Sundarbans National Park

India

This park extends into Bangladesh - for that section see Sundarbans

Sundarbans National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Southeast Bengal, India.

A broad, tree-lined river in the park Sundarbans National Park is marked as the Core area of Sundarban tiger reserve in Sundarban Reserve Forest. Sundarbans Reserve Forest is located in southern part of South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India. The meaning of the Bengali word sundarban is "beautiful forest". Sundarbans is a plastic free zone, so if you bring any plastic with you, remember to take it out when you leave.

The Sundarbans are the largest littoral mangrove belt in the world, stretching 80 km (50 mi) into the Bangladeshi and Indian hinterland from the coast. The Sundarbans has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The part of the forest within Indian territory is called Sundarbans National Park. The forests aren't just mangrove swamps though — they include some of the last remaining stands of the mighty jungles which once covered the Gangetic plain. The Sundarbans cover an area of 3,850 km², of which about one-third is covered in water/marsh areas. Since 1966 the Sundarbans have been a wildlife sanctuary, and it is estimated that there are now 400 Royal Bengal tigers and about 30,000 spotted deer in the area.

The forest is called 'Sunderban' due to the rich growth of Sundari trees.

Royal Bengal Tiger, Saltwater Crocodile, deers, birds, Bull Sharks, various primates & snakes.

  • October to February — winter, cold and temperate
  • March to May — summer, hot and humid
  • June to September — the monsoon season, wet and windy

Monsoon cruises are spectacular.

One of the park's inhabitants Foreigners wishing to visit Sundarbans have to obtain a special permit. This is mandatory as per Government rule. It can now,however be obtained at the Sajnekhali Forest Office(Ecotourism Range) .The originals have to be shown to the forest office on your arrival.

  • Tourism Centre, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited, 3/2-BBD Bag (Near Great Eastern Hotel), Kolkata, +91 33 2210 3199, +91 33 2248 8271.

A permit for maximum 5 days is usually granted which can be further extended subject to the permission of local forest officer.

Tourism Centre, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited, 3/2-BBD Bag (Near Great Eastern Hotel), Kolkata, +91 33 2210 3199, +91 33 2248 8271.

Must see places to Visit when you are in Sundarbans:

  • Sajnekhali Watch Tower and Tiger Reserve.
  • Dobanki Watch Tower.
  • Sudhanyakhali Watch tower.
  • Neti Dhopani Watch Tower.
  • Bhagabatpur Crocodile park.
  • Kumirmari Watch Tower
  • Jhingamari Watch tower
  • Bonnie camp Watch tower
  • Chargheri Char - Mud Flats, where you can feel the mudflats and do a few hours of jungle and coastal trek (in the mud as well as coast).

All these can be covered in varying lengths of time, say in a 1N 2D package you may be able to cover 2 - 3 watch towers, in 2N 3D package you may be able to cover a few more and so on.

Sajnekhali Watch Tower and Tiger Reserve.

Dobanki Watch Tower.

Sudhanyakhali Watch tower.

Neti Dhopani Watch Tower.

Bhagabatpur Crocodile park.

  • Apart from cruising around the tourism zone of National Park, take a village walk. Visit a local school.
  • Go on a cycle trip to the local village market. Know more about the unique Mangrove Eco System.
  • Join a fishing or crab catching expedition on a country boat around the village (you are not allowed to do that inside the Reserve Forest).
  • Take a birding walk around the village.
  • Join a cooking class,and learn how a local dish is prepared with simple local ingredients.
  • Experience a local cultural programme Bonobibi Yatra - a local rural theatre performed by the villagers.

Be sure that you have booked your lodging or trip package through a responsible tourism organisation that shares the tourism benefit with local communities, does not employ child labour, and practices environment-friendly tourism.

  • Local Handicraft.
  • Honey.
  • Organic Brown Rice.

Lunch Fresh Sea Fish. Crab. Prawn. Lobster. Dry Fish Curry. Cottage Cheese. Pan Cake. Rice Pudding (Bengali dessert). Local sweet curd.

Filtered or boiled water (do not insist on mineral water unless it is a part of your personal medication. Mineral water comes in plastic bottles. Sundarbans is a No-Plastic Zone.) Fresh coconut juice. Fresh watermelon juice. Mango juice.

The Sundarbans is the only place in the world where tigers still actively hunt humans for food and usually between 50 and 80 locals are mauled per year. The Royal Bengal Tiger is extremely dangerous in the Sundarbans, but most visitors need not worry since wildlife tours and accommodation that is provided by state government will never put you in harms way; however if you are interested in private tour (by hiring a small machine boat or so), do it at your own risk! The Sundarbans is also home to a population of Saltwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) and Bullsharks are found throughout the estuaries, so swimming is not advised anywhere.