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Sundarbans: The Beauty and the Beast

Forget roads, jeeps and guides. You will be aboard boats gliding through the water, a silent, sinous shape amidst primeval mangrove forests on both sides with unknown dangers lurking in its undergrowth or just beneath the surface of the water. Maybe a crocodile camouflaged on the mudddy banks or is that yellow flash in the woods the tail of a Royal Bengal Tiger disappearing into the woods. Absorb the stillness of the jungle around you and hear the sound of water lapping against the boats as you glide along to see what mysteries lie in wait ahead.

Welcome to the Sundarbans tour.

Sunderbans is the world's largest estuarine forest and delta covered by mangrove forests in West Bengal. It lies at the mouth of the Ganges and is made up of 54 tiny islands criss-crossed by many tributaries of the Ganges.

The Mangrove Forests

The Mangrove Forests

These mangrove forests are the first in the world to be brought under scientific management

Rooted in Beauty

Rooted in Beauty

The name Sundarban comes from the Sundari trees that hold together small islands of mud, on which they grow, with their roots. Sundarbans is one among the five natural world heritage sites of India.

Pic credit: Frances Voon

The Royal Beast

The Royal Beast

Home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, if you are fortunate enough, you will be able to get a glimpse of this regal beast in its home. There are strategically placed watch towers too from which you may get the oppurtunity to observe the tiger in its natural surroundings. Just to illustrate, the dangers among the beauty of nature in Sundarbans, these watch towers can be reached only through corridors covered in protective net fencing.

Pic credit: Shutterstock

Crocodile tears

Crocodile tears

Other than the Royal Bengal Tiger (which you will see if you are extremely lucky), you can also see various other wild animals like the largest estaurine crocodiles in the world along with axis deer, wild boar and rhesus monkeys.

Pic credit:Marufish

And Birds too!

And Birds too!

Birds like the white bellied sea eagle, white breasted kingfisher and Sandpipers are also to be found here

Pic credit: sayamindu

Man and Nature

Man and Nature

Due to the constant struggle with nature for their existence, the people living in villages adjoining the forests worship jungle gods and goddesses. The goddess of this entire land in the Sundarbans is Banabibi and her steed is the tiger god Dakhin Ray. She and her brother Shah Jongoli protect Hindus and Muslims alike when they venture into the forest to gather wood, honey or fish.

Pic credit: sayamindu

Banabibi Performance

Banabibi Performance

Do not forget to catch the traditional theatre about these gods which basically emphasises about the ecological balance and harmony needed for survival of man and beast.

Pic Credit:sayamindu

Take a Boat Tour

Take a Boat Tour

The best way to see Sundarbans is through a tour. Boat tours are the only way of seeing Sundarbans as they are not accessible by any other means. The Sundarbans has three wildlife sanctuaries, one within the national park at Sajnekhali.

Pic Credit: Shutterstock

How to Reach

How to Reach

By Train: Go from Sealdah station in Kolkata to Canning (around two hours) and take a boat to Sajnekhali from there (5 hours), or travel onwards by road to Gosaba and take a boat from Godkhali Port. Boats and guides are available for excursions through the mangroves from Sajnekhali.

December to March is the best time to visit Sundarbans

Pic credit:sayamindu

Read more about: travel sundarbans
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