CHOTO KOLAGACHIA, SUNDARBANS – 82 KMS. FROM KOLKATA

• Weekend Tour

This is a small riverside town at the confluence of Chota Kolagachia River and Rampur River on the fringe of Sunderban. A small busy Ferry Ghat ferries passengers and goods to different parts of Sunderban from here. Country boats pass through the river every minute carrying daily supplies of Sundarban and you can spend the whole day sitting in your guesthouse’s balcony watching the tides of the river, the passing boats and the setting sun. You can also take a walk in the nearby villages and witness the daily chores of the villagers, the fishermen bringing their daily catch and the changing landscape.

Places to see in Choto Kolagachia: This is at the confluence of two rivers – Chota Kolagachia and Rampur, which gives rise to Boro Kolagachia River. The Boro Kolagachia River ultimately meets Raimongal River downstream.

Distant chimneys of nearby brick kilns on the riverside, villages, Ferry Ghats, few abandoned temples, mosques, fishing lakes (Bheris) and endless network of rivers make Choto Kolagachia a great weekend spot. Bounded by two rivers, this small village on the fringe of Sunderban is a perfect destination for nature lovers.

Nearby attractions of Choto Kolagachia: You can hire a boat from the Ferry Ghat and visit few villages in Sundarban across the river. The guesthouse would arrange a local guide to take you to the nearby villages and show you few attractions too. If you have some time, then you can hire a boat and visit various parts of Sunderban like Jhingeykhali Watch Tower and Marichjhapi village within two hours. You can also visit Buridabri or Hemnagar in Sunderbans from here.

Things to do in Choto Kolagachia: The rivers are the lifeline here and you can spend the whole day watching the tides and passing boats from the lawn of your guesthouse. You can always hitch a ride from a passing boat on the river for a few hours or take guided village – walks with a local villager. If you inform the guesthouse authorities in advance, they can also arrange local cultural programs like Tusu Dance, Monosha Bhasan and Bonobibi Jatra. Bird watching and wildlife watching are two other activities you can enjoy here.

Best time to visit Choto Kolagachia: The dark clouds spread over the horizon and the river during monsoons. In winters, birds chirp all around the villages and the cool river wind soothes the soul during the summer. Choto Kolagachia can be visited anytime of the year.

How to reach Choto Kolagachia: If you are going by car, then you have to take Basanti Highway from Science City and reach Malancha. From Malancha, you have to go ahead to Sarberia from where you have to take a left turn towards Dhamakhali. There are also buses from Kolkata connecting Dhamakhali. The guesthouse is just a walk from the Dhamakhali Bus stop. It takes around 2 hours from Science City Crossing on EM Bypass to reach Dhamakhali.

Lodging and dining facilities in Choto Kolagachia: There is only one guesthouse with four Double Bed rooms and a dormitory. The rivers flow just beside the guesthouse, which has a lovely lawn, a couple of viewpoints, a children’s park and other facilities like attached Western bathrooms, canteen, car parking and hot water geysers. Every room in the guesthouse has a balcony facing the rivers. The guesthouse is available for day picnic groups as well as for individual guests who want to stay overnight. Food served is essentially Bengali cuisine.