THE MANGROVES OF SUNDARBAN – A WORLD HERITAGE BIODIVERSITY

THE MANGROVES OF SUNDARBAN – A 

WORLD HERITAGE BIODIVERSITY


Only a few hours away from the bustling metropolis of Kolkata, the World Heritage Biodiversity of Sundarban is the largest mangrove forests in the world, extending into the neighbouring country of Bangladesh. This unique Tiger Reserve proudly boasts of the largest population of the famous astute, treacherous, semi-aquatic and man-eating Royal Bengal Tiger, the biggest, most glamorous and most cunning of its kind in the whole world. 65% of this unique reserve consists of salt-water, contributed by the innumerable tributaries and distributaries of the river Ganges and 35% is land, contributed by the 102 extremely fragile islands in the world’s biggest delta – The Ganges Delta. Covering an area of 2585sq kms, this is the largest and the most awe-inspiring wildlife preserve of India. The vast and dense expanse of the Sundari, Hethal and Garan forests and the awful stories about the Royal Bengal Tigers’ greed for the human flesh, always give an eerie feeling to the tourists. The last census showed an exciting population of over 200 tigers in the Park. Sundarban is also a repository of innumerable species of aquatic fauna, of which, some are found only here. It is the only home of the Giant Estuarine Crocodile and the White Crocodile, two extremely endangered species. Apart from a large variety of fish, the other aquatic fauna includes the endangered Gharial, Crocodile, Gangetic Dolphin and a variety of reptiles. Olive Ridley Turtle flocks here in thousands in the winter to lay and hatch their eggs. Apart from the Tiger, the main resident of the Park, other wildlife includes Deer, Wild Boar and Monkey. Moving around in the biodiversity is only possible in motor boats. Tourists are allowed to alight from the boats only at designated islands where they are fast moved into caged pathways leading to strategically erected watch towers that provides a spectacular view of the biodiversity. An encounter with the awfully majestic Royal Bengal Tiger is also possible if one is lucky enough.

Accessibility: By road, Basanti is 100kms from Kolkata. After that, one has to traverse the Park in a motor boat. The state tourism department and other private operators organize tours of the Park.

Accommodation: There is a Tourist Lodge inside the Park. Otherwise one has to stay onboard the vessels which are fitted with bathrooms. Some Resorts also came up at Pakhiralay, an island on the periphery of the Park.

Season: October to March.


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