Where the land meets the sea at the southern tip of West Bengal lies the Indian Sunderbans, a stretch of impenetrable mangrove forest of great size and bio-diversity. It is the largest single stretch of mangrove forest in the world and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Sunderbans is a vast area covering 4264 square km in India alone. The Indian Sunderbans forms the largest Tiger Reserve and National Park in India.
Situated on the lower end of the Gangetic West Bengal , the Sunderbans are a part of the world's largest delta formed by the mighty rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. The Sunderbans is criss-crossed by hundreds of creeks and tributaries. It is one of the most attractive and alluring places remaining on earth, a truly undiscovered paradise.
Some believe that the name Sunderbans is derived from 'Sundri' - a plant found in the local mangroves - and 'bans' meaning forest. Others believe the name means 'beautiful forest' ('sunder' = beautiful, and 'bans' = forest).
The Sunderbans is home to Royal Bengal Tiger. Estimates say that there are nearly 263 tigers in the wild. Tiger sightings are rare and memorable because of the dense forests. Tigers have adapted to the saline waters and usually feed on fishes and small animals in the jungles. They have become almost amphibious animals and very good swimmers. The adventurous wild land of the Sunderbans is also the domain of the chital deer and rhesus monkey. The aqua fauna of Sunderbans include a variety of fishes, red fiddler crabs and hermit crabs. Along the mud banks you can spot crocodiles sunning themselves. Sunderbans National Park is also noted for its conservation of the Ridley Sea Turtle. There is an incredible variety of reptiles found in Sundarbans, which includes king cobra, rock python and water monitor. The endangered river Terrapin, Batagur baska is found on the Mechua Beach, while the Barking Deer is found only in Holiday Island in Sunderbans. Sunderbans is also a breeding ground of innumerable varieties of birds like egret, cormorant, fishing engle, seagull, kingfisher, golden plover, pintail, white eyed pochard, eastern knot and whistling teal. The beauty of Sunderbans is being added by the migratory flock of Siberian ducks. Unfortunately, the Leopard, Indian Rhinoceros, Javan Rhinoceros, Swamp Deer, Hog Deer and Water Buffalo have all become locally extinct from the delta in recent decades.
On The Trail...Some Places To See
Sunderbans Tiger Reserve
Spread over 2,585 sq.km, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest reserves of the Royal Bengal Tiger.
Sajnekhali
Sajnekhali is the popular bird sanctuary. Here you can spot seven colorful species of kingfisher, plovers, lap wings, white bellied sea eagle, curfews, whimbrels, sandpipers and pelicans.
Gosaba
Sir David Hamilton’s settlement.
Tiger Reserve
Project Tiger was implemented in 1973 and later the Sundarban Tiger Reserve was demarcated over 2,585-sq. km. The core area of 1,330 sq.km has been declared a National park and has been chosen as a world heritage site. The reserve has a tiger population of 287(1984 census). The only mangrove species, the tiger here has adapted well to its habitat.
Bhagbatpur Crocodile Project:
This is a crocodile breeding farm. Tours are organized by the WBTDC. This place is accessible through Namkhana. Both the West Bengal Tourism Department and the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation organize conducted tours to the Sundarbans by their launches. Bhagabatput is a hatchery of the largest estuarine crocodile in the world.
Netidhopani
The ruins of a 400-year-old temple and legends lend mystery to the atmosphere.
Haliday Island
Last retreat of the Barking Deer.
Kanak
Nesting place of Olive Ridley Turtles
No comments:
Post a Comment