Sunderban, The Largest Tiger Reserve

South 24 Parganas

West Bengal

India

Bengali

September To February

The Indian part of the world's largest delta and land of Royal bengal tiger

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Situated in the district of South 24 Parganas, which is the southern most tip of the State of West Bengal. The tip reaches out into the Bay of Bengal, forming the world's largest delta. The major Rivers flowing through are Hooghly, Vidyadhari and Matla and the district has Howrah in the north-west and North 24 Parganas in the north-east.

The name Sunderban comes from the Sundari tress that grow in the forests, which are called the Ban. These are the famous Gangetic deltas, formed when the rivers Ganga and Hooghly divide into many distributaries reducing the speed of water. The river deposits its silt just as it is about to merge into the sea and in due course the accumulated silt takes the shape of islands on the mouth of the rivers. These provide an ideal atmosphere and environment for the Sundari trees to grow. The Sunderbans are home to many exquisite animals and birds and the most famous Royal Bengal Tigers. Covering a vast area of 1,629 sq. km, Sunderban, where about 200 Royal Bengal Tigers; strong swimmers, bigger and richer in colour than elsewhere in the south Asia; lead an almost natural life, was declared a national park and a world heritage site. The estuaries support a variety of marine life as well which includes the salt water crocodile and the Olive Ridley turtle. Leopards and fishing cats, barking deer and spotted deer, wild boars and monkeys, reptiles and birds along with the tigers can be spotted here.
The mangrove swamps and riverine forests cover over 2,500 sq km in the Ganga delta and spread across to Bangladesh. They are said to be the largest estuarine forests in the world.
Although the main areas of the sanctuary can only be accessed only by riverine waterways, Sunderban offers an exotic experience to view the beautiful flora and fauna in their most natural conditions. Two thirds of this area today falls in neighbouring Bangladesh and is often hit by powerful cyclones originating in the Bay of Bengal
Sajnekhali, nearby where lodging and boarding can be availed has a large bird sanctuary. A thrilling cruise through the largest estuarine delta to watch the wild life is a life time experience one should never miss.