The name
Sunderbans is perhaps derived from the term meaning 'the forest of
sundari' (Heritiera fomes), a reference to the large mangrove tree that
provides valuable fuel. Along the coast, the southern part of the forest
passes into a mangrove swamp, which has numerous
wild
animals and crocodile-infested estuaries. It is one of the last
preserves of the Royal Bengal tiger and the site of a tiger conservation
project. Situated south of Calcutta, Sunderbans is one of the most
unique ecosystems in this part of the world and is dominated by mangrove
forests. Situated at the mouth of the Ganges, Sunderbans spreads over 54
islands and two countries (the West Bengal state in India and
Bangladesh) and is a part of the world's largest delta region. A UNESCO
world heritage site, Sunderbans is home to the largest number of wild
tigers in the world.
The most unique feature of the Sundarbans
is the tigers in the park apt at swimming and are strictly amphibious!
The Park is also famous for its conservation of the Ridley Sea Turtles.
The other wild animals found in the Sundarbans National Park are
estuarine terrapins, Olive Ridley turtles, estuarine crocodiles, Ganges
dolphins, water monitors and a wide variety of birds, fish and
crustaceans. One of the major tourist attractions is the Sajnekhali
Visitors' Centre, which has a crocodile enclosure, a shark pond, a
turtle hatchery, and a Mangrove Interpretation Centre.
ClimateThe
region has a tropical climate with hot summers and cold winters. Maximum
and minimum temperatures during the summer are 42°C and 37°C
respectively. In winters, the maximum and minimum temperatures are 29°C
and 9.2°C respectively.
FloraIn April and
May, the flaming red leaves of the Genwa bejewel the emerald islands.
The other dominant floral species in the Sundarbans are crab like red
flowers of the Kankara and the yellow blooms of Khalsi. As you go deeper
into the Sundarbans forests, you discover the mystique beauty. The large
floral population in Sundarbans consists of trees like Genwa, Dhundal,
Passur, Garjan and Kankara. Apart from these trees, the tall and wide
Goran trees cover almost the entire region.
Best time to
visit
Sunderbans
is during winters between September and March. There are regular bus
services from Calcutta to this place. But the main areas of the
sanctuary can only be accessed only by riverine waterways. The best and
the safest way to visit Sunderbans is on conducted tours. One can also
avail the services of the private vessels from Canning, Gosaba or
Basanti.
How to reach
- By Air
Dum Dum (166kms), is the nearest airport at
Calcutta.
- By Rail
The nearest railhead is at Canning, 48 km
away. The nearest town is Gosaba, 50 km away. Sunderbans is
accessible only by riverine waterways. From Calcutta there are
suburban trains to Canning and buses to Namkhana, Raidighi,
Sonakhali and Najat from where motor launch services are available
for Sunderbans.
- By Road
Means of road transport are available from
Calcutta for the places like Namkhana (105 km), Sonakhali (100 km),
Raidighi (76 km), Canning (64 km), and Najat (92 km), which are all
near the Sunderbans and have access to the riverine waterways
leading to it.
