Sundarban

Sundarban spreading over an area of 4, 120 square kilometers including water was measured to be 16,000 square kilometers some 200 years ago . It is a must visit place for nature lovers. 42 kilometers away from Kolkata a place, Canning is often called as the gateway of Sundarban. Sundarban is the world’s largest Mangrove forest land. It is also famous for ‘Royal Bengal Tiger’. Steamer and country boats are the main way of transportation in this region of Bengal. Sudhanyakhali and Sajnekhali are the two main spots in Sundarban to watch Tiger. Sundarban is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world covering an area of nearly 10,000 square kilometers of which about 6,000 square kilometers is in Bangladesh. It was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997 as Sundarbans National Park.

Major Flora

Largest Mangrove forest with 64 species of Palm, Phoenix, Avicenna, Bruguiera, Ceriops, Exeoicearia, Rhizophora etc.

Major Fauna

Tiger, Fishing Cat, Rhesus Macaque, Estuarine Crocodile, Water Monitor Lizard, Wild Boar, Spotted Dear, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Goliath Heron, Migratory Birds, Dolphin, Sharks, Sea Turtles etc.

To See

• Project Tiger
• Piyali, Fresherganj
• Lothian Island
• Gangasagar
• Canning, Mayadwip
• Bakkhali
• Gosaba
• Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project
• Mangrove Interpretation Centre

To Reach

By Air - Nearest airport is at Kolkata (Kolkata Airport), which is airlinked with all major Indian and international cities. Sundarban is 70 kilometers by road from Netaji Subhas Bose International airport.

By Rail – Direct train service to Sundarbun is not available. You can get a train from Kolkata to the nearest station of Canning. Time taken is approximately 2 1/2 hours and again a journey by Launch.

By Road – Buses are available directly from Calcutta to Canning , with journey time 3 – 3 ½ hours for 55 kilometers from Kolkata. Private vehicle can also be hired  up to the water body.