OverView of Korakati

Korakati is a unique village under the Sandeshkhali Police Station (Sandeshkhali Community Development Block_ II) of the District of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal State of India. In british times, it was under the Zamindari system and it was under the Zamindari of Bipin Bihari Ganguly (citation needed). At that time, it was full of jungles under the cover of Sundarbans.
The Zamindar of this area leased out these areas to clear jungles and give places to new prajas (farmers). Many poor farmers, at that time, came from Khulna district of Bangladesh and they established there new settlements in Korakati. The neibouring villages of Dhuchnikhali, Manupur, Durgamandap etc. were already inhabited at that time. Many people from these places also came to get new lands and started to clear jungles. The area of Korakati was full of a particular mangrove trees which were locally called 'Garan'. These trees were very valuable since their hard woods used to required for making village-houses. These woods used to be called as "KORA". When people started to cut these KORA, the name of the village became KORAKATI (KATI means to cut). However, this is an assumption that the name Korakati was originated by this way.
Probably, the clearing of jungles in Korakati started in 1940s.
The village of Korakati under Sunderbans delta were being inhabited by the people of Dhuchnikhali, Khulna, Dulduli and some other people of nearby villages which were cleared of jungles in 1940s. However, the tigers used to travel in these areas even upto 1950s. After 1950s, no tiger used to come to these areas and man was killed by the tigers. At that time, the wild fox, deers and other jungles cats used to be tarvelling in this areas. The other villages, near Korakati was Jhienbaj, Durgamandap, Daudpur, Manipur etc. were also cleared of jungles. But still there were many big trees all around. There were many types of mangrove bushes in these areas also. Snakes were another great problems. Many people used to die because of snake-bites.
The river, named, BALI used to be flowing in its west leading towards Daudpur and Durgamandap. There were another small river in its nothern side across which, the village of Durgamandap was there. This small river used to flow upto Dhuchnikhali-Atapur area up to its East. The south of Korakati was also surrounded by the the BALI river. The BALI river is actually a branch river of Vidyadhari-Raymangal River which is one of the biggest rivers of Sundarbans Delta. In fact, Korakati village is a deltaic island of Sundarbans. But today, it will be difficult to understand this since the river in its north is no more. It has been lost and all people are living around this place and it cam be understood by identufying the old ponds all along these habitations.
Korakati is one of the biggest villages in the Sundarbans now.
The village of Korakati became very famous since its birth. In the first independent India, Korakati got its first school in 1948 along with other schools in Sundarbans, like, Sahebkhali, Dulduli, Amtali-Jaygopalpur, Maukhali school etc.
Mr Ananta Kumar Vaidya was the first Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Korakati for undivided GOSABA CONSTITUENCY in the West Bengal Assembly as a leader of Congress Party. He did many great works for Korakati and other adjoining areas, like, new roads, hospital, development of school etc. Mr. Shashi Bhusan Mondal gave lands for hospital. The school lands were also his contribution. He was a great rich sub-zamindar of Korakati.
In Korakati, today there are some great people, like, Mr. Bhabesh Ranjan Mandal (Swami OMKARESWARANANDA), a very famous member of IA&AS and Yogacharya.  His famous book is "Freedom of Body and Mind". He is a widely travelled person around the world. His yougest brother, Mr. Bivash Ranjan Mondal is also another member of IA&AS and now working as Auditor General of the Republic of Nauru near Australia and he has been a most travelled persons around the world. In whole Sundarbans, only this family has produced two topmost civil servants of India. The villagers are proud of them today.

Korakati has some very old festivals.
The Manasa Ma's Fair (fair of Mother Manasa, Goddess of Snakes) conducted by Adhar Ojha (Snakes' wizard) in Dakshin Korakati is very famous for the last 60 years since the birth of Korakati.
Korakati observes Durga Puja for the last 60 years also.
The recent Puja is Maha Shiva Ratra by Swami Omkareswarananda.
These are great festivals of Korakati village.
In the month of Chaitra, Charak Puja and Hari Puja are also conducted for the last 50 years.
Korakati is a great place to travel in Sundarbans.

There is no Church and mosque. It is mainly Hindu peoples' village.

Korakati can be reached by many routes from KOLKATA.
By Air: From KOLKATA NETAJI SUBHAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT at Dumdum, you can take a taxi and reach to Dhamakhali by Basanti Highway. It takes 2 hours. From Dhamakhali, take a mechanised country river boat to reach to HABILER GHAT. It takes 30 minutes by waterways -- river. After Habiler Ghat, you need to take a village tri-cycle and reach KORAKATI.

By Train: From Sealdah, Kolkata take a train for Canning. It will take to Canning and again to go Dhamakhali and the same route.
It is an enjoyable great village of Sundarbans.