One of the very popular wildlife destinations in the country to spot the Royal Bengal tigers that also happens to be a National Park, a Tiger Reserve and also a Biosphere reserve is the Sundarbans National Park located at the eastern Indian state of West Bengal. What makes Sundarbans National Park unique is that the park is comprised of 54 small islands and each if these islands are intersected by several distributaries of the Ganges river and the Sundarban delta is the convergence of two of the greatest rivers in the World of the Ganga and the Brahmaputra that converge on the Bengal basin and finally flow into the Bay of Bengal. The entire Sundarbans ecosystem is one of the unique natural wonders in the World that is spread across India and Bangladesh that is comprised of around 10,000 km of mangrove forests and the area is the land of the Royal Bengal Tigers. It can be said the Sundarbans reserve is one of the largest reserves for the Royal Bengal Tigers anywhere in the World and this is what draws thousands of tourists to this National Park in West Bengal that was established as a National Park in 1984 and prior to it the place was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1977.
Not only the Royal Bengal Tigers but the Sundarbans National Park also boasts of a variety of birds, reptiles and invertebrate species including the very rare salt water crocodile that are found in the park as well. Apart from being declared as a National Park of the country, Sundarbans National Park also boasts of various laurels like being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Ramsar Site and also a World Network of Biosphere reserve as well. The Sundarbans forest is home to around 400 tigers and the tigers of this place have a unique characteristic of being able to swim in the saline waters and are often heard of having man eating tendencies. The other cat species inhabiting the forests of Sundarbans National Park are leopard cats, jungle cats and the fishing cats and other dominant fauna species inhabiting the forests of Sundarbans National Park are the macaques, wild boars, Indian grey mongoose, flying fox, fox, chital, etc. that are found in abundance here at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sundarbans National Park. The aquatic fauna that are found in the waters of the Sundarbans are the butter fish, sand fish, Gangetic dolphins, tree frogs, common toads, starfish, common carp, etc.
To describe the history of the Sundarbans National Park, it can be said that it can be traced to as far back as 200-300 AD and during the Mughal period, the forests of Sundarbans were leased out to nearby residents who had built the settlements across the forest reserves. These settlements were later attacked by the Portuguese on their invasions and also by the salt smugglers during the 17th century and the ruins of these settlements still remain at a place called as Netidhopani. To protect further encroachment of the area of the Sundarbans National Park, the government declared it as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1977 to be upgraded to a National Park in 1984 and later as a Project Tiger as well. A visit to Sundarbans National Park in West Bengal should be in the bucket list of every wildlife and nature lover because this is one of the most beautiful biodiversity regions across the World. The mangrove growth and the habitat across the place are a thing of vast natural beauty and one gets to feel in close awe of Mother Nature when they are here at Sundarbans National Park and a trip to this place is sure to remain memorable in the minds of any traveller. Not only the wildlife and the birds of Sundarbans National Park is what draws visitors to the place but the varied cultural adventures one can see on your boat rides as well as the nature walks.
The close encounters with the royal Bengal tigers of Sundarbans National Park is a once in a lifetime experience that lures visitors to come to the place and it is one of the eye catching memories that you can never forget and the environment of the place is serene that you will feel in deep appreciation of the nature around you and this will ensure that you would have deeper appreciation of how God intended the World to be. While you are gliding across the rivers, you will get to hear the cry of the various animals of Sundarbans National Park and also the chirping of the birds of the place as well. When you are here at Sundarbans National Park then you will have the option to explore the vast delta and the forests of the place on boat safari rides that are conducted here from sunrise to sunset and this is one of the second to none experience that visitors can enjoy on their visit. The boat safari time varies from 8.30AM in the morning to also at 4PM and no safari is conducted after 6.30PM. The best time to visit Sundarbans National Park is from the months of September through March and the boat safari is the only way to explore the place and visitors will sail freely on the Rivers of Malta and Bidyadhani.
To describe the climate of the Sundarbans National Park, the average minimum and maximum temperatures vary between 20 degree to 48 degrees Celsius and this will describe to you an idea of how hot and humid it can get in the summer season and hence it is recommended that you plan your visit to this place specially during the winter season. Being close to the Bay of Bengal, the rainfall across this delta is heavy and humidity levels are close to around 80 percent that favours the growth of flora and fauna across the place. While the winter season extends from mid-October to mid-March, the monsoon season starts from May through September bringing in immense rain to the Sunderbans National Park. It is said the seven major rivers flow across the area of the Sunderbans National Park and all these rivers flow on a southbound course towards the sea and tides occur on these rivers that allows them to deposit silt on the delta and also help in the creation of new island that harbour rich growth of vegetation across the Sundarban Delta and this in turn allows fauna to grow across the place. One unique natural phenomenon that are found at the Sundarbans National Park are that of mudflats and these serve as the right environment to harbour the growth of mangrove forests.
There are various mudflats across the Sunderbans National Park that have the potential to be favoured tourist spots in Sunderbans and tourists can visit these mudflats to enjoy the low tide and also perhaps sight the sea anemones and the horse shoe crabs including small octopus species that rare to be found. The entire area of the Sunderbans delta is having a vast area of mangrove forests that have a variety of flora and diverse fauna but are in danger of complex climatic hazard as well. Therefore a need is there to have a conservation and environmental plan to safeguard the ecology of this grand delta of the nation. It is noteworthy to be mentioned that the name Sunderban is derived from the Sundari tree that is one of the very exquisite mangrove tree that is found across the area of Sunderbans National Park and this tree has a very specialized root that are called as pneumatophores that emerge above the ground and help in the respiration of the tress as the entire area is mostly under water it being a waterlogged area and especially during the monsoon season, when the entire forest is waterlogged, the spikes rising from the ground has their peak in the air and this allows the tree in the respiration process.
The entire Sunderbans National Park area along with the Sunderban delta is a vast paradise for bird watchers and the various bird species to be spotted here are black-capped kingfishers, black-headed ibis, pheasant-tailed jacanas, pariah kites, brahminy kite, red junglefowl, spotted doves, common mynahs, jungle crows, jungle babblers, Caspian terns, gray herons, common snipes, wood sandpipers, paradise-flycatchers, cormorants, grey-headed fish eagles, white-bellied sea eagles, seagulls, common kingfishers, woodpeckers, Eurasian whimbrels, black-tailed godwits, little stints, eastern knots, curlews, golden plovers, northern pintails, white-eyed pochards and whistling teals. The various reptile species to be spotted at the Sunderbans National Park are estuaria crocodiles, chamaleons, monitor lizards, snakes, green turtles, pythons, king cobra, rat snake, russel’s viper, bamboo pit viper, common krait, etc. Certain of the endangered animal species to be found inside the Royal Bengal Tigers, Salt water crocodiles, river terrapins, oliver ridley turtles, Gangetic river dolphins, horse shoe crabs, etc. These endangered species are critical for the overall development of the biodiversity of the Sunderbans area and hence necessary conservation measures are needed to be taken to protect their numbers as well as to grow their numbers as well. These endangered species are the ones that have to be looked out for and their numbers have to any cost be protected or else the further generations may never have the opportunity to see them in their natural habitat.
When you have planned to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sunderbans National Park it is necessary that you plan your visit to the place as this is a very important to book your accommodation and safari at the place to avoid any last minute hassles. As mentioned earlier, summer season has a very hot temperature coupled with high humidity and so it is advised to plan your visit to Sunderbans National Park in the winter season that approaches from later September. Though you can also plan your visit to Sunderbans National Park in the summer season but is advised to plan in the months from September to March. Sunderbans National Park can be described as a place that has dark woods that has a touch of silence and is the habitat of the Royal Bengal Tigers and various other endangered species and the place is a mighty mangrove area that has varied wildlife that is explorable around the year on boat safari rides. If by chance you are planning your visit to Sunderbans National Park during the summer season to enjoy your summer break it is to be advised that you prepare to brace yourself for the summer weather and carry the appropriate clothing to enjoy the dense forests of Sunderbans National Park and keep your cameras ready on your safari ride as this is an ideal way to spot the Tigers who come to quench their thirst in the scorching summer heat.
With the end of the monsoon season in the time of the late September, the winter kicks in and visitors can get to experience the vase wilderness of the forest reserves of Sunderbans National Park and the winter season lasts towards the end of March and this is the ideal time to explore the beauty of this delta and with temperatures ranging from 10 – 30 degrees it is simple ideal to catch the sight of the Royal Bengal Tigers, salt water crocodiles, Gangetic river dolphins and many of the other fauna species of Sunderbans National Park. After enjoying your safari experience at Sunderbans National Park you can also take the opportunity to visit the place of tourist interest across the Sunderbans National Park that are like the Sajnekhali watch tower that is one of the most renowned watch towers across the place and various resorts of the place are at the proximity to this tower that provides guests with a unique opportunity to sight the flora and fauna of the Sunderbans Delta. The watch tower accommodates 20 people at a time and this is also the place from where you can enter the forests of Sunderbans National Park after seeking permission from the forest department.
The bird lovers who come to Sunderbans National Park can take the opportunity to sight the various rare bird species of the park like the Pelicans, Kingfishers, Plovers, Sandpipers, etc. Another of the important watch towers of tourist interest at Sunderbans National Park is that of the Sandhyakhali watch tower and this is renowned as the place from where visitors can have the opportunity to sight the tigers of Sunderbans National Park. This is a bigger watch tower and can accommodate 25 visitors at a time and the sighting of these animals becomes easier from this watch tower as there is a pond present across the place that is believed to have sweet water and therefore many wild animals come to visit this pond to quench their thirst. Apart from the tigers of Sunderbans National Park one can also have the opportunity to sight crocodiles, axis deers and even the wild boars of the Sunderbans National Park from this watch tower. Two of the other watch towers that you can visit from where apart from tigers you can spot the Chital deer, Brahmini kites are the Do Ban Ki watch tower and the Netidhopani watch tower. Another important place to visit near Sunderbans National Park is the Bhagatpur crocodile project that is a best place to catch a glimpse of the estuarine crocodiles of the place and this is a breeding ground of the crocodiles of Sunderbans National Park and even a hatching area as well.
Do not miss out to visit the Bhagatpur crocodile project during your visit to Sunderbans National Park and this is where you get to witness the entire breeding process of the estuarine crocodiles and also the salt water crocodiles as well. Witnessing them in front of your eyes is a once in a lifetime experience which otherwise you must have only seen on television in the Discovery channel or Animal Planet. Sunderbans National Park is a complete holiday destination and this is where families come in groups to enjoy the varied natural beauty of the place and they enjoy their stay in the top luxury resorts across the place pampered with great hospitality and also explore the places around the park and enjoy their safaris. One small town to be visited outside of the Sunderbans National Park is that of Pingoli that is a very scenic place and often referred to as the doorway to Sunderbans National Park and another place of interest is that of the Halliday Island. This Halliday Island is found in the southern side of the Sunderbans National Park and even the Halliday Wildlife Sanctuary is located within this region and this is renowned as the place that is where you can find the critically endangered Barking deer species.
Another Wildlife Sanctuary that is located nearby is that of the Lothian Wildlife Sanctuary that is a paradise for bird lovers and various bird species are known to inhabit this place and so you can have your cameras ready to capture beautiful images of the birds of the place as well. Another place that is renowned for the presence of the Oliver Ridley turtles is that of the crystal clear waters of the Kanak area that is a famed tourist destination around Sunderbans National Park. It is said that these turtles have a unique characteristic to be able to travel upright for about 100km from the mouth of the sea to the area of the Sunderbans National Park. So with your entire plan in place, you have to now reach the Sunderbans National Park to enjoy a vacation of a lifetime and to reach the place that is a large coastal mangrove area of West Bengal you have to travel to Kolkata that is the capital of West Bengal and from here you will need to plan your journey by road that is only a distance of about 110km that is conveniently a well laid out network of roads and public transport as well as private taxis are easily available. The nearest airport is the Dum Dum or the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International airport.
In case you are planning to visit Sunderbans National Park via railways then the nearest rail head is that of Canning that is situated at an approximate distance of 48km from the Sunderbans National Park and once you arrive at Canning you can choose public transport or also hire a taxi to travel to Sunderbans National Park. Another mode of accessing the Sunderbans National Park is via waterways and the river mode of transportation is a very easy way to approach the place and motorboats travelling to Sunderbans can be hired from various places like Namkahna, Sonakhali, Raidighi, etc. The excitement begins when you reach Sunderbans National Park and you can book your accommodation at the various luxury resorts that are located around the area of the Sunderbans National Park and the flagship species that you would want to sight are the Royal Bengal Tigers of the place. The place is the only mangrove forest in the World that has tigers and apart from the tigers that are approximately 58 species of mammals, 55 species of reptiles and 248 species of birds to be found here at Sunderbans National Park. While you are at Sunderbans National Park, you many have the opportunity to sight some of the various rare animal species of fishing cats, common otter, water monitor lizard, olive ridley, spotted deer, porcupines, etc.
The safari experience across Sunderbans National Park is a once in a lifetime experience and a very adventurous one as well when you are able to spot the Royal Bengal Tigers from your safari rides. The boat safari option is a very feasible one as well because the entire area of Sunderbans National Park being a delta there is no chance of the forests being located at one place that would allow the visitors to go on a vehicle safari and as the mangrove forests of Sunderbans National Park get spit into smaller deltas that are again separated by the smaller rivulets so the boats are designed to ply on such waters taking visitors close to the island deltas and you can spot the animals especially the tigers in their natural habitat within the mangroves here at Sunderbans National Park. The boat safari rides inside this paradise for wildlife lovers are conducted by the tourism department along with the state forest department and these boat safari rides at Sunderbans National Park allows visitors to explore the unique and diverse ecology of the place and also explore the varied flora, fauna and avifauna of the place as well. These boat safari rides are in the form of smaller boats as well as small ships and deluxe luxury vessels that are the only mode of accessing the Sunderbans National Park via the various water channels and canals.
These boats and ships are all registered with the tourism department of the Govt. of West Bengal and are also designed to offer some of the best wildlife sighting experiences and at the same time do not compromise on the safety of the tourists who come to explore the diverse wildlife of the Sunderbans National Park. These boats are specially designed to meet the requirements of the department and have varying capacity from small four seater boats to large 40 seater ships as well and they all cater to the various categories of tourists coming to the place. Then there are the special safari boats as well that are designed to explore the waterways of the Sunderbans National Park and Sunderban delta and these safari boats have sleeping cabins and chairs out on the board for wildlife sighting and the boats are equipped with an on board kitchen as well and the chefs on the boat prepare special meals to be offered to the guests who enjoy the wildlife sighting experience here at Sunderbans National Park.
These special safari boats that ply on the waters of the Sunderbans National Park are made for guests who would want to explore the forests of Sunderbans National Park in details and so not mid spending their nights on the boat itself and these safari boats are well equipped with rooms, on board kitchen and ensuite bathrooms in the rooms as well and so the guests can have the safari experience of a lifetime while they are cruising on the waters of the Sunderbans delta. The Forest department issues permits to the visitors starting from two hours to maximum of a week to visit the Sunderban delta and for long duration cruises you can hire these special safari boats. The Sunderbans National Park remains opened to tourists across the year but as mentioned earlier it is best to try not to visit the place during the monsoon season from across July to September. The cost of hiring the boats would depend on the size and capacity of the boat because a large boat would accommodate more people and hence the per head cost would be less when compared to a smaller boat that have the capacity of only four individuals.
The choice of would solely depend on the guests and the kind of safari experience they would want to choose to go for during their visit to Sunderbans National Park and in case you are interested to go for the boat ride and the delta without going deeper across the smaller water channels of the Sunderbans Delta then you can choose to go for safari on the bigger boats and if you are interested in a deeper wildlife sighting experience then you can choose to hire the services of these smaller boats that ply in the smaller water channels and this way you can explore the forests of Sunderbans National Park deeply and this would suit your budget and the time duration of your visit to Sunderbans National Park. Sunderbans National Park can be described as one of the favoured wildlife destinations in Eastern India and also in West Bengal and the place has a rich and varied wildlife that has earned it a tag of a UNESCO World heritage site. Sunderbans National Park is home to around 100 Royal Bengal Tigers and not just the tigers sightings, there are a host of other experiences to be enjoyed at Sunderbans National Park as well. One of the popular sightings apart from the Royal Bengal Tigers of Sunderbans National Park is that of the Gangetic River Dolphins that have now come under as endangered species to be found in the protected waters of the various Wildlife Sanctuaries and national parks of the country.
Sunderbans National Park is a place where one thing that you have not to forget to carry along with you is your camera with zoom capability because you will have ample opportunity to sight so many species of animals and birds from the rare salt water crocodiles to the various deer species, the dancing dolphins and the Royal Bengal Tigers that you have to keep out your vigil to capture the moments in the wild with your camera when you are enjoying your safari rides here and not to mention that you never know what you capture with your camera will be a prized picture that might even fetch you an award. Do not miss on the opportunity of visiting the Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary that is near the Sunderbans National Park and this is known for the various bird species both resident and migratory and bird watching can be a very rewarding experience here at Sunderbans National Park. There is a famed watch tower present at Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary that is from where you can have close encounters with the 200 species of birds that are known to be found here of the likes of kingfishers, sandpipers, open billed storks, sea eagles, etc. Also you can have the opportunity to go and visit the local villages that are present across the fringe areas of the Sunderbans National Park and these villages are a perfect place to enjoy rural tourism at its best and you can get to interact with the local tribal people and learn about how they have been inhabiting this region for so many years with the man eating tigers and how they have managed to keep themselves away from these tigers and also the various encounters they have had.
You can have the opportunity to experience their lifestyle and culture of the people and enjoy the local dances and cultural performances that are schedules in these villages and also in these villages various cooking classes are held that allow visitors to learn about the local cuisine of the people and you can learn the cooking art as well. And one thing that is surely to be mentioned that must find a place on your itinerary is a visit to the widow village near Sunderbans National Park where there it is said that the resident of this village have at least one member of their families either eaten or attacked by the tigers of Sunderbans National Park. At Sunderbans National Park you can also have the opportunity of going on night safari (subject to availability and permissions) to see the Phytoplankton’s that glow in the night and they emit a beautiful aura of light. Apart from this you can also pay a visit to the 400 year old temple shrine at Netidhopani and this is a place also known for the various ancient houses. The 400 year old temple shrine at Netidhopani is a must visit experience as well after your safari experience at Sunderbans National Park. We have already informed about the Bhagatpur crocodile project and also since you are here at Sunderbans National Park then perhaps take the opportunity to go on a visit to sight the various estuarine crocodiles that are to be found in this crocodile breeding farm that is again a once in a lifetime experience.
Also take the opportunity to go and visit the mangrove interpretation centre and museum at Sajnekhali that is a detailed setup where visitors can learn about the ecosystem and the wildlife of the place. As the entire area of the Sunderbans is a mangrove area so it would be nice to have an understanding of the ecosystem of the place that harbours a rich and varied biodiversity and this museum has several artefacts and relics of the Sunderbans National Park and Sunderbans delta and the museum also updates the details of the latest tiger sighting at Sunderbans National Park. Ensure to carry with you a souvenir of your visit to Sunderbans National Park and you can choose to carry the pure honey, brown rice or the local handicrafts of the place back with you to your home to gift to your friends and relatives or also keep them as a memoir of your visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sunderbans National Park in West Bengal.
Many special projects have been taken up at the Sunderbans National Park with the sole purpose of the protection of the habitats of the Royal Bengal tigers of the place. The first step adopted by the forest authorities of the place was to ensure that the core area of the Sunderbans National Park had to be made free from all human related activities like collecting of wood, fishing, collecting honey, etc. and this was done to keep the human interference with the animal’s minimal that would in turn mean less human animal conflicts as well. Such activities that are however needed for the survival of the local people are allowed in the buffer zones but in a controlled manner to protect the biodiversity habitat of Sunderbans National Park. To ensure that all adequate steps are taken to control theft and poaching inside the forests of Sunderbans National Park, the forest staff uses boats to monitor any suspicious activities across the park. Also forest camps are placed at strategic location inside the forest reserves of the Sunderbans National Park under the supervision of range officers that are visited by the forest authorities to ensure smooth functioning of the Sunderbans National Park.
The authorities along with various eco development communities that work towards eco conservation and development and also work towards training, education and research of people around Sunderbans National Park but the main work is to educate the people on conservation and development issues and to focus on conservation and to maintain the ecological balance of the area of Sunderbans National Park. To provide for the animals inside the core area of the park, the authorities have taken up the task of digging ponds to provide a water source for the animals to drink water. But the bigger challenge of the forest authorities still remain to avoid the human animal conflict that exists in the Sunderbans National Park and controlling the man eating tigers have always proved to be a challenge to the authorities. The number has been brought down from 40 to 10 but the threat still remains as people venture inside the buffer areas and the tigers come out of the core areas to hunt. It is needed to provide the local people with alternate methods of livelihood so that they refrain from foraging into the forest reserves to prevent tiger attacks and also to prevent the tigers from entering the fringe villages nylon net fencing is deployed as well.
To give a brief about the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve it is located in the South 24 Paraganas district in the Indian State of West Bengal and the Tiger Reserve comprises total area of around 2585 sq. km. The place is filled with the Sunderbans Mangroves and this is contiguous with the mangrove habitat in Bangladesh. This is one of the largest mangroves in the Indian Subcontinent and has a very distinct tiger population that draws visitors from far and near to the Sunderbans National Park and the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve. Apart from the Royal Bengal Tigers, the Sunderbans Tiger Reserves forests are also home to saltwater crocodiles, estuarine crocodiles, marine turtles and a large number of the bird species as well. Also some of the other species known to inhabit the Tiger Reserve are the fishing cat, spotted deer, rhesus monkeys and wild pigs as well. But human activities is rampant inside the forest reserves to look out for honey and wax and they cannot be stopped because they have license from the Indian Forest Service and this allows them to earn a source of livelihood. Other cases of damage to the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve have been reported by two major cyclones namely the Cyclone Alia and the Cyclone Amphan.
When it comes to the accommodation options at Sunderbans National Park, there are various places to stay and enjoy the safaris and wildlife of the place. These accommodation options provide excellent services and you can be rest assured that your visit and stay at Sunderbans National Park is going to be a memorable one for a lifetime. One popular stay option around Sunderbans National Park is going to be a memorable one for the lifetime. One popular stay option around Sunderbans National Park is the Sunderbans Jungle Camp that overlooks a pool and this is undoubtedly one of the most comfortable wildlife lodges across the area that is located is the Bali Island. The property is eco-friendly and this place offers guests a unique opportunity to explore the varied flora and fauna of one of the largest mangrove forest in the World. The Sunderbans Jungle Camp offers accommodation under various categories like cottages, bungalows, etc. and there is a huge garden area here where visitors can relax in the evening listening to the soulful chirping of the birds and gazing at the evening sky far away from the hustle and bustle of a busy city life. The Sunderbans Jungle Camp offers six mud cottages and each cottage has the capacity to accommodate three visitors and these are very eco-friendly built with thatched roofs and mud walls that also include construction using bricks and tin roofing for complete protection.
The Sunderbans Jungle Camp is also a good option to halt to enjoy amazing features and facilities. The restaurant at the Sunderbans Jungle Camp is a very famous one here at the Sunderbans National Park and it is known to serve some of the finest Bengali cuisine that is considered to be a very rich cuisine and it has a lot of amazing preparations of fish and not only Bengali cuisine but the restaurant serves various other cuisines as well. The other facilities to be found at the Sunderbans Jungle Camp apart from comfortable and deluxe stay and accommodation are room service, generator backup, travel desk, play area, parking, bonfires, etc.
Another popular stay option at the Sunderbans National Park is the Sunderban Mangrove retreat that is a place where you can enjoy the comfort of the modern luxuries but in the lap of nature and wildlife that makes it a very eco-friendly resort here at Sunderbans National Park. This Sunderban Mangrove retreat is located at the Jamespore village and is suited for travellers who want to enjoy their stay in luxury and comfort and enjoy the best wildlife experience at Sunderbans National Park in West Bengal. The various accommodation options offered at the Sunderban Mangrove retreat are in the form of rooms, cottages and huts that have all modern amenities. Sunderbans Mangrove retreat can be described as an accommodation option that is located along the edges of the renowned mangroves of Sunderbans National Park and the hospitality offered to its guests here is what makes the wildlife holidays of visitors a very memorable one. Even though this place is an eco-retreat that ensures to offer stay to its guests in harmony with nature and yet at the same time the place ensures that it provides all modern facilities to its guests. The accommodation options available at the Sunderbans Mangrove retreat are in the form of executive cottages, cottage and huts. There are a total of four executive cottages, eight cottages that are air-conditioned and offer accommodation on twin sharing basis and also there are ten non-ac huts as well here at the Sunderbans Mangrove retreat and this again is where you can take the opportunity to savour some fine Bengali cuisine that is prepared with various organic ingredients and the fish preparation at the Sunderbans Mangrove retreat is one thing to try out and the fish is always brought in fresh from the local vendors who go out for fishing in the Sunderbans Delta. Also the four ponds present in the campus of the Sunderbans mangrove retreat are teeming with fish and these are also used in the fish preparations as well.
Another nice property that is located at the Sahenkali area near Sunderbans National Park is the Chital tourist lodge at Sunderbans and this is a deluxe resort that is encircled by the dense mangrove forests of Sunderbans National Park. The resort spreads across a huge area of land and this is an ideal retreat to enjoy your wildlife vacation at Sunderbans National Park. This resort is well equipped with a decent number of rooms that are having modern facilities and staying at the Chital tourist lodge is a very delightful experience for tourists coming to explore the Royal Bengal Tigers of Sunderbans National Park. The place around the resort is surrounded by abundant greenery and wildlife and guests can relax and unwind at the Chital tourist lodge while enjoying the view of the sunrise and sunset that is a picture perfect landscape to see. Chital tourist lodge at Sunderbans National Park boasts of aesthetic interiors, spacious areas for recreation, elegant bedrooms and a very cosy ambiance for the perfect holiday at Sunderbans National Park in West Bengal. The sprawling campus of the Chital tourist lodge has a total of around 60 rooms that can accommodate a decent number of guests and each of these rooms are built in a way to ensure adequate comfort and privacy for its guests.
The rooms are priced moderately and so this place is ideal for guests who are here at Sunderbans National Park on a limited budget and at the same time do no want to compromise on comfort, quality and safety because the rooms at the Chital tourist lodge at have all the basic modern amenities to make the stay pleasant. Apart from a large luggage room where the guests can keep their baggages safely, the Chital tourist lodge also offers various other facilities like travel desk, safety locker, intercom, coffee/tea maker, doctor on call, electricity backup and attached bathrooms as well. The Chital tourist lodge at Sunderbans National Park also has its own kitchen within the premises of the place and this place serves very delicious cuisines at affordable prices and not just Bengali cuisine but guests here can also savour continental and North Indian cuisine as well. When you enter the premises of the Chital tourist lodge at Sunderbans National Park you will be greeted with a big lawn area that is filled with flowering plants and trees and the entire atmosphere here is one filled with nature.
Another very good stay option during your visit to Sunderbans National Park is the Sunderbans Riverside Holiday resort that is a very beautiful and charming accommodation setup that is spread across a massive area of 6 acres of land. The mangrove forests of Sunderbans National Park also surround the area of the Sunderbans Riverside Holiday resort and the place boasts of exotic floral grandeur that provides its visitors a much well deserved break away from the hustle and bustle of a busy city life and the nature and wildlife lovers can come here to enjoy a very comfortable holiday and wildlife sighting experience as well. Apart from the floral wealth across the area of the place there is also a lake in the campus of this resort where visitors can spend time with families and friends and also get to spot some rare fish species in the lake as well. This being a deluxe resort and the place offers 24 rooms to its guests with all top notch modern amenities and no compromise on quality and hospitality is accepted at the Sunderbans Riverside Holiday retreat. These rooms are accompanied with modern furnishings and fittings and also have elegant interiors and an attached modern bath as well.
The various other facilities and amenities offered to the guests at the Sunderbans Riverside Holiday resort are travel desk, room service, power backup, doctor on call, parking, conference, laundry, etc. The place has an in-house multicuisine restaurant and you can order various delicacies and offerings at the comfort of your room as the rooms have a menu inside and the intercom serves a way to connect directly to the restaurant. Your holiday experience at the Sunderbans Riverside Holiday resort during your visit to Sunderbans National Park is a memory of a lifetime and a visit you would like to cherish forever. Another accommodation option that has to find mention during your visit to Sunderbans National Park is the Sunderbans Tiger Camp that is one of the pioneers in the hospitality industry here at Sunderbans National Park and this place was established in 2004 and for the past 15 years they have been catering to guests from across the World who come to visit the forest reserves of Sunderbans National Park to have the opportunity to sight the majestic tigers of the park. Sunderbans Tiger Camp is one of the very prominent luxury resorts in the Sunderbans National Park and the place is built on a style and way to promote the local culture and ensure the region of the Sunderbans Delta and the place has a unique design.
The place is an eco-friendly resort and guests who come here can be rest assured that they have all the modern comfort, warm hospitality, great service and visitors are bound to relish the picturesque natural setting of the Sunderbans National Park here at the Sunderbans Tiger Camp. There are four accommodation options at the Sunderbans Tiger Camp and these are in the form of rooms, tents, bamboo huts and cottages. The place started as a camp with tent facilities and eventually they have upgraded to cottages and rooms at the Tiger Camp are very spacious with an extended balcony on offering as well. There are 21 rooms in total at the Sunderbans Tiger Camp and the rooms are all air conditioned and ensure to provide maximum comfort to their guests and the rooms have en-suite bathrooms that have continuous hot and cold water running water as well. What is very attractive about this place is the interior décor of the place and the owners of the place have ensured to promote the local crafts and artisans and the place boasts of bright interiors that have hand paintings of these local artists.
Sunderbans National Park is a successful story of Tiger Conservation under the Project Tiger and the opportunity to sight the tiger species in the wild here at Sunderbans National Park is a boon for every tiger and wildlife lover. Surrounded by the mangrove forests and huge saline mud flats, Sunderbans National Park offers one of the best wildlife viewing experiences in the country and with 260 bird species this is a bird lover’s haven as well apart from the Indian Pythons and the estuarine crocodiles. The awe inspiring sight of the tiger’s swimming in the waters of the Sunderbans delta is what makes visitors throng this park to catch a glimpse of the majestic wild cat species. Sunderbans National Park is the World’s largest coastal mangrove forests that shares a border with India and Bangladesh and the area comprises of almost 4000 sq. km. and on the Indian Side, Sunderban comprises of 102 islands of which 54 are even inhabited by the local people. The Sunder in interconnected by a network of waterways and this makes the place accessible by larger ferries and even small boats that provide the travellers for a very grand opportunity of sightseeing and exploring the varied wildlife of the place.
The place is named after the large mangrove tree called as the Sundari and the entire area of the place is estimated to have around 4000 tiger species inhabiting the place that makes it a world renowned tourist destination in the Indian State of West Bengal. Some of the other places of interest around Sunderbans National Park are the most prominent tourist attraction of West Bengal and the first one being the capital city also referred to as the city of joy viz. Kolkata. Kolkata is one of the very old cities in the country and is a very popular place of tourist interest right from the various ancient temples to the British Raj buildings like the Victoria Memorial, the historic colleges, exquisite gardens and the tour of the street foods choices and sweets. Other attractions of the city of joy near Sunderbans National Park (around 100km) are the Howrah Bridge, Indian Museum, Birla Temple, Eden Gardens, Nicco Park and Science city, Marble palace mansion, etc. Another important place near the Sunderbans National Park is the Shantiniketan that is the place of the great Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. At Shantiniketan you will be delighted to see the splendid sculptures, murals and beautiful paintings. Ensure to visit Shantiniketan after your visit to Sunderbans National Park especially during December to celebrate Poush Mela, Joydur Mela in January and Basanta Utsav in March.
Next up one destination that will come to the mind of any visitors to West Bengal is the beautiful hill station of Darjeeling that is located at around 302km from Sunderbans National Park and this is one of the most favoured hills station destinations of India. Darjeeling is a place that is filled with the lush green tea gardens that gives the World the very flavourful blend of Darjeeling tea and also the colonial era building remind you of the rich colonial past of the British Raj. And one way very major tourist attraction in Darjeeling is the toy train that draws visitors from across the World to this celebrated hill station. The other common tourist attractions of Darjeeling are Tiger Hill, Everest Museum, Rock Garden, Padmaja Naidu National Park, Neora National Park and the Japanese peace pagoda. Travel after your visit to Sunderbans National Park to continue your holiday at the Mandarmani Beach that is located around 156km from the Sunderbans National Park and this the longest drivable beach in India. One of the clean beaches in the country, Mandarmani is the perfect place to enjoy the sunrise and sunset and also enjoy the waters of the Bay of Bengal and you can indulge in some adventure sports activities like jet skiing, banana boat ride, etc.
Continue further to Siliguri that is another place in West Bengal that is filled with the beautiful tea gardens and has a very pleasant atmosphere. Siliguri is located around 681km from Sunderbans National Park and the entire place is surrounded by thick cover of green forests. Various tourist attractions around Siliguri are Jaldapara National Park, Kanchenjunga station, Iskon temple, Hong Kong market, etc. A very popular weekend getaway for the people of Kolkata is the Digha beach that is located around 177km away from Sunderbans National Park and this is the place where you can find the very delicious sea food and ensure that you try out the fried fish prepared by the locals that are caught fresh from the sea and marinated with spices and later fried up and also sip the fresh coconut water juice that is available here. Other attractions at the Digha area are the Digha temple and the Marine station of the Zoological Survey of India. Another very fine place to admire the ancient architecture of the Portuguese, Dutch and French is the town of Hooghly that is located around 150km from Sunderbans National Park. Other places to visit are Cooch Behar, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, etc.
