Karamjal

About Karamjal

Karamjal sits on the Pashur river in the Chandpai range of the Sundarbans, a short boat ride from Mongla port. If you only have a day, or want a first taste of the mangroves before a longer cruise, this is where to come.

From the jetty, a raised wooden walkway leads into the forest, past sundari and goran trees and the spiky breathing roots that poke up from the mud. Rhesus monkeys are almost guaranteed, often right beside the path, and there is a watchtower for a view across the canopy. The site is also home to the Forest Department’s breeding and conservation work, which we describe on the Karamjal Wildlife Centre page.

Karamjal is a managed visitor site and gets busy on Fridays and holidays, so weekday mornings are calmer. Like the rest of the forest it closes for three months in the monsoon, usually June to August, and trips deeper into the Sundarbans need a permit and an armed forest guard. Evergreen Bangladesh Tours runs private half-day trips from Mongla with a local guide, or uses Karamjal as the first stop on the way to Harbaria and Katka.

Getting there

From Mongla: a short trip by hired boat from the Mongla ghat; time depends on the tide.

From Khulna: about an hour by road to Mongla, then the boat. From Dhaka: around four to five hours to Mongla by road via the Padma Bridge.

Where to stay

Stay in Khulna, which has the best choice of hotels, or in Mongla for an early start. Many travellers do Karamjal as a day trip from Khulna.