Sunderbans – what to see

• Hiron Point a beautiful spot, great for spotting tigers and other wildlife

• Tin Kona Island another popular spot for wildlife spotting.

• Katka a base for safaris, and good spot to see tigers and for bird-watching.

• Dublar Char Island it’s possible to fish here.

For people visiting the place from India (West Bengal), the following should form a part of the itinerary:

• Sudhanyakhali Watch Tower – Most of the tigers are sighted from this tower. Some other wildlife like axis deers and crocodiles may also be seen from this watch tower.

• Sajnekhali Watch Tower – Another watch tower that also houses a museum, a Bonobibi Temple and a crocodile park within its premises.

• Sajnekhali Pakiralaya

• Dobanki Watch Tower

• Bhagbatpur crocodile project

• Buridabri

• Netidhopani – It has a temple that’s 400 years old

• Kanak – Ideal for viewing the Olive Ridley Turtles

• Holiday Island – It is famous for the Barking Deers

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Sunderbans – at a glance

Where the land meets the sea at the southern     tip of West Bengal lies the Indian Sundarbans, a stretch of impenetrable mangrove forest     of great size and bio-diversity. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sundarban is a vast     area covering 4262 square kms in India alone, with a larger portion in Bangladesh. 2585     sq. kms of the Indian Sundarban forms the largest Tiger Reserve and National Park in     India. The total area of the Indian part of the Sundarban forest, lying within the latitude between 21°13’-22°40’ North and longitude 88°05’-89°06’ East, is about 4,262 sq km, of which 2,125 sq km is occupied by mangrove forest across 56 islands and the balance is   under water. 

The Sundarbans are a part of the world’s largest delta formed by the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. Situated on the lower end of the Gangetic West Bengal, 21°13’-22°40’ North and longitude 88°05’-89°06’ East, it is also the world’s largest estuarine forest. The     Sundarbans is inhospitable, dangerous and monotonous.  Dense mangrove forests occupy 56 islands and the balance is   under saline water which flows through numerous tidal channels and creeks. It is     difficult to approach and even more difficult to spend time in. But for those who dare, it     must be one of the most attractive and alluring places remaining on earth.

Tiger Reserve Service Directory

Sl. No.	Name of the State/UT	Address of the Official Incharge	Phone No.	Fax	E-mail
1.	Andhra Pradesh	Nagarjunasagar Tiger Reserve, Sriasilam District, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh-518002	08524-286089(O) 08524-286140	286071
2.	Arunachal Pradesh	Field Director, Namdapha National Park, P.O. Miao Distt., Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh-792122	03807-2222499(O) 03807-222253	222249
3.	Arunachal Pradesh	Field Director, Pakhui Tiger Reserve P.O. Seijusa, East Kameng District-790103, Arunachal Pradesh.
4.	Assam	Field Director, Manas Tiger Reserve, P.O. Barpeta Road, Kamrup Assam-781315	03666-261413(O) 260289< Control Room	260253	abhijitrabha@hotmail.com
5.	Assam	D.F.O. Nameri Tiger Reserve P.O. Koliabhmora, Tezpur District Sonipur,Assam Pin. 784001	03712-220854 220803(R)	220803
6.	Bihar	Field Director Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Champaran Forest Circle P.O. Betiah District-West Chaparan, Bihar	06254-235331(O) 06254-232909(R)	235331 234181
7.	Chattisgarh	Field Director, Indravati Tiger Reserve, P.O. Bijapur, District Bastr, Chattisgarh	07782-225073(O)-222006(O)-Jagdalpur 07782-227640(R)	222931 222120-CF, Jagdalpur	cfwlitrjdp@rediffmail.com
8.	Jharkhand	Field Director, Palamau Tiger Reserve, P.O. Daltonganj Distt. Palamau, Jharkhand-822101	06562-222650(O) 222684® (DY.F.D) 06562-222427(O)	222650	Dtj_fdptrapl@sancharnet.in
9.	Karnataka	Fild Director, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Govt. of Karnataka Sandalkopti-Premises, Aranya Bhavan, Ashokpuram < Mysore-577101	0821-480901 484980(R)	0821-480901	fdptrm@sancharnet.in
10.	Karnataka	Field Director, Bhadra Tiger Reserve, Chikmangalur-577101	08262-34904(O)(T+F) 08262-30751(R)	2300323	defbadra@sancharnet.in
11.	Kerala	Field Diector, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Aranya Bhavan, Forest Comples, S.H. Mount P.O., Kottayam Kerala-686006	0481-231740 (O) 2311197	2311740	fdptrktym@rediffmail.com
12.	Madhya Pradesh	Field Director, Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh-481661	07642-250760(O) 07645-250761(R)	251266	zen562@vsnl.net.in
13.	Madhya Pradesh	Field Director Pench Tiger Reserve, District Seoni-480661< Madhya Pradesh	07692-223794 (O)+(R) 07692-223794(R)	223823 224331	penchtr@sancharnet.in
14.	Madhya Pradesh	Field Director Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Umaria, Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh	07653-222214(O) Telefax 07653-222357(R)	223083 222214 222648-Pvt.	fdbtr@rediffmail.com
15.	Madhya Pradesh	Field Director Panna Tiger Reserve, Panna Town, District Panna-488001, Madhya Pradesh	07732-252135(O) 252134(R)	07732-252895 252120	pannatr@sancharnet.in
16.	Madhya Pradesh	Director Bori – Satpura Tiger Reserve Panchamadi, Distt. Hosangabad, Madhya Pradesh	07578-252130,252143(R)	252217, 252189
17.	Maharashtra	Field Director Melghat Tiger Reserve Camp Road, Amravati-444602, Maharashtra	0721-2662792 (O) 0721-2663604	0721-2662792	Ati_meltiger@sancharnet.in
18.	Maharashtra	Field Director Pench Tiger Reserve Near Govt. Printing Press, Zero Miles, Civil Lines Nagpur-440001	0172-2528953(O) 2539226(R) [D.C.F Sh. N. D. Chowdhary 0712-2524727(O)] 2267282	0721-2552518	fdpench@nagpur.net.in
19.	Maharashtra	Field Director Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Near Govt. Printing Press, Near Zero Mile, Civil Lines, Distt. Chandrapur, Nagpur-440001 Maharashtra	0712-2528953(O)-Tel+ Fax2539226 (R) 09890190205-(M)	0712-2552518, 2552765	cfwl@nagpur.dot.net.in fdpench@nagpur.net.in
20.	Mizoram	Field Director Dampa Tiger Reserve, Distt. Aizawal, Mizoram-796001	Having no phone at office [0389-2329339 (Aizawl) (R)]	0389-2325371 CWLW
21.	Orissa	Field Director Similipal Tiger Reserves, Baripada-757002 Orissa	06792-252593(O) 06792-260773(R)	256705	Bid_simitig@sancharnet.in
22.	Rajasthan	Field Director Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, District- Swai Madhopur, Rajasthan-322001	07462-220223(O) Telefax 07462-220591(R) (Sh. Reddy, DD:221142(O), 220490 (R)	220223, 221430(Pvt.)	cffdswm@sancharnet.in
23.	Rajasthan	Field Director Sariska Tiger Reserves, P.O. Thanaganzi, District Alwar, < Rajasthan	0144-2841333 (O) +(R) 0141-2355199(R) (Jaipur)	2344243-Pvt.
24.	Tamil Nadu	Field Director Kalakad- Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, NGO ‘A’ Colony Trinelveli-627007 Tamil Nadu	0462-2552663(O) 2580115(R) +Fax	2580115 2552612-Alt.	Tvl_kmtrpt@sancharnet.edu
25.	Uttranchal	Field Director Corbett Tiger Reserve, P.O. Ramnagar District Nanital Uttaranchal	05947-251376(O+R) (T+F) (05947-251489- Reception Dy. Dir-251489 DD-251332(R) (DFO- Kalagarh 01343-245288)	251376	dvskhati@yahoo.com pandey_wii@indiatimes.com
26.	Uttar Pradesh	Field Director Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, District Lakimpur Kheri, Pin-262701(U.P)	05872-252106-Tel Fax (Off) Sh. Ashist Tiwari, Dy. Dir-05871-233485(O)	252106	prashanvermaifs@rediffmail.com
27.	West Bengal	Field Director Sundarbans Tiger Reserve P.O. Canning Twon, District 24 Parganas, West Bengal-743329	03218-256159(O) & 255280(O) 033-24746342(R)	256159 Tele-Fax	suntiger@cal2.vsnl.net.in
28.	West Bengal	Field Director Buxa Tiger Reserve Alipurduar Jalpaiguri-736122 West Bengal	03564-256333(O) 03564-255577 255579(R)	256391	btrtiger@dte.vsnl.net.in

Sunderbans – where to stay

Forest lodges and forest rest houses are available for accommodation at Sajnekhali.

Desgination and Address of the Official : Field Director Sundarbans Tiger Reserves P.O. Canning Twon, District 24 Parganas,   West Bengal-743329

Telephone No. :  03218-256159(O) & 255280(O) 033-24746342(R) 256159

E-mail address : suntiger@cal2.vsnl.net.in

LINKS TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD

At Sajnekhali, STD/ISD facilities and postal facilities are available. Internet facilities are available

TRAVEL TIPS

Permission has to be acquired to visit the tiger reserve from the Field Director, Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, Port Canning.

CONTACT FIELD DIRECTOR

Field Director,
Sundarbans Tiger Reserves P.O.
Canning Twon,
District 24 Parganas,
West Bengal-743329

Sunderbans – Getting there

By Air

Dum Dum (166kms), is the nearest airport at Calcutta.

By Rail
The nearest railhead is at Canning, 48 km away. The nearest town is Gosaba, 50 km away.
Sunderbans is accessible only by riverine waterways. From Calcutta there are suburban trains to Canning and buses to Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali and Najat from where motor launch services are available for Sunderbans.

By Road

Means of road transport are available from Calcutta for the places like Namkhana (105 km), Sonakhali (100 km), Raidighi (76 km), Canning (64 km), and Najat (92 km), which are all near the Sunderbans and have access to the riverine waterways leading to it.

Waterways
The approximate time taken between various points is :

From Namkhana – Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project (2.5 hours) Sagar Island (2.5 hours) Jambudwip (3.5 hours)

From Sajnekhali – Sudhanyakhali (40 minutes) Buridabri (Tiger Project Area) (5 hours) Netidhopan (3.5 hours) Holiday Island (3 hours)

From Sonakhali – Gosaba (1 hour) From Raidighi – Kalas (5 hours).

Sunderbans – Salient Features

Area

Core : 1330 sq km

Buffer : 1255 sq km

Total : 2585 sq. km.

Longitude : 88°05′ and 89°10′ East

Latitude : 21°32′ and 22°40′ North

Altitude : 5.8 m to 6.1 m above M.S.L.

Rainfall : Average annual 1920.30 mm

Temperature

Minimum : 20° C

Maximum : 33.88° C

Seasons

Winter – October to January

Summer – February to May

Monsoon – June to September

Sunderbans – Flora, Fauna and the Forest

Forest Types

Tidal swamp forests,Saline water type mixed forests ,brackish water type mixed forests palm swamp type

Major Flora

There are 64 plant species in Sundarbans and they have the capacity to withstand estuarine conditions and saline inundation on account of tidal effects.

Main Species

Excaecaria sp., Heritiera sp., Ceriops sp., Phoenix sp., Sonneratia sp., Avicennia sp., Rhizophora sp., Xylocarpus sp., Bruguiera sp. etc.

Major Fauna

Main Species

Tiger, fishing cat, chital, wildboar, water monitor, estuarine crocodile.

Endanger Species

Tiger, Estuarian Crocodile, River Terrapin (Batagur baska), Olive Ridlay Turtle, Gangetic Dolphin, Ground Turtle, Hawks Bill Turtle, King Crabs (Horse shoe)