How to reach Sundarban from Kolkata comes down to a two-leg journey for almost every visitor: a road transfer of two to three hours to a river jetty, followed by a boat journey into the mangrove forest itself, since no road runs directly into the core Sundarban area.
Godkhali, roughly 110 km from Kolkata, is the most commonly used departure point, reached by road in about two-and-a-half to three hours depending on traffic through the southern suburbs; most overnight boat stays and multi-day safari packages depart from here.
Canning, closer at around 60 km from Kolkata, is reachable by road in about two hours or by a direct suburban train from Sealdah, making it a practical option for shorter trips or for travellers who prefer not to drive the full distance themselves.
October to March is the recommended season for the journey and the stay itself — monsoon months bring rougher water on the creeks and rivers, which can delay or cancel boat departures at short notice, and wildlife-viewing conditions are considerably better in the cooler, drier months as well.
On arrival, visitors register with the forest department, and boats generally depart within an hour or two of check-in for their first mangrove creek cruise; permits and gate passes are typically arranged in advance by tour operators rather than at the jetty itself, which saves time on arrival.
Chandrawanshi Tour & Travels coordinates both legs of this trip as one booking, so the road transfer and boat connection are timed together rather than left for you to work out — see our Sundarban tour packages for full itinerary options, including the Canning departure route.