Sundarban - The biggest Delta in the world
Biggest Delta in the world
Sundarban the world’s biggest delta known for its beauty and vastness and your very presence take you to a different world altogether. You find yourself right in the lap of Mother Nature to explore newer things at every step. Let me give you an exact location of this National Park, which is situated in between Brahmaputra and Ganga in India and Bangladesh, having man made and natural big jungles. There is a small river and islands inside Sundarban those thrill visiting tourists to an extent, an altogether different experience, which is unbelievable. UNESCO separated the Indian part, a wetland, mangrove of the Delta from that of Bangladesh in 1997 to declare it part of World’ Heritage Sites.
Sundarban spread over almost thousands of square kilometers of area (the figures differ in different documents) known as the biggest man made jungle especially to house and protect Royal Bengal Tigers took its name from Sundri trees which grow here in big numbers. The Park has 54 islands in vicinity of Ganga and Brahmputra through the soil that comes constantly as the rivers flowing toward Bay of Bengal which is very much visible on park’s south end. On the north side of the park one can find Gosaba, sandeshkali and Basanti Islands. We have Vidya river and Malta on the western side while Bangladesh’ international border makes the eastern side.
Home of Royal Bengal Tigers
Sundarban is reserved park for tigers where more than 400 tigers found most of them born here are known for their swimming skills. Once a travelers enters into Sundarban he encounters different animals like deer, monkeys, one can find different species of animals found in water including crocodiles, fishes big sea tortoises, sea turtles, cobras and birds. One can see Barkind deer near Terrapin and Baska Rivers in this vast locality.
There are few more worth mentioning places apart from the main delta that is the place from where rivers diversify in different directions to leave lot of space that takes you to the wonderful world of imagination. April and May are the months when tourists find flowers blossoming particularly Kankara, crab shaped red flowers, Khalsi (Aegiceras corniculatum) the yellow flowers add to beauty of the area and the red leafs of Genwa (Excoecaria agallocha) are some plants to be seen to believe their beauty. Sundarban with different experiments undertaken by private and government agencies to attract tourists has converted into a dream destination for tourists who have a big choice to stay and excursion tours. Here are some other tourist attractions -
Sajanekhali Sanctuary
Sajnekhali is part of the park and mostly people come here for bird watching. Unlike other pars of the park most tourists register to visit during July to September. The place houses crocodiles, turtles, sharks etc the center provides boats to visitors with a permission from the tourist department and the groups who travel to these areas are advised to not to go out without a guide hat is part of the excursion of 5 day program, two days by bus and three days by motorboat. The state tourist department issues permits to tourists for their stay and travel in the area that is well protected by wired fencings and kept vigils by guards from different watch posts. The place is famous for its birds especially seven colored kingfisher, white Seahawk, Plover, Lapwing, Falcon which are one of the biggest tourist attraction of the area.
Eco villages
They have come up with eco villages in Sundarban where they have provided basic facilities to tourists traveling to Sundarban in groups or otherwise however despite most tourists happy with the facilities provide but not all of them like those ideas. Some of the visitors want luxuries of a full-fledged resort in place of what facilities they provide presently. Actually, the cottages they provide are at best described as huts in the villages. The fact is most tourists do not mind when they see the basic idea behind the whole program. Although the cottages provide basic facilities to tourists and there is no electricity but they provide whatever they can by using solar power and traditional lanterns. Toilets of course are clean and they have used tiles but they have also offered the choice of taking a bath in ponds especially provided in the premises itself. Besides, they provide boating facility for tourists who are interested to go around mangrove trees to have a closer look of what nature has provided to us.
The management of these eco-villages has made arrangements to maintain their services with the help of local villagers right from food items including vegetables, rice, fish etc and even prepared by local women who do it in the open space in full view of the tourists who can very well see what is cooking and how is it being cooked. Besides the management has provided farmhouses, community center where co passengers come sit to share their experiences of the day and also play cards, sing songs and share their experiences of other excursion tours. Therefore it is advised to tourists that if they are booking in these eco villages they should be prepared to live a simple but joyful life as the stay there is certainly not a luxurious but provides basic amenities.
How to reach
Visiting Sundarban, the largest national park and tiger reserve in the world is easy as one can go to Canning and from there directly go to Gadkhali in that case you have to cross River Matla at this point by boats available here usually barring rainy season. Once on the other side of Gadkhali, if one is willing to
go alone for a short visit. At Mosaba one can take an auto rikshaw or share taxi up to Sanjekhali. In addition, you would be surprised to note that you must cross River Matla again to reach to Sajnekhali. Dayapur is another place to visit which is close by although located deep inside the forests where you may come across face to face with Royal tiger in search of animals like cows and goats belonging to local villagers. Night traveling in the area is forbidden especially without proper protection and under the guidance. As the most tourists take the trips arranged from Kolkata by different agencies and tourists department of West Bengal therefore one can easily chalk out his program according to his visit and availability of time.
A private arrangement to go to Sundarban
Let me inform you at this point that a private company offers a trip of Sundarban for a luxurious 4 days' trip on a cruiser that would be unforgettable for you for whole of your life. The cruiser with 32 cabins all air-conditioned including dining room and other services. The ship has every facility that a modern cruse liner provides including delicious meals from all parts of the world, breakfast, bar, internet connection, conference room, gym, spa with traditional massage, billiards card room, library, a beauty parlor and even an art gallery to have some quality time onboard.
The company taking you to journey through the river and forests takes care of all your facilities for the entire duration of your trip with smallest of need with good room services provided with its well-trained staff. You can get a daily newspaper and your room is fitted with a landline even if you have the facility of mobile phones. The trip of Sundarban, supposed to be the largest mangrove forests in the world that was declared a World Heritage site almost 28 years before has following places to visit through cruise
- Kolkata Ghats
- Namkhana - This is better known as "A fishermen's' cove"
- Bhagabatpur - A crocodile project is located here
- Lothian Island - Better known as thrilling walk amidst jungle
- Netidhopani - An old temple considered 300 year old.
- A deer rehabilitation centre
- Sudhanyakhali is the main place where tigers spotting watchtowers are located
- Sajnekhali - Place to bird watching, famous for eco villages, and staying
- Bali Village - Another village in Sunderban where people go for a different tour experience.
Jungle camps with fun and food
A few private companies in collaboration run tours for adventure loving people who go to stay in camps. Actually these camps are especially designed 
cottages with unique name for each one of these with all modern facilities of star hotels including service staff. Most tourists coming from other countries with money to spend who are used to 5star facilities prefer these cottages. The only problem they face here is that of power supply as these cottages are run on solar power only. Otherwise all other facilities are top class including boat service that takes inmates to sightseeing and provides all other facilities in cottages and while on boat. However as most of the tourists come satisfied from their excursion and find their meeting with nature and animals satisfactory.
Finally
A trip to Sundarban is a lifetime experience for people who love wildlife, nature and love to visit places like Sundarban that is known as world’s biggest Delta and considered the home of Royal Tigers of Bengal along with other rare species is an experience unforgettable. Sundarban is not only a forest but also a whole way of lifestyle for locals who have tons of stories to tell and Sundarban is part of their folk culture as well
Photo source wikipedia
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