India may have a bundle of exciting wildlife destinations located
throughout its length and breadth but one place that offers pristine and
riveting environ, not just for the animals but also for the visitors is
the Sundarban. This famed UNESCO World Heritage Site
is an ideal place to see wildlife at its best and is widely popular for
the beautiful orange black striped Royal Bengal Tigers. Besides, this
national park that consists up to 102 islands on the Indian side also
houses various small enclosures such as crocodile and turtle farm, and
there are wildlife museums as well as watchtowers. You can also find a
few wildlife sanctuaries located in the Sundarban Islands of Lothian and
Halliday which add so much to your Sunderban tour. Here’s a complete
travel guide to this one of its kind national park in West Bengal.
Where is it located and how can we get there?
Sundarban
National Park is around 101 kilometres from the Durga Puja Capital,
Kolkata and if you travel by car, the roads will lead you to Godkhali
(almost three hours drive). Traversing rural villages into this popular
destination where the mangrove forest are found in abundance, which by
the way is famed for being the largest mangroves in the world can be
witnessed only in the Sundarbans. However, the question of how to reach
Sundarban paradise can be resolved by saying it is only accessible via
boat to Sajnekhali island, which is considered to the be the entrance to
the national park. As a matter of fact, this island is where you can
get the entry tickets for the park which are Rs 60 for Indians and 200
for foreigners.
Best Time to Visit Sundarban: To
make your visit memorable, the best time to visit the national park of
Sundarbans is during the dry seasonal months from November to February.
Also Read: Incredible Indian Wildlife at a Glance
Where to Stay in Sunderban?
Being
an eco-friendly place in India, you can find simple accommodation
options rather than luxury ones with a complete village and wildlife
feel. And in order to find standard budget hotels, the largest island of
Sundarban, Gosaba is the place to go. There are also a number of jungle camps and tourist lodges in Sundarban National Park that offer comfortable stay amid nature and wild.
Also Read: Explore Popular Wildlife Resorts in India
Activities to Try around Sundarban National Park
This
go-to-destination certainly has a unique approach, with land and water
along with multiple islands. Here, you can witness various species found
in Sundarban such as saltwater crocodiles, hawksbill turtle, river
dolphins, Bengal tigers and many more. In fact, for a rather interesting
and exciting trip, you can read the following list of the things you
can do in Sundarban National Park during your wildlife holiday here.
Full Day Tour of the Fabulous City Called Kolkata
Visiting
the famed UNESCO wildlife destination in West Bengal, Sundarban and not
touring around Kolkata city is so not done unless you are a native.
Now, it is not necessary to go for a sightseeing tour but why not seize
the opportunity and run for it. Here, this vibrant city offers old
treasures like the Trams, which you have to ride to experience true
Kolkata and traverse the famous attraction, Howrah Bridge.
To make
this the best trip, make sure to visit Kolkata one day prior to
visiting Sundarban and take up a full day tour. During which the tourist
places you can quickly pay a visit to Park Street for their amazing
restaurants and pubs; Victoria Memorial to see its elegant architecture,
Birla temple that is fully endowed in white marble, Marble Palace
Mansion to see antique collections and the oldest museum in India, The
Indian Museum.
Try Your luck to See the Royal Bengal Tigers and Ganges River Dolphins in Sundarban
Since
no jeep safaris are available, tiger spotting can become rather a
difficult task and if your goal is to solely spot the ferocious Bengal
Tigers, you have to try your luck. You can only take a boat safari in
Sundarban National Park since the tiger reserve mainly consists of
islands, waterways, creeks, and canals.
To sight river dolphins, a
boat cruise is an ideal and only option, as you traverse tall and
tangling mangrove forest you may even spot a few beautiful species
dwelling on the bank of the river. For dolphin sighting, the cruise will
take you further out in the open river where the aquatic species dance
and offer you an entertaining show.
Visit the Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary and Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project
One
of the best places for birdwatching, Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary is a
haven for exotic feathered species and of course, the watchers. You can
come here and be lost amidst the lush greenery and the beauty of the
confluence of Matla and Gumdi Rivers. You can also visit the Sajnekhali
watchtower for better chances to spot wild species. In Sajnekhali Bird
Sanctuary, you may get to have a close encounter with bird species such
as Caspian Tern, Osprey Herring Gull, Spotted Billed Pelican, Open
Billed Stork, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Paradise Flycatcher and also the
rare winter bird, Asian Dowitchers.
Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project,
on the other hand, is a hatchery ground for saltwater crocodiles,
located adjacent to the island of Lothian it is widely visited tourist
spot in Sundarbans. Surrounded by littoral mangrove, peaceful ambience
and natural beauty, this crocodile project area is worth your time. A
day spent here can help you explore and even make you learn a lot,
Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project is the sole crocodile project in the whole
of West Bengal and it can be easily accessed via Sajnekhali jetty.
Also Read: Best Museums in India for Wildlife Lovers
Be a Part of the Gangasagar Mela in Sagar Island of Sundarban
A
devotional affair that is held annually on the island of Sagar in
Sundarban is Gangasagar Mela. Perhaps, if you visit Sundarban National
Park during the winter months of January (14 -15) you may get a chance
to be a part of this spiritual fair. This auspicious gathering invites a
melange of devotees from across the globe who come West Bengal state to
drown their sins in the holy River Ganga. So to say, this religious
festival of Gangasagar is the second largest fair in India after Kumbh
Mela.
Note: A sight not to miss is an
auspicious day of Makar Sankranti (the last day of the fair). During
this day you get to witness a ritual where a large crowd of pilgrims
takes bath/dip their body in holy water, Ganga.
Guide the New Hatchlings of Olive Ridley Turtles into the Sea in Kanak Island
A
beautiful sight you get to see during your trip to Sundarban is perhaps
located a few islands further in Kanak Island. A visit here can make
you appreciate wildlife even more as you help the new hatchlings of the
endangered Olive Ridley Turtles into the sea. These turtle species are
believed to come 100 kilometres off the seashore just to lay their eggs
in the moist sandy beach and the nesting period lasts from the months of
December to March. You can plan a whole day trip to Kanak Island and
enjoy the beach and the charming island of Sundarban National Park.
Observe the Flora and Fauna from Various Watch Towers of Sundarban
Not
many species are visible from the boat tours the national park houses,
so, in order to make your visit worthwhile, there are many watchtowers
built in different islands of Sundarban. With Dobanki, Sajnekhali, and
Sudhanyakhali located at a convenient distance, you will definitely find
a crowd here, unfortunately making it hard to get a chance to spot
animals through your binoculars without bumping with others.
However,
there are other watchtowers that are less visited, on a positive note,
you may get to spot rare species since there won’t be less interference
from the howling visitors. Despite located at a distance, a full day
outing might just be worth-it, visiting some watchtower tourist hotspots
like Burir Dabri located on the border of Bangladesh and Netidhopani,
from where you get to see a 400-year-old temple.
Also Read: Must Visit Tourist Getaways in West Bengall
A
rendezvous with the wild in Sundarbans will certainly spellbind you.
Take this scenario, for instance, even if you have planned a one day
tour, you may consider staying back at least a few days. Trust me, this
popular wildlife place has so much to offer, you may have to redo your
entire itinerary. And perhaps planning a rejuvenating weekend trip or a family vacation with kids
to Sundarbans would only do justice to your holiday. So, what have you
thought about your next wildlife adventure tour? If you consider
Sundarbans and need help in assisting your trip, call us at
+91-8755295199 or send us your queries at information@elitegroupsindia.com and we
will get back to you as soon as possible.
