Sundarban National Park, the largest mangrove forest in the world are home of the Royal Bengal Tigers. The park is made up of 54 small islands and is crisscrossed by several tributaries of the Ganges. The national park is a dazzling panorama of wildlife in a spectacular natural setting. The only means of travelling the park is Local boats or vessels.
Sunderbans the world’s biggest mangrove park is spread in 2585-sq-km. area. The mangrove forests are the only tiger habitat of its kind and estimated 400 tigers are found here. 'Sundervana' in Sanskrit means 'beautiful forests'. A variety of mangrove locally known as 'sunderi' gives the area its name. Winter is indeed the best time to be at the Sundarbans when the wildlife belt is at its prettiest.
The park is home to wide range of fauna, including 260 species of birds, aquatic mammals and other endangered species such as the estuarine crocodile and the Indian python. The main attractions of the Sunderbans are the Royal Bengal Tiger. The only means of travelling the park is Local boats or vessels.
STATE : WEST BENGAL
LOCATION : Sundarban National Park is located at the South Eastern tip of the 24 Paraganas district in the state of West Bengal. It is part of the Sundarban on the Ganges Delta.
LANGUAGE : Bengali, Hindi and English.
WHEN TO VISIT : December to March is the best time to visit Sundarban National Park, when the weather is pleasant.
CLOTHING : Cotton or linen full-sleeve outfits which match with surroundings like dark green, muddy-brown and rocky-grey are the ideal clothing color. Avoid shiny or reflective clothes during safari which may diverts or attracts wild animals & birds’ attention which may become cause them leaving the place.
Nature
Adventure
Wildlife
National Park
Road transportation is available from Kolkata to different entry point. The nearby places are connected by good motorable road from Kolkata. From the entry points motor boat services are available for Sunderbans.
The nearest rail-head Port Canning is approx 56 km. away from Kolkata. Tourists will have to take train from Kolkata to reach Canning station. From there shared vans are available that takes you to the mainland of Sundarbans area.
Nearest airport Kolkata is 118 km. away from the tiger reserve. The airport is well connected by flights with different cities and places in India. From Kolkata, there are buses to Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali, and Najat, from where motor boat services are available for Sunderbans.
Best Season / Best Time to Visit Sunderban National Park
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
CLIMATE
OPENING OF PARK: The Park is open all year round but is mostly avoided during the monsoons due to flooding and increased predator activities. There are greater chances of sighting the tigers during the summer seasons.
ENTRY POINT: Entry points to Sundarban National Park are:
PERMIT : Permits obtain from the concerned park authority before you make entry to the Park. Tourists can obtain day visit permit at entry gate.
SAFARI TIMING : Wildlife safari timing in Sundarban National Park is just like most parks in the country. The timing are:
| DAY | Morning/ Afternoon |
|---|---|
| Monday to Sunday | 6:30 AM- 6:00 PM |
: A trip of Sundarban National Park directly takes you to the widespread arena of the lush habitat of wild creatures. It is only possible way to travel into the interiors of the forests via boats and ferries through backwaters, hopping from one island to another.
BOAT SAFARI IN SUNDARVAN: Experiencing nature and wildlife though boat rides is unique to this National Park and its main attraction. These boats are available on a half and full day basis, but a boat permit and a guide is a must. Spot tigers, viewing the wild animals, rare avian fauna and spectacular plant fauna are really an adventurous experience for any traveler. The star attraction of the reserve is majestic tigers roaming in their natural habitats.
