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Travelling can
be one of the best ways to learn more about new places,
cultures and traditions followed in different parts of the
world. |
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Sundarban National Park – Call of the Wild
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Gear up for tracking the
tigers in the wilderness. The upcoming season is an exciting one for all
the adventure lovers. No matters what’s the age. What I believe is, one
need not be young to enjoy some of the things that seem so intimidating.
There are many options within range that can add zing to life. Even a
simple walk through the national park can be an exhilarating
experience.
A tiger trail is an experience in itself. Powerful and stealthy, the
tiger is the largest and heaviest of the cat family and much feared by
other animals and humans alike. The Bengal tiger has the classic orange
and black tiger’s coat. It patrols its own territory and usually hunts
alone, stalking its prey or killing it by ambush. Immensely strong, it can
bring down animals much larger than itself. Once common throughout Asia,
the Bengal tiger is now restricted to small areas India and the
surrounding countries. |
India has some of the world’s top end national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries whose area extends several thousands of square kilometers and
where wildlife can be observed in its natural surroundings. One such
national park is the Sundarban National Park in West Bengal. Where
the land meets the sea at the southern tip of West Bengal lies the Indian
Sunderbans, with a series of densely forested islands and saline water
channels, Sundarbans is home to Royal Bengal
Tiger( Panthera tigris ) along with the spotted deer’s, wild
pigs, Wild boars, Porcupines, Rhesus macaque, herons, kingfishers and
white-bellied eagles.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the
Sunderbans is a vast area covering 4264 square km in India alone, with a
larger portion in Bangladesh. Sundarbans National Park in India is one of
the world's largest deltas and the mangrove forest formed by the
confluence of three rivers- the Ganga, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna-
covering an area of 2,585 sq km wildlife sanctuary, which forms the
largest Tiger Reserve and National Park in India.
A paradise for
birdwatchers. There are about 248 bird species found in Sunderban
national park including a large number of migratory birds from higher
latitudes that visits the park in winter months. The list includes such
rarities as the Masked Finfoot, Mangrove Pitta, Mangrove Whistler, Herons,
Egrets, Cormorants, Storks, Green Pigeons, Sand Pipers, Large and Small
Spoonbills, Darters, Seagulls, Teal, Partridges, great variety of Wild
Geese and Ducks.
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Myth or
Fact The Sundarban National Park
got its name from one of the mangrove plants known as Sundari (Heritiera
Minor). In the Sundarban area of India some people believe that, as
tigers attack from behind, you can prevent this by wearing a mask showing
a face on the back of your head. It is believed that Bonbibi, the goddess
of the forest, protects the wood-cutters, honey-collectors and fishermen
on their hazardous missions. For, as the saying goes, `Here the Tiger is
always watching you'.
Other attractions
The Sajnekhali Sanctuary : The wide variety of birds at Sajnekhali
sanctuary captivates your eyes for sure.
Netidhopani : At Netidhopani, the ruins of a 400-year-old temple tell
a tale of its own adding mystery to the surroundings. |
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Bhagabatpur : Bhagabatpur is renowned for having a hatchery of
the largest estuarine crocodiles in the world.
Kanak : Kanak is the nesting place for the Olive Ridley
Turtles.
Holiday Island: The last habitat of the Barking Deer in India is
the Holiday Island thronged by the tourists every year.
Piyali: A perfect picnic destination - Piyali is the main
gateway of Sundarbans, near Kolkata and Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali,
Netidhopani through waterways. A small river Piyali criss crosses the
green paddy fields and joins river Matla.
When to Visit
The best time to visit Sunderbans is during winters between December
and February. Although the park is open for longer from September to
March. The possibility of observing the mighty Royal Bengal Tiger
enhances in the winter season when one can watch the King of Jungle
sun-bathing on the banks of the river. This is the period when the
maximum migratory birds are also present here.
Entry Permit The entry
point to Sunderban Tiger Reserve is either Sonakhali via Canning, or
Bagna via Dhamakhali. For visiting South 24 Parganas Forest Division,
on the western part of river Matla, the entry points are Namkhana,
Raidighi or Jharkhali via Canning/Basanti.. Entry Permits are
available at Canning, Sonakhali and Bagna for STR and at Canning,
Namkhana and Raidighi for Western part of Sunderban Forest . |
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The foreign tourists
willing to observe the tigers and implement the Tiger Projects and visit
the Sajnekhali, have to obtain the special permits for entry into the
Sundarbans National Park. The tourists should contact the Secretary, West
Bengal Forest Department, Writer's Blidge, Kolkata - 700001, on request.
Getting there By Air :
Dum Dum Airport - Kolkata is the nearest airport is at a distance of 112
kms from the Sundarbans National Park. |
By Rail : The
nearest railhead is Canning, 48-kms away from the Sunderbans National
Park. From Kolkata there are suburban trains to Canning and road transport
to Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali and Najat from where Motor launch
services are available for Sundarbans.
By Road : The excellent road network connects Namkhana to Kolkata,
Sonakhali (100-kms), Raidighi (76-kms), Canning (64-kms), and Najat
(92-kms), all lying nearby the Sunderbans.
Cruises : The tourists can
hire a cruise in the riverine waterways from different places covering
different stretches.
1. From Namkhana -
Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project (2.5 hours) Sagar Island (2.5 hours)
Jambudweep (3.5 hours)
2. From Sajnekhali - Sudhanyakhali (40 minutes) Buridabri (Tiger Project
Area) (5 hours) Netidhopari (3.5 hours) Holiday Island (3 hours)
3. From Sonakhali - Gosaba (1 hour)
4. From Raidighi - Kalas (5 hours)
Contributing Writer: Swapnil Gunjal, Travel
Writer
swapu02@rediffmail.com
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