London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 67 – 2 November 2016
Exploring the Sundarbans and Back on the Road
We woke up to a beautiful morning in the Sundarbans, full of anticipation and excitement.
Today was our chance to explore one of the most unique wildlife habitats in the world.
The Sundarbans National Park is a vast mangrove ecosystem situated in the enormous delta created by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna Rivers before they empty into the Bay of Bengal. Covering thousands of square kilometres across India and Bangladesh, it is the largest mangrove forest on Earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Sundarbans is famous for its rich biodiversity and is home to a remarkable variety of wildlife, including Royal Bengal Tigers, crocodiles, spotted deer, river dolphins, monitor lizards, and hundreds of species of birds.
Naturally, we were hoping to see at least some of them.
After breakfast, we hired a local boat for a half-day excursion through the winding waterways of the mangrove forest.
As our boat glided silently through the narrow channels, we were surrounded by dense mangrove vegetation on both sides. The peaceful atmosphere was occasionally interrupted by the calls of birds and the splash of water as fish surfaced nearby.
The experience felt wonderfully remote and untouched.
Our boat eventually reached Kotka, where we climbed a watchtower overlooking part of the forest.
From this elevated position, we enjoyed magnificent views of the surrounding mangroves and spent time scanning the landscape for wildlife.
The effort was rewarded.
We spotted numerous species of birds, several spotted deer, and a number of large reptiles basking near the water’s edge. We also saw what locals referred to as alligators, although they were more likely crocodiles commonly found in the region.
Unfortunately, the stars of the Sundarbans remained elusive.
Despite keeping a careful lookout, we did not manage to see either the famous Royal Bengal Tiger or the river dolphins.
Still, that is the nature of wildlife viewing.
Sometimes the thrill lies in simply being there, knowing that these magnificent creatures are somewhere nearby, hidden within the vast wilderness.
By around 2:00 pm, we returned to where Kontiki was waiting for us.
Our brief adventure into the Sundarbans had come to an end, and it was time to get back on the road.
We left the delta region and drove towards South Kolkata, where we joined the highway heading southwest towards Bhubaneswar, approximately 250 miles away.
The roads were reasonably good compared to some of the routes we had experienced earlier in the journey, allowing us to make steady progress.
However, as often happens in India, darkness arrived quickly.
By around 6:00 pm, night had already fallen.
Rather than pushing on unnecessarily, we decided to find a safe place to stop for the evening.
A fuel station near Howrah seemed ideal.
After filling up the tank, we asked permission to stay overnight and were kindly allowed to use part of the forecourt.
As we settled down for the evening, the reality of Dayal’s departure became more noticeable.
For over two months, Team Kontiki had been a trio.
Now there were only two of us.
The motorhome felt quieter, and there was an empty seat where Dayal would normally be sitting, sharing stories, making observations, or occasionally complaining about the food.
We found ourselves talking about him and hoping he had reached Mumbai safely.
He had been an important part of the journey, and we genuinely missed his company.
Of course, the show had to go on.
As the evening progressed, we relaxed with a few drinks while Chef Ramesh got to work in the kitchen.
Tonight’s menu consisted of a simple but satisfying tinned fish curry served with rice.
After a full day of sightseeing and driving, it tasted every bit as good as a five-star meal.
Tomorrow, we would continue south through eastern India towards Visakhapatnam, travelling via Bhubaneswar as our remarkable road journey edged ever closer to Mumbai.
Distance travelled: Sundarbans to Howrah area, with onward progress towards Bhubaneswar
Route: Sundarbans – South Kolkata – Howrah
Weather: Warm, sunny, and pleasant
Highlights: Exploring the Sundarbans National Park by boat and observing wildlife in the mangrove forests
Most memorable moment: Standing on the watchtower at Kotka overlooking one of the world’s largest mangrove ecosystems
Wildlife spotted: Birds, spotted deer, crocodiles, and various reptiles
Wildlife missed: Royal Bengal Tigers and river dolphins
Accommodation: Overnight stay at a fuel station near Howrah
Dinner: Tinned fish curry with rice prepared by Chef Ramesh
Mood of the day: Adventurous, reflective, and adjusting to life as a two-man team
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki heads south through Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, continuing the long road towards Mumbai while leaving the forests of the Sundarbans behind.
