Sunderbans National Park

Sunderbans National Park became tiger reserve in 1973 and declared the national park in 1978. It is also the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The huge marshy delta of 02 grand rivers of India, Ganges and Brahmaputra expands over regions including of mangrove jungles, marsh and jungle island all mingled in a system of little rivers and also few streams. Sunderbans is the biggest mangrove jungle of the world. Sunderbans has derived the name Sunderbans from Sundari plants found once in a large quantity here. The mighty river Ganges and Brahmaputra shape 54 island’s alluvial archipelago which is watered by the great Bay of Bengal. The islands Sandeshkali, Goasaba and Basanti make the north border of the national park and in the southern is the sea. In the west direction of the park are Matla and Bidya local rivers and in the eastern side is the international border of Bangladesh.

Attractive life types await the visitors on this biggest estuarine Sunderbans delta of the world. The main attraction of the park is Royal Bengal Tiger. There are more than 250 tigers in the park. The Royal Bengal Tigers here have build up an exceptional feature to swim in the salty waters and are popular in the world for the man-eating trend. The other major animals of Sunderbans are Fishing Camp, Common Grey Mongoose, Jungle Cat, Wild boar, flying fox, fox, chital, macaques and Pangolin.

The prominent birds of the park are Brahmini Ducks, Fishing Eagles, White Bellied Sea Eagles, Woodpeckers, Kingfishers, Red Jungle Fowls, Brahmini Kite, Spotted Doves, Jungle Crow, Gray Herons, Jungle Babblers, Rose Ringed Parakeets, Wood Sandpipers, Paradise Flycatchers, Caspian Terns, Green Pigeons, Large Egrets, Pheasant Tailed Jacanas, Pariah Kites, Herring Gulls, Common Mynahs, Spotted Billed Pelicans, Eastern Knots, Little Stints, Golden Plovers, Open Billed Storks, Swamp Partridges, Cotton Teals, Pintails, Black-Tailed Godwits, Cormorants, Night Herons, Peregrine falcons, White Eyed Pochards, Whimprels, Common Snipes, Seagulls, Coots and Water Hens.

Sunderbans is a home of many reptiles as Estuarine Crocodiles, sea snakes, King Cobras, Dog Faced Water Snakes, Monitor Lizards¸ rat Snakes, Salvator Lizards, Russels Vipers, Mouse Ghekos, Olive Ridley turtles¸ Hard Shelled Batgun Terrapins, Chameleons, Green Turtles, Hawks Bill Turtles, Curviers, Chequered Killbacks and Pythons.

Sajnakhali Sanctuary
Sajnakhali Sanctuary is quite popular for the prosperous avian inhabitants and known as a division of Sunderbans National Park. The empire of various birds this place of Sajnakhali charms the eyes of bird watchers. The birds seen here are 07 colorful species of beautiful Kingfisher, Plovers, white bellied Sea Eagle, Curfews, Lap-Wings, Whimbrels, sometimes Pelican and Sandpipers

Netidhopani
At Netidhopani, see the eye catching ruins of an ancient temple which said to be 400 year old

Bhagabatpur
Bhagabatpur has hatchery of the biggest estuarine crocodiles.

Kanak
Kanak is one of the best places to see the nesting of the Olive Ridley Turtles.

Haliday Island
Haliday Island is known as the only retreat for Barking Dear in entire India.

Piyali
Piyali is a gateway of Sunderbans and is located 72 KMS from Kolkata by surface. It is closely located to Sajnakhali, Netidhopani and Sudhanyakhali via waterways. A tiny river known as Piyali runs by the lush green fields of paddy and finally merges with Matla River. Charming delta of Piyali makes a nice romantic vacation tourist destination.

Kaikhali
On the way to Sunderbans Park, don’t miss Kaikhali Island – at this place nature is very alive and quite colorful. A one of the best picnic spots in this region.

The best time to travel to Sunderbans is from September to May.

Air: Kolkata airport is 112 KMS.

Rail: Canning railway station is 48 KMS from the park.

Road: Kolkata for Namkhana (105 KMS), Sonakhali (100 KMS), Raidighi (76 KMS), Canning (64 KMS) and Najat (92 KMS), these places are close to the park and are connected to the waterways going to it.