Kolkata City Tour & Sunderban Jungle Tours
If you’re planning a 4-night, 5-day trip to Kolkata, make sure to include a visit to the iconic Victoria Memorial. However, don’t miss out on the chance to explore the Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest mangrove forest on Earth. Just 100 kilometers from the city, this unique biosphere is renowned for its Royal Bengal Tigers and rare mangrove trees. A comprehensive tour of Kolkata and Sundarbans typically spans 2 days for each destination, providing an unforgettable experience of both the city’s cultural richness and the natural wonders of the Sundarbans. Here’s a suggested itinerary for a complete 4 Nights, 5 Days tour encompassing Kolkata and the Sundarbans.
Itinerary – Sundarbans & Kolkata Tour Package
Day 1: Arrival at Kolkata Airport/Station. Visit Dakshineshwar Temple, Belur Math (Ramkrishna Mission headquarters), Rabindranath Tagore Museum, Howrah Bridge, Kumartoli, and Jain Temple, depending on time and interest.
Day 2: Begin with a visit to Kalighat Temple, Princep Ghat (Kolkata riverside), Victoria Memorial, St. Paul’s Cathedral, drive past Eden Gardens, GPO, Writers Building, Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, and Birla Planetarium/Indian Museum. Conclude the day with a drive through Park Street, the heart of city life.
Day 3: After breakfast, embark on a road trip through Kolkata’s suburbs and countryside, showcasing lush green paddy fields and traditional mud huts with thatched roofs. A 3.5-hour drive takes you to the Sundarbans, the last accessible area by road. Board a boat to journey through backwaters, passing villages until reaching the buffer zone of the forest. Check into the resort on an island opposite the forest. Afternoon visit to the Bird Sanctuary and Sunset Point, followed by tribal dance program and dinner at the resort.
Day 4: After breakfast, visit Sajnekhali Watch Tower, Sudhanyakhali Watch Tower, and cruise through Pitchkhali, Sarakkhali, and Sudhanyakhali rivers and narrow creeks. Enjoy a boat ride through dense mangrove forests and visit Do-banki Watch Tower for a canopy walk. Cruise through Matla Sea Face, offering views of the Bay of Bengal. Return to the resort for a campfire evening.
Day 5: Breakfast followed by a village visit to understand local life. Check out of the hotel and cruise back to the mainland. Transfer to Kolkata Airport/Station/Hotel, concluding the Sundarbans and Kolkata Tour Package.
About Kolkata –
Kolkata, also known as Calcutta, serves as the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Positioned on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, it stands as the primary commercial, cultural, and educational hub of East India. The Port of Kolkata, India’s oldest operational port and its primary riverine port, underscores the city’s historical significance. Affectionately dubbed the “City of Joy,” Kolkata holds a distinguished status as the “cultural capital” of India. Notably, by 2019, Kolkata had been associated with 7 Nobel Laureates. Its origins trace back to the late 17th century, when three villages under Mughal rule, preceding Calcutta, were governed by the Nawab of Bengal. With the grant of a trading license to the East India Company in 1690, the region evolved into a fortified trading post.
Calcutta saw shifts in power dynamics, notably with Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah’s occupation in 1756, followed by the East India Company’s recapture the subsequent year. By 1793, the East India Company assumed full sovereignty, abolishing local rule. Throughout the Company’s rule and later under the British Raj, Calcutta served as the capital of British-held territories until 1911. However, perceived geographical challenges and rising nationalism in Bengal prompted the capital’s relocation to New Delhi. A crucible for the Indian independence movement, Kolkata remains a focal point of contemporary state politics. Despite facing economic stagnation post-Indian independence in 1947, Kolkata retained its significance as a center for education, science, culture, and politics.
The city is home to venerable cultural institutions of national importance, including the Academy of Fine Arts, Victoria Memorial, Asiatic Society, Indian Museum, and National Library of India. Additionally, Kolkata hosts esteemed scientific institutions such as the Geological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, and Indian Science Congress Association. While major cricketing venues and franchises are present, Kolkata distinguishes itself by its emphasis on association football and other sports. Through its rich history, cultural heritage, and enduring spirit, Kolkata stands as a testament to India’s diversity and resilience.
About Sundarbans –
The Sundarbans, nestled in Eastern India, stands as the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest globally and holds the prestigious status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Encompassing the Sundarbans delta in the Indian state of West Bengal, the Sundarbans National Park is a remarkable confluence of a National Park, Tiger Reserve, and Biosphere Reserve. Its name, Sundarban, translates to “beautiful forest” in Bengali, possibly derived from the abundance of Sundari trees (Heritiera fomes) in the region.
This natural wonder sprawls across the vast delta formed by the super confluence of the Ganges, with seasonally flooded freshwater swamp forests lying inland from the coastal mangrove forests. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, the Indian segment of the Sundarbans covers an estimated area of about 4,110 square kilometers, with water bodies occupying approximately 1,700 square kilometers. The Sundarbans is renowned for its intricate network of tidal waterways, mudflats, and salt-tolerant mangrove forest islands, making it accessible by boat throughout. It is home to the iconic Royal Bengal tiger, along with diverse fauna such as various bird species, spotted deer, crocodiles, and snakes. While the delta’s fertile soils have been extensively utilized for centuries, resulting in significant agricultural activity, pockets of pristine forest remain vital habitats, particularly for the endangered tiger population. Despite human encroachment, the Sundarbans and its mangrove forests continue to stand as crucial ecological sanctuaries, safeguarding biodiversity and sustaining delicate ecosystems.
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