East India · West Bengal

Sundarbans National Park

Mangrove-dwelling tigers

West Bengal
Open November to July
Closed Sunday

History & Overview

Discover Sundarbans

The Sundarbans is the largest delta in the world. Here, the 2 mightiest rivers of India - Brahmaputra & Ganges - along with the river Meghna, drain their waters into the Bay of Bengal thus creating the world’s largest mangrove forest and a biodiversity hotspot. The word “Sundarbans” comes from the mangrove species Heritiera minor locally known as Sundari. This habitat is made up of 56 islands of mangrove forest which harbours countless species whose behaviour is rooted in the tidal patterns of the area.

Not only a home for wildlife, the Sundarbans delta also provides for almost 4 million people, many of whom visit the forest daily for firewood and honey collection. Accounts of conflict with man-eating Royal Bengal Tigers are chilling and it gives the otherwise gentleman-like tiger, a notorious reputation.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Tiger Reserve and an Important Bird Area of the world and over 300 bird species, 40 mammal species, 35 Reptiles Species & 08 amphibian species have been recorded here in these 10000 sq.km of forest. To see a Tiger here is like no other in India, the swampy, dense and dark environs of the Sundarbans gives an aura of a mysterious realm and an experience truly unique.

Flora & Fauna

What you may see

Wildlife

Royal Bengal Tiger
Irrawady Dolphin
Indo-gangetic Dolphin
Fishing Cat
Smooth Coated Otter
Small Clawed Otter
Saltwater or Estuarine Crocodile
Water Monitor Lizard
King Cobra
Rock Python

Birds

Masked Finfoot
Mangrove Whistler
Mangrove Pitta
Collared Kingfisher
Brown-Winged KingfishSer
Spoonbill Sandpiper
Black Capped Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher

Geography & Climate

Park at a glance

Area 1,330 km²
Co-ordinates 21.8359° N, 88.8842° E
Weekly Off Sunday
Functional Days November to July
Rainfall 1800-2900mm
Forest Type Mangrove Forest

Location

Finding Sundarbans

Quick facts

How to Get there

Approximately a 03 hour drive from airports at Kolkata or Calcutta International Airport well connected by both. domestic, as well as international flights.

Type of Safari

Here, the only way to explore the mangroves is through a privately hired boat or to join a group on a larger boat. The drawback of the larger boats are that they cannot get through all the creeks and narrow channels, hence a smaller boat safari is preferred.

Plan your safari