Sunderbans National Park

“Unmatched beauty of landscape and unexpected rich biodiversity”.

The Sunderbans is an old favourite and for good reason.Sunderbans, the world’s largest delta and mangrove swamp, is formed by the merging of three rivers- the Ganga, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna. The Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the world’s largest estuarine sanctuary, has some of India’s most interesting wildlife, and is worth a visit.

Sunderbans may have received bad publicity due to its man-eating tigers, but it is the wetland habitat, among the largest and most unique in the world, which is the main draw of this biosphere reserve. Water bodies criss-cross the forest and separate the hundreds of islands that dot the delta.

Flora and Fauna
Fascinating life forms await you in this largest estuarine delta in the world, Sunderbans. In April and May the flaming red leaves of the Genwa, edge the emerald islands. The crab like red flowers of the Kankara and the yellow blooms of Khalsi add to the dazzling display. As you penetrate into the forests of Sundarbans, this fairyland unfolds its mysterious beauty.
In the park you can also come across resident as well as foreign birds of numerous varieties. The list includes: Open Billed Storks, White Ibis, Water Hens, Coots, Pheasant Tailed Jacanas, Pariah Kites, Brahminy Kites, Marsh Harriers, Swamp Partridges, Red Jungle Fowls, Spotted Doves, Common Mynahs, Jungle Crows, Jungle Babblers, Cotton Teals, Herring Gulls, Caspian Terns, Gray Herons, Brahminy Ducks, Spotted Billed Pelicans, Large Egrets, Night Herons, Common Snipes, Wood Sandpipers, Green Pigeons, Rose Ringed Parakeets, Paradise Flycatchers, Cormorants, Fishing Eagles, White Bellied Sea Eagles, Seaguls, Common Kingfishers, Peregrine falcons, Woodpeckers, Whimprels, Black-Tailed Godwits, Little Stints, Eastern Knots, Curlews, Golden Plovers, Pintails, White Eyed Pochards and Whistling Teal.

Straight Stuff
Location - West Bengal
Total Area - 1330.10 sq. km
Declared As - A National Park in 1984
Visiting Season - September to March
Baits - Royal Bengal Tigers, Irrawaddy dolphins, mangroves.
Entry Fee - Rs. 15 for Indians and Rs. 150 for foreigners.
Accommodation
Within the Sunderbans reserve, the only accommodation available is at Sajnekhali, where there’s a tourist lodge. The lodge stands atop pillars- to keep away hungry tigers- and has rooms as well as dormitories. Meals are available at the dining hall, but don’t expect anything fancy- in the way of either boarding or lodging. A double room at the Sajnekhali Lodge costs about Rs 525 per night; dorm beds come for Rs 180 per night.
Outside the park, especially at Piyali and Bakkhali, are tourist lodges and hotels which can be an alternative for anyone looking for a place to stay. Rates vary considerably, depending upon what level of comfort you’re looking for.

How To Roll In
Air : The nearest airport is Kolkata, at 112-kms.
Rail : Canning is nearest railhead, at a distance of 48-kms.
Road : Road transportation is available from Kolkatta for Namkhana (105-kms), Sonakhali (100-kms), Raidighi (76-kms), Canning (64-kms), and Najat (92-kms), which are all near the Sunderbans and have access to the riverine waterways leading to it.
Waterways : Sundarbans are accessible only by riverrine waterways. Motor launch facilitiy are available from Namkhana - Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project- Sagar Island -Jambudwip; from Sajnekhali - Sudhanyakhali-Buridabri- Netidhopan-Holiday Island; from Sonakhali - Gosaba; from Raidighi - Kalas.