10 Best Places to Visit near Sundarbans National Park
The Sundarbans National Park with an area of 20,400 square kilometers is the largest mangrove ecosystem in the world. Mangroves are a beautiful succession of freshwater marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It is therefore a wonderful place for prawns, crabs, fish, crustaceans, birds, reptiles, and some of the most fascinating mammal species including the most exotic Chital deer, Indian dragon, leopard cat, gray-headed fish eagle, saltwater shark, and more
The best time to visit the Sundarbans is from November to March. This is the perfect time to spot wildlife including the very famous Royal Bengal Tiger. Pleasant weather makes your visit more enjoyable. If the heat doesn’t scare you, you can also plan a trip to Sunderban between April and July. Remember that the temperature can go up to 43°C so you still need to be well prepared.
Talking about Sundarbans National Park times, the safari in Sundarbans starts at 8:30 am and ends at 4:00 pm. Since there is no jeep safari program in Sundarbans, you can only indulge in boat safaris.
Netidhopani
Netidhopani is a beautiful forest that is touristy. There is a lake known for its beauty to look at and click pictures, also a land with the ruins of ancient buildings that used to be more authentic with the ruins of a temple that is four times a hundred years old, almost it is a place of pilgrimage where a large number of people go there to worship and pay homage
Netidhopani is a fascination for historians and history buffs as the ruins here reflect hundreds of years of beautiful forest history. Witness the beauty of the freshwater lakes, and the 400-year-old Shiva temple amazes everyone. The place also has hotels and other pop tourism machines. So if you thought Sunderban was all about royal Bengal tigers, think again.
Kalash Island
This Sundarban tourist spot has become another big attraction for many outside tourists. Kalash Island is located next to the Bay of Bengal and has Kalash Beach and Kalash Camp which is open to tourists. It covers a total of 4 acres surrounded by a 10-foot tall and 20-foot fence and yet, it cannot stop the royal Bengal tigers. These tigers frequent the Kalash beach in search of the freshwater pools.
All the prospects of the possibility of visiting Kalash Island are interesting and exciting in many ways. Sundarban forest rangers have strictly prohibited solo trekking in this area. If you are planning to visit the Sundarbans in the summer, you cannot miss Kasha Island. While you will be mesmerized by the island’s greenery, you will also enjoy Olive Ridley’s turtles and beautiful shorebirds.
Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary
Do you enjoy bird watching? If yes, the Sajnekhali watchtower will amaze you! It is the perfect place to spot some amazing bird species. It is located near the Sundarbans National Park and can accommodate only 20 people at a time. When you reach the watchtower, you can see birds like plovers, kingfishers, pelicans, etc. There’s a watchtower that’s 20 feet high and it’s the perfect place to get close to the wildlife
There you can visit a turtle pond, a deer pond, and a crocodile enclosure at the visitor center. Also close to the bird feeders are the turkey breeding area and Halliday Island. It can be reached by boat from Sajnekhali Jatti. Sundarban tours and wildlife encounters make this place one of the best travel destinations in the Sundarbans.
Mangrove Forest
Mangrove jungle boat tours are the only way to properly explore the depths of the Sundarbans as there are no jeep safaris. The Sundarbans mangrove forest, which is one of the largest forests in the world (140,000 hectares), is located on the river bottom connecting the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers in the Bay of Bengal Close to the Indian border, from where the Sunderbans are famous.
Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project
Bhagabatpur has its own identity as one of the most important tourist spots in the Sundarbans. It is the only crocodile project in the state of West Bengal. Bhagbatpur is located in the middle of a beautiful location on the banks of the Saptamukhi River, close to Lutheran Island. The dense mangrove forests of the seven-headed river system have a natural beauty that attracts visitors throughout the year. In this area, you can see the river crocodile eggs and Batagur Baska turtles. This crocodile industry involves eating crocodile eggs, raising them, growing them to a certain age, and then releasing them into the wild.
Halliday Island
If the beach tickles your fancy, Halliday Island is a must. Exploring the beauty and ecology of the mangrove forests is a good time to spend. Walk the beach and soak in the serenity of nature. The six square kilometer Sundarbans tourist resort lies in one of the most beautiful landscapes of the Sundarbans. Halliday Island is located in the Matla River.
This place is a very important part of Sundarbans Tiger Reserve which is highly sought after by tourists. Located near a freshwater river, you will find a wide variety of flora and fauna in this wildlife refuge. Several species of turtles tend to thrive on the island along with some beautiful freshwater species such as the karanja and casuarina. The Royal Bengal tigers are also frequent in this area because of its presence. On top of everything else, there is plenty of fish to be had in the sweet waters of the Matla River.
Marichjhapi
Marichjhapi is one of the most famous islands in the Sundarban mangrove forest area in India. Being the location of Amitav Ghosh’s novel The Hungry Tide and a Bengali film to be released in 2020, Marichjhampi is known as the island of cruelty. Many tigers live in this forest. Some people collect raw honey in the forest.
Sudhanyakhali Watch Tower
This watch tower is located in the Sudhanyakhali camp of the “Sundarban Tiger Sanctuary”. This watch tower is one of the most famous watchtowers in the Sundarbans as most of the royal Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans have been sighted from this tower. The tower offers a spectacular view of the entire Sudhanyakhali camp that can accommodate 25 men. You may also see various types of birds and a few reptiles coming from the river. There is also a freshwater lake, where many wildlife come to drink. Hermit crabs and monkeys of many colors can be seen there.
Jhingekhali Watch Tower
Among other tourist attractions of the Sundarban National Park, it is also a famous place for tiger watching. It is often overlooked by tourists due to its distance from Sajnekhali and that is why few tourists are making this place one of the major tiger-watching spots in the Sundarbans. Like other watch towers, it has a freshwater lake and wild animals which are the best way to enjoy wildlife. The place is surrounded by the temple of Banobibi and many beautiful birds, including the Brahmani kites.
Lothian Island
The island comes under the deltaic portion of the Sundarban River with its tropical swamp forests. Lothian Island’s marshy forests include a great deal of tall mangrove vegetation. So far the whole place is surrounded by the trees of Goran, Keora, and Baen. The location of vegetation provides coverage of the entire habitat. Walking along the detour you will see grassy areas along the river. The main animals are rhesus monkeys, cheetahs, and wild boars along with many colorful birds. It is also common to see wild cats and clients at this tourist spot in the Sundarbans.
FAQ(s) 10 Best Places to Visit near Sundarbans National Park
Sundarbans National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its small islands, wildlife, and mangrove forests. Did you know there are many mysterious islands in the Sundarban area? Netidhopani Island is believed to be haunted by the locals.
Sundarban Tiger Reserve is the home of the famous Royal Bengal Tigers. It is also the largest mangrove forest in the world.
Sundarban National Park is located in the district of South 24 Parganas in the state of West Bengal in India.
There are 100 royal Bengal tigers left in the Sundarban Tiger Reserve. The number has drastically increased from 88 to 100 in the year 2022.