Sundarban wildlife sanctuary is the largest mangrove forest in the world, which is popular for Royal Bengal tigers. This apart, Sundarban is the favorite habitat of snakes, deers, monkeys, lizards and a large number of birds. The aquatic life of Sundarban too is no less attractive. The hermit crabs, the crocodile and Irrawaddy Dolphins account for some of the animals in the marine life. Though a large part of the Sudarban region is occupied by villages, a major portion still remains in its virgin state. Tourists who visit Kolkata are recommended the Sundarban forests because of the sheer fun of indulging in the beauty of nature.
The Sundarban forest has been named after the Sundari trees. These are a type of mangrove trees and the word 'sundari' in Bengali means the beautiful. Sundarban comprises many villages and certain protected areas. Entry to the protected places is limited as a protective measure and also because the forest is really dangerous to explore on foot or without expert guidance. This bio-diverse region of Sundarban has been recognized as one of the UNESCO world heritage sites. A part of the Sundarbans is located in West Bengal and the other half in Bangladesh.
Some of the Important Places in Sundarban Forests
The places of Sundarban that can be explored by the tourists are:
- Haliday Island
- Netidhopani
- Kaikhali
- The Sajnakhali Sanctuary
- Bhagabatpur
- Kanak
- Piyali
|
Visiting Sundarbans
Sundarban can be accessed through various ways. Tourists have to travel to a village by the name of Sonakhali. There are a number of buses which start from Kolkata and ply to this village. The experience of journeying through the typical Bengali villages is quite unique. This is an 86 kilometers journey. From the Sonakhali Jetty the tourists have to take a boat ride to Basanti. They can also go to the Sonakhali Tourist Lodge. At Basanti, auto rickshaws await the passengers and from here they travel to Gadkhali. From Gadkhali tourists take ferries to Gosaba across the Bidya river. Pakhiralaya is just a 30 minutes cycle rickshaw ride from Gosaba. Sajnekhali is located just across the river from Pakhiralaya.
An alternative route to the Sundarban is the one from the Southwest of Calcutta. Starting from Diamond Harbor, tourists have to travel to Kakdwip and then to Namkhana. Boats are available from Namkhana or from Gandharpur. The boats offer forest tours to Lothian and adjoining regions.
Where to Stay in Sundarban and When to Visit Sundarban
During the months starting from November to March, maximum number of tourists visit the Sundarban. The monsoons should better be avoided because Sundarban experiences torrential rainfall, flooding and cyclone storms.
While staying overnight in the Sundarbans, tourists can opt for the lodges at Bali, Gosaba or Sajnekhali Tourist Lodge. These tourist accommodations are very well protected from possible attacks by wild animals. If tourists to Sundarbans are planning to explore the forest on foot, they have to acquire permission from the concerned authorities.
|
