SUNDARBAN

SUNDARBAN :     

 The mangrove forest in India is specially known for two impressive creation in earth the sundari trees(Heritiera Littoralis) and Royal Bengal tiger. The two exclusive creation in the mothers nature has there beauty . The Sundari trees has its roots respire mainly trough pneumatophoress which is unique than other plants. They live in salty environment but absorb moisture mainly through air.

The other is the most unique creation in earth Royal Bengal tigers, the number is depleting day by day as poacher rule to capture and hunt them for different medicinal and other uses in the commercial markets . The tiger is so fierce that they hunt with a skill which is found no where in the world. The hunting grounds are muddy led island scattered with spick like roots of sundari trees. But still they live and hunt, They swim from one island to other island in a wink of an eye, there massive physical power is made to kill its prey without hassel. Man also fall prey to such a giant cat sometime when mankind interfere and cross boundaries that mother nature has created.

We the guardian of our destiny we the preserver of our environment failed to prove our ideas and power of thought to fell as boon to our surrounding, hence we are a losing face of all the environmental hazards that are happening.

Let this sweet hope stay with us and we be the protector of our protector.

As I take special interest in visiting many forest in the country Sundarban the land of tiger is also a special interest of mine so I visited this forest three time till now one a short time visit and the other is a group tour and lastly a Couple tour. All of them has its own beauty . Will share some of the photo and some data and information regarding my trip.

Let me brief you about SUNDARBAN

State: Westbengal  Country : India

Forest type: Mangrove tropical forest     
Area: 1330km2  in India  Rest 6000km2 in Bangladesh

River: Ganga,Bramhaputra and Megna      
Tiger population: Approx 250 (which sometime varies as some move to other part of jungle too that is Bangladesh estimate 400 tiger altogether in Sundarban)

Coordinates: 21’56’42N  88’53’45E  

 Status: Unesco site,  Tiger reserve in 1973, Wildlife sanctuary in 1977, and on May 4^th 1984 National Park              

Climate:  20’C and 48’C

How to get there: Many ways are there From canning and From Basirhat

Air:Dumdum, Kolkata                                                                                           Rail: Howrah /Sealdha

From Airport by car to canning(Expensive) or By Rail From Sealdah to Canning

Preferred way:


  From Canning to Godkhali  29km ,1.5hr journey by tracker, other route is also there like Namkhana, Raidighi,Najat etc

After reaching Godkhali you can hire a boat and fix a tour

My opinion :


 cross  the river by local ferry and reach Gosaba then to Pakhiralay by van route (Scenic beauty through the villages of sundarban to Pakhiralay. In Pakhiralay there are many private resort , and opposite of Pakhiralaya the first Jungle tower Sajnekhali is situated.

Note by: If you hire a boat from canning it will take around 1 day to reach Sajnekhali , so I reached Pakhiralaya directly and it took half a day and even the costing is also reasonable.

My Itinerary:

1^st day : Reached Pakhiralay at 2.3pm have my lunch and went to see Sajnekhali watch tower and interpretation center. In the evening enjoyed bonbibi pala

2^nd day: Got ticket from Sajnekhali for entry in the buffer area of the jungle, The guide and hotel staff will guide you, You can avail share boat the info will be provided by the hotel staff. Rs1200- Rs2500 is the costing, Sharing can go as low as Rs600 also.

The tour start from early in the morning , we started at 7 am, Long queue for permission , as first boat has the possibility to see rare animal

Some Jungle towers are:
 1) Sajnekhali – Interpretation center , lodge, Jungle entry ticket, A small park

2)Sudhonokhali : Jungle tower

 3)Dobanki : Deer park, salt pit,

 4) Nethidhopani: Most interior , Jungle tower most isolated

Apart from this some can visit Burir jhapi, Baghatpur croc project

Dobanki watch tower

Dobanki deer Park

Dobanki Deer Park

The scenic beauty is awesome, The  creeks are sometime visited by great lord of the jungles. Crocodile is a common view during winter, spotted deer, monkey will be 
visible. Leaving this crabs and skipping frog, common toad
is common

Some endangered species are:  Royal Bengal tiger, Saltwater croc, River terrapin, Olive ridley turtels, Ganges River Dolphin, Hawksbill turtle, Mangrove horse  shoe crab.

River Terrapin

Some Fauna found : Fishing cat, Lepord cat, Wild boar, India grey mongoose, Fox, Pangolin, Pariha kites, water hens, Paradise fly catcher, Gangatic dolphins, electric ray fish, saw fish, Olive ridley , monitor lizards,king cobra, rat snake, Russel viper,Common krait, irrawardy  dolphins, humpback dolphins,

Some stories and Fact:

1)Bonbibi story: People believe in bonbibi a diety which is worshipped before going to the jungle  , This bonbibi is a epic story which is believed by every human habitat of that area. She helped a blind boy from the demon dakhinarai(the tiger). So while anyone is helpless they cry for bonbibi to come and help duringdistress. Bonbibi is worshipped by both Hindu and Muslim so a unity prevails in this area as well.Bonbibi is the daughter of Berahim( a faqir from Mecca) she lived in the forest for many years as she was abandoned by her parents.

2) The Mehul festival: In …. The Forest department provide pass to the honey collector where they roam around the core jungle  area to collect honey the team of 5 collects honey without any arms , a great adventure for many but basic livelihood for few. Many are so dependent with the forest that  they catch  fish and shrimp collect wood and honey for their daily livelihood. Many lost their lives in the wild as a tiger pray, crocs lunch and the snacks bite.

3) A colony: In Gosaba  widow colony is set up where womens who lost their husband life in the jungle  live and stay, this family head felt prey in the hand of man eaters.

4)Tigers have eight sub species Bengal tiger is (Panthera tigris tigris) ex of Indo Chinese tiger is (Panthera tigris corbetti)

Books commited to Sundarban: The hungry tide(Amitava ghosh), Tigerland (Alexander Caroline)