Top Places to Visit in Sundarbans

 The Sundarbans (Bengali: romanized: Shundorbôn, lit. ‘Beautiful forest’, Bengali pronunciation: [ˈʃundorbɔn]) is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal. It spans from the Hooghly River in India’s state of West Bengal to the Baleswar River in Bangladesh. It comprises closed and open mangrove forests, agriculturally used land, mudflats and barren land, and is intersected by multiple tidal streams and channels. Four protected areas in the Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, viz Sundarbans National Park, Sundarbans West, Sundarbans South and Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuaries.

The Sundarbans mangrove forest covers an area of about 10,000 km2 (3,900 sq mi). Of which, forests in Bangladesh’s Khulna Division extend over 6,017 km2 (2,323 sq mi) and in West Bengal, they extend over 4,260 km2 (1,640 sq mi) across the South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts. The most abundant tree species are Sundri (Heritiera fomes) and Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha). The forests provide habitat to 453 faunal wildlife, including 290 bird, 120 fish, 42 mammal, 35 reptile and eight amphibian species.

Despite a total ban on all killing or capture of wildlife other than fish and some invertebrates, it appears that there is a consistent pattern of depleted biodiversity or loss of species in the 20th century, and that the ecological quality of the forest is declining. The Directorate of Forest is responsible for the administration and management of Sundarban National Park in West Bengal. In Bangladesh, a new Forest Circle was created in 1993 to preserve the forest, and Chief Conservators of Forests have been posted since. Despite preservation commitments from both Governments, the Sunderbans are under threat from both natural and human-made causes. In 2007, the landfall of Cyclone Sidr damaged around 40% of the Sundarbans. The forest is also suffering from increased salinity due to rising sea levels and reduced freshwater supply. Again in May 2009 Cyclone Aila devastated Sundarban with massive casualties. According to news paper source at least 1 lakh people were affected by this cyclone. The proposed coal-fired Rampal power station situated 14 km (8.7 mi) north of the Sundarbans at Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat District in Khulna, Bangladesh, is anticipated to further damage this unique mangrove forest according to a 2016 report by UNESCO.

1. Sudhanyakhali Watch Tower

If “All Along the Watchtower” popped immediately into your mind when you read this headline, you’re the person I’m speaking to. Playing along the track on your tranquil vacay, you could climb the Sudhanyakhali watchtower to spot tigers in your vicinity. This is the most opportune place to watch tigers from, the highlight of the Sunderbans. Also visible, with luck of course, are axis deer and the like. An added bonus is the charming vista full of trees and greenery you get to see for miles all around when up high on this vacation must-visit.

 

2. Sajnekhali Watch Tower

Sajnekhali Watch Tower is the second most important watchtower in the Sunderbans tower. It provides all the mojo of other towers plus much more. It is the place where you can spot the famous tiger species, and also the place to watch pretty gruesome crocodiles in live action. There is also opportunity to indulge your excited wildlife enthusiast touristy curiosity in a museum and crocodile park within the premises, which showcases a collection of exquisite details. There’s also a temple within the grounds, traditional style, a Bonobibi temple.

 

3. Netidhopani

Netidhopani one is a complete tourist destination package of Sunderbans. This has a lake famous for being picturesque to look at and click pictures of, and also a ground that houses ruins of ancient buildings that once were. More precisely, there are ruins here of a temple that’s old four times as much as a century, and has achieved almost pilgrimage status with the sheer number of people who visit it to worship and pay homage. This place also has pop tourist apparatus like hotels. So in case you were thinking Sunderbans was all about tigers, think again.

 

4. Sunderbans National Park

Sunderbans are the most famous for its wildlife treasures it presents to tourists, and this spot is the collective inventory of the best among the rest in terms of wildlife. It is a place where land dissolves into water, and is known principally for its wide and eye catching reserves of tiger and birds, both parks of which are built around this area as the centre. It is located southmost of Bengal, and is one of the highlights of Sunderban tourism. It achieved such status in the late 1900s.

 

5. Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary

This, along with the tiger reserve of Sunderbans, are the main crowning jewels of, glistening feathers in, Sunderbans’ cap. This is the ideal place where you can go for a walk through if you’re here on vacation. You’d get lovely views of the Peechkali and the Gomti. The highlighted bird species here are those of egrets, herons and the like. Also, this place is hygienic and the sir healthy for you, along with being eco friendly. Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary is situated right near to its sibling animal reserve, the lordly Tiger Reserve.

Sunderbans in West Bengal are the most green, clean and offbeat tourist destination in the nearabouts by a mile. And it is all of those things for good reasons, too. It is green wherever you look at it, shaded by gigantic trees. It is clean and refreshing, you understand that part as soon as you breathe. And it is marvellously offbeat and wonderful because its not every tourist spot that can offer tigers and watchtowers over forests instead of nightclubs, and kudos to you for being one amazing unconventional traveller too.