A Sunderban National Park is situated in the West Bengal and it is a part of the Sunderbans on the Ganges Delta, which is bordering with the Sunderban Reserve of Bangladesh. This place is precisely situated on the largest delta in the world which is formed by the confluence of the three rivers – Brahmaputra River, Ganges River, and Meghna River. Sundarbans national park is a biosphere reserve as well as one of the largest tiger reserves for the Royal Bengal Tiger in the country. It is one of the most popular national parks in West Bengal. The delta is densely covered with mangrove forests. This reserve is declared as the national park in the year 1984 and it is inscribed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sunderbans Tiger Reserve owns an area of 2585 km sq. and its landscape is continuous with the mangrove habitat in Bangladesh.
Sunderbans National Park composed of 54 small islands and several distributaries of River Ganges intersect it. This national park consists of seven main rivers and innumerable watercourses form a network of the channel at this estuarine delta. This park is home to more than 400 tigers and 30, 000 spotted deers. The Sunderbans Royal Bengal Tigers have very unique characteristics. They can swim in the saline water and they also have man-eating tendencies. The wildlife of Sunderbans is unique and diverse. It houses a variety of flora, fauna, avifauna, aquatic fauna, marine mammals, and reptiles. Sunderbans wildlife consists of several endangered species live here are Royal Bengal Tiger, Saltwater crocodile, Olive Ridley Turtle, Ganges River Dolphin, Hawksbill Turtle, River Terrapin, and Mangrove Horseshoes Crab. This place is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts as one can witness the sheer beauty of nature in the very untouched and serene form.
Best Time to Visit Sundarbans National Park
The best month to visit Sunderbans is during the winter season. As the temperature during this season comes down and the weather becomes pleasant and comfortable. This is the time when you can spot white Royal Bengal Tiger and several other endangered species in their natural habitat during the wildlife safari. The months from October to March is the best time to visit Sunderbans national park. Summers here are quite hot and the temperature shoots up during this time. The monsoon months are laden with the heavy rainfall and make it extremely risky for transportation. It is difficult to access the Sunderbans Tiger Sanctuary from June to September.
Sunderban National Park Safari
To explore the Sunderbans the only means is boat safari. It is the only medium to explore the wild beauty of the national park as the dense forest is connected by various free-flowing rivers. Sunderban National Park Safari provides an opportunity to sail into those rivers in local boats or vessels. West Bengal Tourism Department organizes the tour and they have two types of boats which include AC and Non AC and they can be booked for a longer and shorter duration. The boat service is available from the early morning at 8:30 A.M to 4:00 P.M. No boat is allowed inside the Sunderbans after 6:30 P.M.
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Charges of Sundarbans National Park
- Entrance Fee: INR 150 rupees
- Boats Hire: INR 600 for half a day and INR 1000 for full day
- Boat Permit: INR 50
- Guide: INR 300
- Camera: INR 20
- Video camera: INR 300
Note: The given rates are liable to change without any kind of prior information.
When were the Protected Forests established?
The delta where Sundarbans National Park is located is flushed with numerous wildlife species. Located in South 24 Parganas, a short distance away from the city of Kolkata, the enchanting Sundarbans delta is the largest delta in the world.
Due to the high density of tigers in the area, as part of Project Tiger, the land of Sundarbans Delta was declared as a tiger reserve in the year 1973. By 1977, due to presence of various other wildlife species in abundance in here, it was declared as a protected wildlife sanctuary. The area also gained a lot of importance among travelers and nature enthusiasts because of the lush green mangrove forests. By 4th May 1984, it was declared as a National Park. It was included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list in the year 1987.
Recommended Tour Packages
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How to Reach Sunderbans National Park
Sunderbans National Park is situated in the south-eastern periphery of the West Bengal. The adjacent populous areas are well-connected with the Kolkata by road and railways. Kolkata is well connected by the airways from the major cities of India and other countries as well. The river cruise is the best way to reach Sunderbans National Park.
Where is Sundarbans National Park located?
Sundarbans National Park is located 130 km east from the city of Kolkata in Indian state of West Bengal.
What are the major attractions in and around the Park?
- Bird Sanctuary: This is the best location in the park to watch avifauna species. Watchtowers are located at Haldi, Netidhopan, Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali and various other locations.
- Bhagbatpur Crocodile Project: This is where tourists get to witness large number of crocodiles. It can be reached through Namkhana. It is the largest hatchery of estuarine Crocodile in the world.
- Chargheri Char: The mudflats at Sundarbans National Park are popular tourist attractions in Sundarbans. Tourists love coming here to see Horseshoe Crab, Octopus and Sea Anemones.
What kind of accommodation facilities are the best nearby Sundarbans National Park forests?
There are numerous accommodation options in and around Sundarbans National Park where tourists love to stay. All these hotels are located at a convenient distance from the park and offer an adventurous stay.
The best option of accommodation for tourists is the wildlife lodges and resorts that are located near Sundarbans National Park. These resorts excel when it comes to providing amenities and comfortable stay to the guests.
The close proximity to National Park makes it convenient for tourists to go on early morning boat rides. Some of these wildlife resorts plan special tours for tourists to the National park so that the guests can simply sit back and relax.
Some popular accommodations include Sajnekhali Tourist Lodge, Sunderban Tiger Camp, Sundarbans Jungle Camp, etc.
Some tips might come in handy when going/planning a tour to Sundarbans National Park:
- At no cost whatsoever, one should get down in the water or at the river bank.
- It is advised to one and all the keep their cameras ready as one would want to click lots of pictures.
- Destroying plantations or hurting wildlife species is a serious offence and should strictly not be done.
- One must be very patient during the boat rides.
- Bringing your own personal boats for private tours require lengthy permission procedures and hence must be avoided.