Visiting Natural Wonders of the Sundarbans

Sundarbans tourist attractions The Sundarbans, a unique eco-tourism destination, is the largest Mangrove Forest on earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It stretches about 80km into the Bangladeshi and Indian mainland from the coast of the Bay of Bengal. 60% of this mist-shrouded forest is located in Bangladesh.

Though this 10,500km² forest area is surrounded by two of the most densely populated country on three sides, it remains remote, inhospitable and largely uninhabited by people. Intersected by a complex network of rivers and creeks, mudflats and tiny islands, this amazing forest is comprised of two elementary ecoregions: The Mangrove Forest and the Freshwater Swamp Forest.   The word Sundarbans means a beautiful forest. However, the name derived from the “Sundari” trees which are seen here plentifully. This forest is mainly famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger but you’ll also see here the spotted deer, saltwater crocodiles, and different types of birds. This huge forest provides habitat for 42 species of mammal, 290 species of bird, 120 species of fish, 50 species of reptiles and  8 species of amphibian.

Popular Destination:

Katka:

Located on the southeast corner of the Sundarbans, this place is one of the most tourists visited place. Tourists come here to see tigers, spotted deer and different types of birds. You can easily see the wildlife of Sundarbans from the 40 feet high wooden watchtower.

Kochikhali:

Located 14km to the east of Katka, Kochikhali features dense forests facing the Bay of Bengal. Boating along the Kochikhali Khal will provide you the glimpse of basking crocodiles, deer, wild boar, lizards and a lot of birds. Even, sometimes you can see the famous Royal Bengal Tiger.

Hiron Point

Headquarter of the South Wildlife Sanctuary, Hiron Point, is one of the most visited places in Sundarbans. Tourists come to this graceful spot to see tigers and other rare and spectacular wildlife such as monkey, crocodiles, otter, snakes etc. Also known as Nilkamal, this place is also famous for different types of birds.

Jamtola Beach

Though this beach is not a famous one, this lonesome beach is a nice and clean beach in Bangladesh. For its remote location, deep in the Sundarbans beside the Bay of Bengal not many people come here. But if you come here and spend some time on this serene beach, it will be an unforgettable experience in your life.

Dublar Char

This beautiful Sundarbans tourist attraction island is well-known for its picturesque scenarios and fishing and dry fish processing activities. Located to the southwest of Katka and southeast of Hiron Point, Dublar Char is famous for the three days long Rush Mela. Then Thousands oe here to join this festival from different parts of the country.

Karamjol

This magnificent visiting place in Sundarbans serves as a deer breeding and wildlife rearing center. To see different precious and rare species of wildlife thousands of tourists make their way to Karamjol, a ranger station deep in the forest.

Mandarbaria

Though this is not one of the most visited destinations, it can provide you a good opportunity of catching a glimpse of tigers and other wildlife of the Sundarbans tourist attractions.

Tin Kona Island

Tourists come here to spot deer, tigers and other animals. The picturesque scenery of this island enchants the tourist.

To Do:

In this vast forest you can do many things to make your trip memorable one. First you have to know where to go and what to do. Here are some tips for you to do in Sundarbans that will help you to understand this mangrove forest.

Boat riding at dawn:This mangrove forest is crisscrossed by hundreds of canals, creeks and rivers. You can consider them as the lifeline of this biggest mangrove forest. You can go out on this creeks and cannals on a noiseless row-boat early in the morning because at that time animals and birds come to this water bodies to drink water or to catch their morning prey. So, for sure you’ll see many animals on your morning tour. Keep silent on this trip to make sure not to frighten these animals

Walking inside the forest: The trail from Kochikhali to Kotka goes through the forest, open field, and Jamtola sea beach. If you go along this trail you will have a memorable experience about this mangrove forest. During walking use covered shoes to protect your feet from spiky trees and sharp grasses. sundarbans tourist attractions

Sit quietly on watch towers at dusk: There are some watch towers in Sundarbans to watch the animals closely. There are some sweet water tanks adjacent to these watch towers. Animals come here at dust to drink water. If you can keep patience and sit quietly on these watch towers silently then you will be rewarded. From these watch towers you will not only be able to see the animals but also experience the panoramic view of this beautiful mangrove forest. If you spend nights on parked boats on rivers, you will experience night skies studded with thousands of stars. Sit quietly on the open deck and listen to the sound of nature which is mesmerizing. For sure you’ll tell others about this wonderful experience.

Watching Dolphins: It’s the sole place on earth where you will find the Ganges river dolphins and Irrawaddy dolphins.  To save these most endangered mammals, a part of Sundarbans has been declared sanctuary.  Just stop by this sanctuary and watch the dolphins leaping out of water which will be a memorable experience. Sundarbans tourist attractions

How to go:

To visit Sundarbans you have to go to Khulna first which is the gateway to the Sundarbans. You can go there by air, road or steamer. The best way to reach in Khulna is by steamer. Though the journey is a bit time-consuming, you will experience the picturesque panorama of the rural Bengal. If you don’t have enough time, then you will go by road or you can use the quickest way: air. From Khulna, water transport is the only means to visit Sundarbans.  You can hire a private motor launch and speedboats to visit the forest.

sundarbans tourist attraction

Some useful information:

The most suitable period to visit the Sundarbans is from November to March. Any type of wildlife killing is prohibited here. Permission from the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Khulna is a must and this can be obtained through written application.  Tourists are requested to carry essential supplies such as anti-malarial and anti-diarrhoeal medicines, insect repellent cream, drinking water, first aid box, light dress, and thick rubber soled shoes. To enjoy the forest most you must take the assistance of an experienced guide.

Food

The guest house and resorts serve a good variety of foods. One can enjoy the freshest catches from the water and indulge in mouth watering dishes prepared from them. Especially you can enjoy different types of fishes and crabs.

Where to stay

There are different types of hotels and resorts to stay in the Sundarbans. You can choose your own according to your budget. As it’s an eco-sensitive area, the hotels and resorts here are modest than luxurious.