When one thinks about the king of jungle, the first thought that flashes in the mind is the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger. And the Sundarban National Park is the only natural habitat of the king of kings – Royal Bengal tiger. Besides being a national park, the Sundarban is also a tiger reserve, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a Biosphere Reserve. Sundarban is also the largest Mangrove forest in the world. The most unique feature of Sundarban is the combination of jungle and water. One can easily spot a tiger swimming ate river.
Sundarban National Park – Introduction
Sundarban National Park is located in 24 Paraganas district, south-east of Kolkata, India. It is a part of the Gangetic delta at the border of the Bay of Bengal. The Sundarban was declared as tiger reserve in 1973, a wildlife sanctuary in 1977, and finally a national park on 4th May, 1984. Sundarban is the world largest delta and estuarine forest. It is also a host for migratory bird during the winters.
Wildlife in Sundarban National Park
The Sundarban is famous for its Royal Bengal tiger. Apart from the great Royal Bengal tiger, the Sundarban is famous for its population of crocodiles. The dense forest of Sundarban is rich in flora and fauna.
In fauna, the Sundarban is the proud habitat of Chital Deer, jungle cat, Rhesus Monkey, common grey mongoos, hundreds of varieties of fishes, small Indian civet, red fiddler crab, little porpoise, hermit crab, Gangetic dolphin, Indian fox, spotted deer, wild pig, Indian flying fox, fishing cat, etc.
In flora, the most magnificent is the flaming red leaves of Genwa, which gives a special look to the Sundarban forest. The other attractions include red blooms of Kankara, yellow blooms of Khalsi, dhundal, Passur, and many more.
Sundarban National Park- Tourist Information
Climate : The climate in Sundarban is rainy and on the higher side of humidity due to the presence of the Bay of Bengal. The temperature varies from 200 C to 350 C. During May and September-November, there is possibility of storm.
Best time to visit : The best Time to visit Sundarban National Park is from September to mid-March. The climate during this period remains predictable and comfortable.
Getting there :
By Air - Dum Dum, in Kolkata, is the nearest airport of the Sundarban. The Dumdum airport is located some 112 kilometers from the Sundarban.
By Rail -The nearest railway station is the Canning. It is located some 48 kilometers from Sundarban.
By Road -The nearest roadways to Sundarban are from Namkhana, Sonakhali, Raidighi, Canning and Najat.
By Water -Water is by far the best medium to visit Sundarban. Waterways to Sundarban can be availed from Namkhana, Sajnekhali, Raidighi, etc. One can best enjoy the flamboyances of Sundarban by taking the cruises through waterways while enjoying the water life and delicious traditional as well as modern Bengali dishes with special attractions like fish and prawns. M. V. Chutrarekha and M. V. Madhukar are the best available luxury cruises to Sundarban.
Wildlife in West Bengal
