India-Tourist-Places.com

Sundarbans delta covers an area of 38,500 sq km, with a major portion of it spreading into Bangladesh. The Indian part of the delta is home to the Sunderbans National Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Made up of 54 small islands, swamps and an intricate network of waterways and canals, this 2,585-sq km park is the world’s largest estuarine mangrove forest.

Sajnekhali has a bird sanctuary and is the only place to have a hotel in this area – the Sundar Cheetal Tourist Lodge. There is a  Mangrove Interpretation Centre here. There are watchtowers at Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, Netidhopan, Haldi and a number of other places.

Project Tiger was implemented in 1973 and later the Sundarban Tiger Reserve was demarcated over 2,585-sq. km. The core area of 1,330 sq.km has been declared a National park and has been chosen as a world heritage site. The reserve has a tiger population of 287(1984 census). The only mangrove species, the tiger here has adapted well to its habitat.

The picturesque beauty of Netidhopani is enhanced manifolds by its mangrove forests and teeming wildlife populace. Furthermore, the ruins of a 400-year-old temple here is also among the major draws for tourists.

Lying to the south of the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, are the Halliday Island Wildlife Sanctuary – the last retreat of the Barking Deer, and the Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary -a haven for bird viewers.

We take to the boarding points of the vessels ( canning or sonakhali ) by our own car. The boarding points are 54 kms & 105 kms from kolkata respectively. Approx traveling time: Sonakhali (Basanti)-the jetty and also the last motorable point on the Kolkata-Basanti highway, is a two and half hours drive from Kolkata. The national park is three hours cruise from Sonakhali jetty.