Sundarban Tour is not a simple travel destination like Digha, Talshari, or Mandermani or a weekend tour. It is a wildlife excursion in the biggest Mangrove Forest on the river trio Ganga, Meghna, and Brahmaputra delta. Sundarban is the home of more than hundreds of exotic species of flora and fauna, and above all, it is the home of the globally famous Royal Bengal Tiger.
The exclusivity of the Sundarban trip lies in its itineraries. The tour program is all set for exploring the forest, but safety and planning are the buzzwords for planning a trip here.
Before we discuss the premium tourist attractions in the Sundarban Mangrove Forest, let’s briefly review the prerequisites for planning an organized Sundarban Tour package from Kolkata.
Sundarban Tour-The Essentials You Cannot Skip
- Buying a Sundarban tour package from an experienced Sundarban Tour operator is always safe.
- It is double-safe to avail of a tour package with transition journey support.
- You should confirm your stay while booking the sundarban tour package.
- Sundarban does not have any food joints. While planning a sundarban tour, booking your stay in a hotel/resort with a restaurant under its wing is safe.
- Please confirm if the Tour operator will be responsible for arranging a jungle entry permit.
Sundarban Tour-The itineraries to Visit
1. Bird Sanctuary at Sajnekhali
Avian Exquisiteness is a part of Sundarban fauna, and Pakhiralay in Sajnekhali is a famous bird sanctuary. You will have direct access to watch flocks of birds, both of Indian and non-Indian origin, in the migratory bird category.
Some common birds you can find here are spotted-billed pelican, cotton-teal, herring gull, Caspian tern, grey heron, and open-billed stork. If your luck smiles, you can view Asian dowitcher, osprey, Pallas fish eagle, grey-headed fishing eagle, etc. If you are an amateur photographer, you may get a rare shot of kingfishers and white-bellied sea eagles, too.
2. Watch Tower Tour
Watchtowers are safe places to view the wild forest. In Sundarban, there are plenty of watchtowers. All are located in the dense forest, a few in the buffer zone, the core area of the tiger reserve.
All the watchtowers are strategically located, where a sweet water pond or salt pit is nearby. Wild animals often visit these places to drink water or to lick salt. However, it’s rare to glimpse a Royal Bengal Tiger here. But you can see deer, boar, fox, and other wild animals in their movement style.
Mud walks and canopy walk tours are special programs of the Watchtower tour. Please discuss the watchtower’s Wildlife tour in Sundarban with your Sundarban tour operator.
3. Boat Safari
Jeep Safari is a well-known jungle tour program. In Sundarban, you can join an exotic boat safari instead of a Jeep safari. Sundarban’s low tide area, wide canal area, river network, and high tides are the three supportive pillars of boat safari.
Experienced boatmen take their boats near the core areas of Sundarban via the waterway. You can sit in the boat and get a glimpse of the core areas of Sundarban tiger reserve, where sunlight cannot even enter.
The Sundarban boat safari program is a daylight adventure, not for faint hearts. The canals and creeks are the roaming spots of tigers and other wild animals. However, the program has gained great popularity for its thrill and Royal Bengal Tiger sighting chance.
4. Cruising on Sundarban Riverbed
The Sundarban Riverbeds are broad and deep in water volume, and confluence points with the ocean are almost nearby. Unless it is the monsoon season, the Sundarban makes an ideal venue for cruising. The aqua world of the Sundarban is as versatile as its flora and fauna on land.
Nothing is predictable in a cruising tour, but you may see crocodiles, alligators, river dolphins, turtles, and many more schools of fish while roaming the river bed. Watching the sunset on the riverbed is a signature experience: don’t miss it.
5. Exploring Nearby Village: Understanding The Local Vibes
A Sundarban tour is not about traveling in its jungle or Sundarban national park visit only. It is about exploring the vibes and lifestyle of the people residing here. Like the fierce Mangrove Forest, the lifestyle of the nearby residents is also full of struggle. Their lifestyle, occupations, and challenges have made them exceptional in their own virtue.
If you are on a Sundarban Tour, do not skip visiting the local villages. You will find a new lifestyle vista that you can enjoy.
6. The Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project
The Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project is a notable wildlife conservation initiative in the Sundarbans region of West Bengal, India. It serves as the state’s sole crocodile breeding and conservation center. The project focuses mainly on the estuarine or saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) and contributes to the preservation of the endangered Batagur Baska tortoise species.
- The venue is located on Bhagabatpur Island, next to Lothian Island, along the Saptamukhi Estuary, within the vicinity of South 24 Parganas Division Forest.
- The conservation project involves incubating crocodile eggs, nurturing hatchlings, and releasing mature individuals into the wild to boost the natural population.
- Biodiversity: The surrounding mangrove forests at the confluence of the Saptamukhi River system offer rich biodiversity, attracting tourists throughout the year.
7. Sundarban Mangrove Interpretation Center
The Sundarban Mangrove Interpretation Center has gained popularity recently in Sundarban Tourism. The center is located at Sajnekhali, and it is a must-visit tourist attraction on a Sundarban tour plan. It offers an engaging insight into the region’s unique mangrove ecosystem, including its rich biodiversity and conservation efforts.
With informative displays on exotic animals like the Royal Bengal Tiger, estuarine crocodiles, and migratory birds, the Interpretation Center educates visitors about the fragile environment of the Sundarbans. Its location is near the Sajnekhali Watch Tower and crocodile pond. The strategic location is a bonus for eco-tourists.
The Interpretation Center enhances the tour experience by blending education with the natural attraction of the Mangrove Forest.
