Kotka Sea Beach

Cuttack is one of the most diverse places in Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest . The distance from Mongla port to Kotka is about 90 km. Cuttack has a 40 feet high watch tower to enjoy the natural beauty of Sundarbans. Directly north of Cuttack Watch Tower is Cuttack Beach. Cuttack Beach is known as Jamtala Beach to the locals. The artwork of crabs can be seen all over the beach which is quite secluded and clean. Cuttack beach merges straight east with Kachikhali. The waves at this beach are very variable and it is quite risky to wade into the water due to unknown drifters.

Launch is the main means of getting to Cuttack. Launches with tourists are anchored in Katka Canal. On the west bank of the canal is the Cuttack Forest Department office, from there a brick road can be seen a little further west. If you go ahead in this way, you will find a beautiful wild Katka beach. Cuttack Beach is an ideal place to watch the sunset.

Behind the forest department office, on the north side of the wooden tail, in a quiet place in Keora forest, you can see the beautiful Chitra deer. Besides, crocodiles can be seen here along with monkeys, wild boars, wild cats and various species of birds. The three tiger dunes south of the forest are often found showing tiger footprints. In the east are dense forests and fresh water ponds. This pond is the only source of water for the working coast guard, forest officers and local fishermen.

Daily travel fee per person for domestic tourists in the sanctuary area – Tk 150, for students – Tk 30, travel fee for foreign tourists – Tk 1500. Outside the sanctuary, domestic tourist travel fee – 70 rupees, students – 20 rupees, travel fee for foreigners – 1000 rupees and travel fee for researchers – 40 rupees. Travel fee for domestic tourists in Karamjal is Tk 20 per person, Tk 300 for foreigners.

One time fee for helicopter/sea plane is 30 thousand taka, renewal fee is 10 thousand taka. 15,000 taka for launch above 100 feet, 4,000 taka for renewal fee. For launching from 50 feet to 100 feet, a one-time payment of Tk 10,000 is required and the renewal fee is Tk 3,000. For boats below 50 feet, 7,500 taka and renewal fee is 2,500 taka. Normal trawlers can stay in Sundarbans for a fee of 3000 taka, their renewal fee is 1500 taka. The fee for speedboat is 5000 taka, for renewal it is 2000 taka. Jalliboats which are known as tourist boats have a one time fee of 2000 taka and a renewal fee of 1000 taka.

Apart from the travel fee of the forest department, other expenses include guide fee of Rs 500 per day, security guard fee of Rs 300, launch crew fee of Rs 70, telecommunication fee of Rs 200. Domestic tourists have to pay a fee of Tk 200 and foreign tourists have to pay a fee of Tk 300 for the video camera.

Pilgrims during Ras Purnima in Sundarbans have to pay a fee of Tk 50 per person for 3 days, registered trawler fee Tk 200, unregistered trawler fee Tk 800 and trawler fee Tk 200 for daily stay.

At present, about a hundred companies are engaged in tourism business in Sundarbans. You can visit Sundarbans easily with a good tour management company. You can go to Cuttack through the people of all these institutions.

Launch is the main means of getting to Cuttack. Launches with tourists are anchored in Katka Canal. Various buses ply from Gabtali and Syedabad Bus Terminals in Dhaka via Padma Bridge to Bagerhat. Buses of Meghna Paribahan (01717388553) and Tourist Paribahan (01711131078) depart from Syedabad Bus Terminal. And buses of Sakura Paribahan (01711010450) and Sohag Paribahan (01718679302) depart from Gabtali Bus Terminal. If you want you can come to Khulna by train from Kamalapur. From Khulna to Rupsa or from Bagerhat's Mongla port you will get a launch to Sundarban. You can also rent various boats to Sundarbans from Morelganj, Sarankhola in Bagerhat.

Accommodation is available at Kochikhali at Tiger Point in Sundarbans, Neelkamal at Hiran Point and Katkay forest department rest houses. If you want to stay in Nilkamal, domestic tourists will need 3000 taka per room and 5000 taka for foreigners. Each room will cost Rs 3,000 for foreigners and Rs 5,000 for foreigners. 2000 taka per room in Cuttack and 5000 taka per room for foreigners.

There is not much residential hotel system for staying in Bagerhat. Mumtaz Hotel on Rail Road has less facilities but the service quality is relatively good, but the cost is a little higher. Apart from that, you can look for accommodation in other hotels around Mumtaz Hotel.

Tourism Corporation has hotels to stay in Mongla. Pasur Port has some average quality hotels for tourist accommodation.

If you want to stay in Satkhira city, you will find some standard hotels here. NGO Sushilan has a rest house and dormitory at Munshiganj in Shyamnagar.

Hotel Royal, Castle Salam, Hotel Tiger Garden, Hotel West Inn, Hotel City Inn, Hotel Millennium etc. are notable among the residential hotels in Khulna city.