those are like A/C Two tier of Indian railway. Lets start with the cabin first.

M.V Chitralekha Cabin:

Cabins have 5 births, 3 lower and 2 Upper. Cabins have attached toilet with shower , a wash basin and a commode. Toilets are very small but good enough for a 1N 2D journey in a vessel. Cabin berths are like A/C two tier of Indian Railway but more specious than that. Also you can lock the cabin from inside. from cabin you can see the water and outside scenery clearly through it's two big windows. Cabins have one small table to keep things. Also cabin have enough light and fan facility but no A/C. Please note cabins are god when you are travelling with 5 persons. Sharing with some co-passenger may not be a good idea. But there is no safety issue in the vessel. From the cabin you can easily go to the vessel front for the amazing views. You have go to the upper deck for food and for open seating arrangements.

   NON A/C CABIN AT CHITRALEKHA

The Journey Details:

We have assembled at the West Bengal tourism office around 7:30 A.M in the morning. Then we have confirm our booking sleep and we got our seat number for the bus. Bus started sharp at 8:30. The bus was really nice. It's like a mini volvo bus. Both the buses were A/C so don't worry. In the bus they provide a nice packed break fast.

1. 1 Bananana
2. 1 Apple
3. 1 boiled egg
4. 1 sweet
5. 1 cake
6. 1 ltr mineral water bottle.

We arrived Sonakhlai around 11:30 A.M. The bus journey is really nice , the road condition is really good and there were no traffic issue in that route. Please note that the bus will not stop in between. from Sonakhali you have to walk 5 mins to reach the Jetty. from Sonakhali you will be transferred to your vessel via local boats but you don't have to pay anything. Except if you want go by ricksaw from bus to the jetty.

THE BUS

SONAKHALI JETTY

SONAKHALI TO VESSEL BOAT RIDE

The vessel started for the Sunderban's around 12 P.M. A really delicious non veg Lunch was served around 1 P.M in the upper deck.

Lunch menu:

1. Rice
2. Sabji dal
3. Beguni
4. Salad
5. Alu Bhaja
6. Alu Gobi
7. Fish Curry (Bekti) / 2 Pcs
8. Chatni
9. Papad
10. Rosgulla
11. Packaged drinking water

After lunch we arrived Sajnekhali in the late evening. Sajnekhali has two watch towers and has a nice bunglow, we haven't stayed there. From the watch tower you can see deep inside the jungle but there is no chance of watching a tiger. But you can easily spot deer from very close. Sajnekhali is basically a tourist bungalow complex inside the core area of the jungle. We stayed there almost for 2 hours and spotted lots of deer. Also before Sajnekhali we have visited Sudhanokhali, it has a watch tower also. But if will not get more than one hour there as per the scheduled plan.

One shouldn't come with the motivation of watching tiger. The nice thing about the journey is the vessel and the magnificent ride on the Ganges and watch the jungle on the river banks. But you will sure lots of birds and especially different kinds of kingfishers.

In the evening snacks we got 2 nice Vetki fish fries with 6 veg pakoras and tea. The vessel was in the mid river in the Sajnekhali. In the dinner we again got a really nice dinner.

Dinner Menu:

1. Fried rice
2. Mutton
3. Alu Gobi
4. Salad
5. Papar
6. Fruit Custard
7. 1 ltr packaged water

All the foods served in the vessel is testy, healthy and hot. Also each menu is different and quantity was sufficient on an average.

Then in the morning we had started for the Dobanki watch tower around 5 A.M. Journey to Dobanki is the most beautiful and adventures part of the whole trip as the vessel was moving inside the narrowest small river channels. We really felt the jungle flavor.

In dobanki there is a nice long half and hour canopy walk deep inside the jungle and there was a great possibility of spotting a tiger. This place was really nice. But the summer hit is extreme in the Sunderbans area.We had spotted four big deer. There was a sweet water body and that naturally increases the chance of spotting wild animals. In Dobanki you can almost easily spot crocodiles.

Finally we again started for the Sonakhali, our return journey. In the way we again got a nice lunch.


Lunch Menu:

1. Fried rice
2. Chicken
3. Alu Gobi
4. Salad
5. Papar
6. Curd
7. Alu fry
8. 1 ltr packaged water

We reached sonakhali around 12 P.M and returned to esplanade around 4:30 in the evening but via different route via Sonarpur /  Narendapur / Garia.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. West Bengal tourism service is really nice
2. Vessel is really good but Chitralekha is slighly better.
3. Total 6 hours bus journey in a AC bus
4. All the foods are good
5. You will always get mineral water at no cost.
6. Food for child are not available
7. Milk for baby is not available
8. There is no security and safety issue
9. Beer / Drinks /Pan etc.. available in the vessel

VESSEL PHOTOS

Cabin toilet

NON AC birth view

The AC bus

Inside the bus

M.V Chitralekha

Chitralekha side pasaage

Chitralekha 10 seat dormitory at lower deck

Rescue boat

Inside the bus

Non ac four seat birth

Pilots cabin

Chitralekha reception

Sajnekhali tourist complex

Sarvajaya

Upper deck to lower deck stair

Middle deck to lower deck stair

Middle deck to upper deck stair

Upper deck vessel front

Upper deck seating cum eating area

Upper deck

Upper deck side view

View from the non ac birth window

Outside view of the jungle from the vessel most of the time

View of the nearby villages

Pictures