🌧️ A Rain-Soaked Dream, Served on a Plate
There are some journeys that linger — not just in photographs, but in your senses. The Sundarban Hilsa Festival 2025 Hilsa , Bengal’s beloved silver queen of the rivers.
This wasn’t just a food festival. It was a mood. A slow, poetic unraveling of rain, river, rustic culture, and royalty — all tied together by the scent of mustard oil and the soft swirl of steam from a freshly cooked plate of ilish .
When people ask me what made it so special, I simply smile and say:“It’s where monsoon romance meets royal ilish.”
Let me take you along with me — through watery alleys of mangroves, across floating dining tables, and into the very soul of Bengal’s monsoon.
🛶 Sailing into the Romance: The Journey to the Festival 📍 From Kolkata to the Call of the Delta My trip began on a misty morning in Kolkata, the clouds already flirting with the earth below. I had booked my experience through Sonakshi Travels , who promised a complete escape — and they didn’t disappoint.
A cozy AC car picked me up from home, and we drove through lush green stretches until we reached Godkhali Jetty . There, a wooden boat awaited us, gently rocking like a cradle. As the boat sliced through the brackish waters, raindrops danced on the river, and the forest canopy whispered, “Welcome.”
It was the start of my Hilsa Festival tour Sundarban , and already, I was in love.
🌊 Boat Ride with a Hint of Magic With every passing creek, the real world drifted away. The air smelled of wet earth, blooming wildflowers, and something warm and spicy from the kitchen at the back of the boat.
“Paturi banche,” said the cook — the iconic Ilish Paturi was being prepared, steamed in banana leaf, marinated in mustard, and just like the journey — full of depth and heat.
🍛 The Royal Ilish Affair: A Culinary Romance 🐟 Why Hilsa is Not Just a Fish, But a Feeling To understand Bengal’s obsession with Hilsa , or ilish , you have to taste it — not just with your tongue, but with your heart.
The Sundarban Hilsa Festival Hilsa as it was meant to be eaten — fresh, full of fat, cooked by the river people who know her like family.
My meals were not served in restaurants. They were served on boats, in open kitchens, on clay stoves — on plates that came with stories.
Doi Ilish — Tangy yogurt meets fiery mustard in a silky dish
Bhapa Ilish — Steamed to perfection with green chillies and coconut
Ilish Jhol — Rustic curry with a whisper of wild herbs
Ilish Fry — Crisp, golden, served with puffed rice and warm smiles
Every dish was a love letter — from the river, from the cook, from the culture itself.
🎭 Culture Served with Steam: Evenings of Song and Story 🎶 Baul Songs Beneath the Monsoon Sky The sun would dip slowly behind the mangroves, and the stage would be set on the boat deck or at the riverside resort. Folk singers would gather — their voices raw and real, singing songs of love, loss, rivers, and gods.
The baul music was not for entertainment. It was a dialogue with nature.
As I sipped my tea and bit into a hot ilish chop , I felt the words wrap around me like a shawl. There were no microphones. No flashy lights. Just voice, wind, and river.
🐅 Tales from the Edge of the Wild One of the most touching moments was when we met a forest guide — a survivor of a tiger attack, who now tells his story every year during the Ilish Utsav 2025 .
His hands served us dinner — a simple tel jhol (Hilsa in spiced oil gravy) — while he spoke of faith, fear, and how the Hilsa connects the people of Sundarban to the very spirit of survival.
His story made my food taste different — more meaningful.
🧭 Practical Travel Tips for Ilish Lovers 📅 When to Visit
Best season: Mid-July to Late August
Festival runs: July to September
Book early for best weather and freshest Hilsa!
🗺️ How to Get There
From Kolkata: 3.5 hours by car to Godkhali Jetty
Then: Private boat ride to your stay, arranged by Sonakshi Travels
🏡 Where to Stay
Deluxe & Super Deluxe AC Rooms with river views
On-board meal options or resort-side service
Private jetty for peaceful boarding
🧳 What to Pack
Monsoon-friendly cotton clothes
Insect repellent, raincoat, camera
Appetite for stories and Hilsa
💼 Why I Recommend Sonakshi Travels Choosing Sonakshi Travels made my journey effortless. Everything — from pickup to platter — was thoughtfully arranged.
✔️ Door-to-destination package
📲 Book your royal ilish romance now! WhatsApp: +91 7980469744
💖 A Love Story Between Rain and Fish The Sundarban Hilsa Festival 2025
I saw monsoon differently — not as gloomy or wet, but as tender and generous. I tasted Hilsa like never before — not as a dish, but as a ritual. I listened to rivers, met strangers who felt like family, and discovered what it means to romance nature through food .
If you’re someone who seeks experience over itinerary, flavour over fashion, emotion over entertainment — this is where you need to be.
📞 Book Your Hilsa Festival tour Sundarban Today! Whether it’s your first ilish or your fiftieth, this monsoon romance will be your favourite chapter yet. Let Sonakshi Travels be your guide.
📲 WhatsApp: +91 7980469744 www.sundarbanhilsafestival.com
🛶 Come for the fish. Stay for the love. Leave with a story.
Dipanjan BiswasMarch 17, 2022
... read more for the tour. They provide us a car and launch for this trip. It was very organised trip.
Faiz AhmedMarch 17, 2022
... read more team members for making our trip memorable one.
Alaya NayakMarch 17, 2022
... read more package. Here are few points I would like to mention regarding the tour. PROS: 1) The tour organiser, Mr Talukdar gave us a very clear account of the package and there were no hidden cost. 2) We were appointed a manager ( Mr Subrata) during the tour, who was very polite in his dealings. Since I was travelling with my 4 yr old daughter, I had requested him to make few extra arrangements ( in meal) for her ….for which I never had to remind him again and all my requirements were taken care off. 3 ) since we were only 3 families travelling on one boat, we had enough space to ourselves as compared to other boats I saw during the trip were overly crowded. 4) Food was good and the preparation was quite homely. 5)As we had to spend considerable amount of time on the boat…. I was little apprehensive about the cleanliness of the washroom on the boat. But to my surprise, the washroom was sparkling clean. CONS: 1) Though the hotel we were made to stay was very well located… but the rooms were very basic. Rooms are newly made but not very well maintained. The floor of the rooms felt like they were not dusted and mopped in days.There were cobwebs here and there and bathroom had few centipedes. To my opinion..rooms could have been better than what was provided. Overall, it was a well organised trip and Mr Talukdar kept checking on us during the trip which I truly appreciate. We thoroughly enjoyed. And I would certainly recommend Sundarban Travel to my friends and family.
Vaishali SenguptaMarch 17, 2022
... read more the stuff were very polite (Special mention- dipankar da).They did everything with professional manner with touch of heart. Strongly recommend them.
ataur rahamanMarch 17, 2022
... read more care of every group member as per the need, especially the elderly ones. I travelled with the parents and the staff members made the trip super comfortable for them as well. Thanks to each one of them!! 😊🙏 Would highly recommend Sonakshi Travels for the Sundarban trip.
Shuchita MitraMarch 17, 2022
pramod tembhurnikarFebruary 17, 2023
... read more group tours were available Mr Talukder arranged a customized tour for us & we were a little apprehensive as the two of us would be traveling alone . But he assured us about our safety & other facilities & truly everything was beyond our expectations. Right from our pickup, boat tours, hotel accommodation & food everything was well arranged. We have come back with sweet memories. Thank you Mr Talukder & every one at Sonakshi tours.
Leena MhatreMarch 17, 2022
... read more members of the group were also very social and supportive. Thanks for gifting a pleasant memory for a long time.
Biplab SarkarJanuary 17, 2023
... read more end point by professional guides who displayed very courteous behavior. definitely talukdar ji will be my preferred choice for all trips in future as well.
Auditro Hi-Fi SystemsDecember 17, 2022
... read more boat is undercover with green carpet,so it'is looking beautiful,all management are peaceful Jumur dance is wonderful our all member danced with Jumur dancers we are all coming a sweet memories. Thanks to continue Mr Talukder.
Avijit SarkarMarch 17, 2022
... read more boat as well as car was also good. We thank you very much and want to refer in future to our friends n relatives.
K. MadhuNovember 17, 2022
... read more date of departure our resort also exceptionally good I sincerely thanks to all cruise staff and manager to Mr. Talukdar.
Ashis RoySeptember 17, 2022
... read more staff is always up to the mark. Thank you all.
Rupak BhattacharjeeJanuary 17, 2023
... read more a 21 heads office tour for two days and one night . Basically, it was a farewell to our General Manager. Ministry of Defence. Government of India. Following may noted for further: Promised were executed 💯% Timely availability of traveler on pick-up point. Food quality and quantity was very good. Comfortable night stay. Room condition was good. Arrangment of Folk dance 💃 was supab. Recommended for the tour.
Umesh PaswanJanuary 17, 2023
Tripti DasJanuary 17, 2023
... read more of staff was very good
DEV KUMAR PYNEDecember 17, 2022
... read more food with rustic touch...You're at a right place..Being at a place which is remote, Dinner variety options may be limited but enough to satisfy you..I had Aged people n kid travelling with me and they were taken good care..The accommodation & boat ride were very comforting n all the staffs, tour guide were helpful..I will recommend them to Families, friends for sure.
Arunima RoyMarch 11, 2023
Partha Sarathi MajumderFebruary 17, 2023
... read more recommend their package
Sanghita RoyMarch 17, 2022
Dr. Sikka & associatesJanuary 17, 2023
... read more was excellent..inspite some language problem staff were very very humble n cooperative n always willing to serve to our satisfaction...i surely will recommend my friends/ relatives to visit the place once in lifetime through Sonakshi Travels...🙏🙏🙏
Munna DewanJanuary 17, 2023
Gourav GhoshJanuary 17, 2023
... read more staff ( Bapida, Bhaskarda and Uttamda). Special thanks to Talukdar Babu for taking care of everything. Highly recommended.
rupendu banerjeeMarch 17, 2022
... read more did a fantastic job. Wish them all the very best.
Avik RoyJanuary 17, 2023
Raghavendra MunghateDecember 17, 2022
... read more cottage were excellent. Subrat dada was extremely well informed about the forests. His knowledge helped us a lot. Extremely grateful🙏
Shradha Suman SatpathyMarch 17, 2022
... read more people, beautiful presentation of dance and songs to beautiful boat and boatmen with guide. A journey with100% fulfilment. Willing to go again and again. Thanks a lot Sundarban Travel Jyotirmoy Chakraborty Chairman Ispat Cooperative Hospital
JYOTIRMOY CHAKRABORTYMarch 17, 2022
... read more team, tour manager Subrata, boat captain Bapi da and our guide Tanmoy da was very cooperative and helpful. Our stay was in Sobuj Deep Resort, the location is next to the river and rooms are quite good in size, there 4 bedrooms can accommodate 2 families with one kid comfortably. The facilities and services of boat and resort was excellent. My objective was to spend some time with family in the nature, and a wild wish if we could spot the graceful royal Bengal tiger in the wild was 100% fulfilled. When I was researching for this tour, I found Sundarbans travel (Sonakshi travel) rated 4.5 among all, and I am not disappointed as well. Next time when I will visit Sundarbans again my choice will be Sundarbans travel. All over experience “The tour is mind blowing”.
Kaustav ChatterjeeMarch 17, 2022
... read more family including senior citizens and kids and had a nice experience. Thank you Mr. Talukdar and team.
Koushik PandaApril 17, 2022
... read more in a single word. Those who want fresh oxygen I suggest they should go Sundarbon and stay in Sabujdeep. Also get good village experience.
Sounava SamantaMarch 17, 2022
... read more tour confirmation 7/10. I paid advance for booking after checking the availability. But after making the payment, I was informed the required dates are not available and I had to change my dates. Communication of programs are also not up to the mark. 2. Transfer from Kolkata to Gadkhali & Return 8/10. Onward journey driver was new and not carrying proper documents for Vehicle. Stuck at Ghatakpukur for more than 30 minutes in a police checking. Return journey was better but the vehicle given was too old. 3. Boat Arrangements from Gadkhali 10/10. Good & comfortable. Well decorated boat with well behaved staffs. 4. Accommodation 10/10. Very good place selection and enjoyed the staying. This point you will get a bonus point. 5. Food 8/10. First day lunch was awesome but next meals were just below par. Lacking variety. I came to know few other agencies are offering more variants in their service. Finally thanks to all your staffs in the boat and in the hotel. Specially mentioning Tapas, Bapi, your cook and Subrata for their service.
Sibagi GhoshMarch 17, 2022
prabhat kumar banerjeeSeptember 17, 2022
... read more bus that was allotted to us for taking us to the boat and we boarded it from Science City. It was a traveller and its was quite spacious and we travelled witout any problem. One thing that need to be looked upon is that there should be a helper with the driver in orderto contact the tourist for boarding the bus. The driver was speaking in his mobile while which can lead to a few problems. 2) Launch/Boat - It was quite big, spacious, the bathrooms were clean and the crews on board are very welll behaved. My 3 year old son really enjoyed the boat ride throughout the journey. 3) Resort - Some maintenance work is required in the rooms of the resort where we stayed at night. Things like ceiling fan regulator was not working, the flush in the wash room was not working and the room are not properly cleaned. It seemed to me that the room where I stayed was cleaned a long time back. 4) Food - The foods that were served to us was very well cooked. They were not at all spicy, not at all stale. Every time we were served hot and fresh foods. They also arranged food for my 3 year old son as per his requirement. 5) Employees/Crews - They are very well behaved, helpfull and always serving us by giving their level best.
20th Millenium KidMarch 17, 2022
... read more very beautiful ❤️👍🏻
Sandeep MukherjeeMarch 17, 2022
Sandhya BhideDecember 17, 2022
... read more homely environment, mainly we are extremely impressed the condition of the boat, cleanliness and food quality was superb. Except the chilli chicken preparation ( not upto the mark), the taste of the food was just like home made food. Resort location was good but not in good quality, need to look into this to provide the best service. Also the car condition is not good. Apart from these we enjoyed a lot throughout the tour. Special thanks to Mr.Talukdar and Team for organizing our memorable trip.
Amit SasmalMarch 17, 2022
... read more staff. Just one regret with the govt to allow more routes inside core jungle to increase footfall at Sunderbans. All you can see is Deer. However i would surely visit again.
navin jayaramanMarch 17, 2022
... read more local people was truly a fun filled surprise.
Pronami SarkarMarch 17, 2022
... read more customised their programme for our convenience at their best. The boat waiting for us at Gadkhali was decent, neat & clean. The cooperation and helpful gesture of the Boatman Bapibabu and crew Pulak charmed us. The trip through the creeks and distributaries of the rivers of Sunderban became more enjoyable with the excellent taste of food cooked by Bhaskar in the running boat. The property named “Sabuj Dwip” under Lahiripur Gram Panchayat where we were parked at the day-end, was a resort having cottages with clean Rooms, modern Bathrooms & standard amenities including Generator along with a few shortfalls like lack of Geyser, AC, Toilet-shower, Kitchen/Kitchenet, Waste paper bin, Wall Hangers etc., though all such lacuna were covered by the sincere and hearty efforts of the servicemen. The owner may solve these minor problems by purchasing items of trivial value like Emersion Heater, Toilet-shower, Electric Cattle, Waste paper basket & Wall hangers. On 5th December, when the cyclone turned its face to Sunderban, the superb teamwork of Sonakshi rescued us through an alternative safe land-route maintaining our all urbane comfort upto the satisfaction. The courteous behaviour and delicious tasty food are the value-added satisfaction of this trip over the honest, humble and sincere approach of the owner Shuvabratababu which is highly appreciable. I highly recommend Sunderban Trip through this Travels.
Snehansu GangopadhyayMarch 17, 2022
