The Adventure of Sundarban

• Date of Journey: 30th to 31st March 2024
• Visiting Places: Sundarban and side locations
• Travelling Companion: Dipraj & other Travelling Group

Introductions:

In Today’s World Life is very Hectic in every aspect. So it was important to overcome the circumstances and make something meaningful in Life. Best thing to do in such Circumstances is to go for a Trip. I decided to visit Sundarban on 29th March (Friday). Sundarban which is world’s largest delta and is named from the Sundari trees and abounded with deadly snakes, crocodiles, and Royal Bengal tiger. This mangrove forest is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO and the same is formed by the confluence of the Brahmaputra, Ganges and Meghana rivers. It is also popular for Hosting maximum number of Tigers. 270 were counted in 2004; however scientists working here claim only 100-120 tigers. Serious efforts are needed to get exact numbers.

I immediately contacted with “Mangrove Tour & Travel” which is one of the Best Tourism Company in the Canning Location for the purpose of Visiting Sundarban. They asked me to join the next day morning within 9am at their location, they also mentioned that, there would be 5 more members with me and they are very Friendly. I therefore made myself Ready and Flexible for the next Day.

1st Day 30th March 2024 (Saturday):

I waked up early in the morning, and started my journey towards Sealdah Station taking a Taxi. There I booked Ticket for Canning. Canning is a town of the South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is situated on the western banks of the Matla River. It is the headquarters of the Canning subdivision. The Train timing was at 7:42am and reached Canning Station at 9am. The experience of travelling in a Local Train was quite different as I have been over there very rare. Right after reaching at Canning Station, the concern person of “Mangrove Tour & Travel” management, took me to their office, providing Breakfast. There was a Kali Temple beside the place where I visited and took blessings.

Few while later a 5 person Tourism Group came and I introduced with them. A very Beautiful and Frank Family and we became friendly in a very short time span, they too accepted me as their Family Members. There was an uncle, 2 aunties, a didi and her little son.

Then the second lap of journey starts, the Tourism company provided us an Auto and from Canning and were proceeding towards Sonakhali. In between our journey we had some snacks in a small Restaurant “My Village Kitchen”. Later we reached Our Launch was waiting at Sonakhali at 11:20am. Hence, we boarded on the launch and started our journey.

The beginning of the Third lap journey begins. The side view was very Beautiful. We were proceeding towards Gosaba which is 16km away from Sonakhali. Gosaba is more than just a village in Canning subdivision of South 24 Parganas district, it is the last area where people live before Sundarban starts. 

Visited the the famous “Hamilton Saheb Beacon Bungalow” & “Rabindranath Tagore Bungalow”. There is a Beautiful park there in Hamilton Saheb Beacon Bungalow, where we spend some time with the other members who were there with me. The tour guide asked us about our Lunch giving us several options of Food. I decided to have Biriany, which was my Favorite and that was included in their menu.

We boarded into the Launch and started having great time with the other members. It was the Forth or the Final Lap of journey of the Day. As usual the side view was very Beautiful. We found some signboard mentioning “snake bite help lines” & “tiger bite help lines”. It signifies the terror of snakes & tiger, which was scary but no sign of it found nearby. Actually tigers never allowed its prey to call helpline. If one comes under his jaw, he has to donate his life. 

This time we were Proceeding towards Pakhiralay, which is considered as the Place of Birds. Someone said Pakhiralay is a hidden gem located in the Indian state of West Bengal, I found exactly the same. We were passing towards the Gomti River and saw the part of Bay of Bengal and saw some parts of Forest Region where we assumed to witness the Royal Bengal Tiger. But nothing was available there. We reached Pakhiralay at around 2:10pm. Failed to witness Tiger but found my favorite pet Dog and Cat and started clicking their photos.

From there we reached our Lodge named “Aponjon” which is one of the Best Hotel in Sundarban in affordable charges. Being a solo traveler, I was offered a Single Room which was very Beautiful. Rather that, the management of the Hotel Treated & Guided me very well. The rest of the members returned to their room and started taking Rest.

In the evening I returned to the Lawn of that resort and joined the group. Had some nice time there having evening Tiffin as Chowmin and was enjoying the Local Tribe Dance. Rather that introduced with the other travelling members. They were very Friendly as well. The Time moved on very quickly and it was almost 9pm and that was the Time for Dinner. The food they provided were Rice, Dal, Bhujia and Mutton and they were delicious.

We were very tired after the Hectic Day, the tour Guide asked us to be ready within 6:30am tomorrow, as we have to visit the other places as well. So I returned my room and slept.

2nd Day 31st March 2024 (Sunday):

Got up early at 6am and was waiting for the next Journey. Made all the formalities clear in the Aponjon Hotel. Me including the other 5 members got ready and boarded into the Launch from Pakhiralay and went Waxpole Ghat which is beside Pakhiralay. There is a Beautiful Kali Mandir which is considered as Awake Temple (Jagroto) and we visited the place and had some good time. We cruise through the creeks and canals of the Sunderban Tiger Reserve forest and reached Sajnekhali at around 9am. Our guide obtained pass for all members we started venturing into the jungle. Visited the Watchtower and the view from there was very Beautiful. No one lives on this island outside this protected area except wild beasts. Inside the forest office, we visited the Mangrove Interpretation center.

Found a lot of Monkeys in that place. In usual manner its my habit to click photos of Birds and animal. This time a very funny incident occurred there was while I went infront of a Monkey to click its photo, it tried to jump over me. This incident was very scary, and I got scared a lot which never generally happened in my Life. But later while I feel the moment, I found it to be very funny. After visiting that location, we were back in the Launch and was on the way to Pakhiralay, where the rest 30 visitors entered our Launch. They already completed visiting the following locations on the Previous Day.

Initially they were completely unknown, and even I was feeling a bit uncomfortable but later they turned very Friendly and made things easier for me. Moreover I was closely related with the uncle-aunties group, so the environment was very comfortable for me. Each new friendship can make us a new person, because it opens up new doors inside of us. Anyway since all the people arrived in the Launch, it was the time to have Breakfast. They provided us Puri, Sabji and Tea for Breakfast, which were delicious too. The Launch began to run, and we were enjoying the sideview which was looking very Beautiful. Was hopeful to see some Tiger but that wasn’t seen.

Few while later the Launch stood beside a place at Chakla Dham where we visited the Famous Loknath Baba Temple. Interestingly we saw a Big-Hen like creature there which looks like a hen but was very Big in size. Returned from there and that was the time for the last travelling through the Launch. Asked the Launch members to put some song but speaker wasn’t available there. They put some beautiful Hindi songs and made the environment precious.

Later they provided us Lunch and the recipe was Rice, Dal, Bhujia, Papad, Katla Fish, Chatni. There was one more Delicious recipe Kakra which I didn’t took. We almost reached our Destination at Sonakhali, right then the Launch stood beside a place, so that the Visitors can take their time to have their lunch. I had some funny time with the Child present over there during that intensity of moment. While all the members finished their Lunch, the Launch started again and reached our Destination Sonakhali.

The coordinator of our tourism provided us the Auto and we 6 members boarded there and reached Canning. We took a train for Sealdah Station from there. One by one the other members reached their Destination. Finally myself with that uncle and aunty reached Sealdah Station and the Journey was over.

The overall experience in one word was Excellent with new people. What I learned from the entire circumstances is not to be afraid of new beginnings. Never shy away from new people, new energy, new surroundings. Embrace new chances at happiness. Thankful to them for making the Moment Special.