Sundarban National Park - West Bengal tiger, salt water crocodile, estuarine and marine turtles, different species of birds, gangetic dolphins, monitor lizards, cheetals

Situated on the lower end of the Gangetic West Bengal, 22.00°N - 89.00°E, is this world's largest delta covered by mangrove forest and vast saline mud flats. A land of 54 tiny islands, crisscrossed by innumerable tributaries of Ganga, that was once infested by Arakanese and Portuguese pirates is now the abode of varied flora & fauna population. An area of 9630 sq. km., where 70 percent is under saline water makes the life of commoners, mostly honey-catchers, prawn-catchers and fishermen, very difficult. This is Sunderbans, the world's largest estuarine forest.

Sunderbans, the place that owes its name to Sundari trees, consist of a large flora population like Genwa, Dhundal, Passur, Garjan and Kankra. Apart from these trees, inpenetrable Goran trees between 1.8 metres and 3.6 metres high covers almost the entire region. One of the most remarkable feature of this place is the bayonet like roots of mangrove forests that stick out above the water level.

Nature apart, if you want to feel the essence of spirituality then this is the place to be. A place of Ma Bonobibi (the goddess of the forest) to Shiber Kumir (Lord Shiva's Crocodile) or from Dakshinaroy (an ogre, the ancestor of all tigers) to Kapil Muni ( an incarnation of Vishnu).

You can explore unknown wildlife of Sunderbans that harbour jungle cats, fishing cats, Axis deer, wild boar, Rhesus monkeys, mongooses and the larges estuarine crocodiles in the world.

Sunderbans is the breeding ground of immense variety of birds like Heron, Egret, Cormorant, Fishing Engle, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Seagul, Tern, Kingfisher as well as migratory birds like Whimprel, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Stint, Eastern Knot, Curlew, Sandpiper, Golden Plover, Pintail, White-eyed Pochard and also Whistling teal. Come and discover wide variety of aquatic and reptile life forms that include Olive Ridley sea turtle, hardshelled Batgur Terrapin, Pythons, King Cobra, Chequered Killback, Monitor and Lizards including the Salvator lizards.

General Information
Altitude	0 - 9 metres.
Climate	Winter cool in January at minimum 10, dry season December to April maximum 34 degrees.
Access	Drive from Kolkata (Calcutta) 2 hours or take train to Canning, 105 km away, from where a boat takes you to Sajnekhali, another 2 hour journey. The nearest airport is at Kolkata, 167 km away and the nearest town Gosaba, 50 km. One can also get private boats from Canning, Gosaba and Basanti. Raidighi, Basanti, Namkhana and Najatare are all connected by roadways from Kolkata.
Best Time	Between September and March. Specially in winter to catch a view of the migratory birds.