A wildlife tour in India without a trip to Sunderbans
remains incomplete and that willl be an infamy. The river
delta is one of the prime habitats of the Royal Bengal
Tiger where the Tiger in its various moods can be
encountered.
It can be described as the termination point of Indian
wildlife tour to southwards. The journey for the estuarine
delta area can be started by hiring a boat. When one pasts
through the wooded forests and saline water channels
he/she will wonder struck at the sight of spotted deers,
wild pigs, monkeys, herons, kingfishers, white bellied
eagles. The adventure will head for its peak as one sail
through the water and finally the vision, for which
everybody waits impatiently, comes with the gift of
elusive sights of the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger.
Sunderbans is home to around 270 Tigers.
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Royal
Bengal Tigars at Sundarban |
Wild
Monkyes at Sundarban |
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Wild
Orchid Garden at Kotka, Sundarban |
Sunset
at Sundarban |
Though Sunderbans’ tigers are described as man-eaters, but
the specialists says that they seldom attack human beings.
Apart from their favourite hunts, the tigers prey on
fishes or steal honey from beehives. It is known that
these tigers are great swimmers and they can swim upto 10
kms.
As one sailes forward across other creatures such
estuarine terrapins, Olive Ridley turtles, estuarine
crocodiles, Ganges dolphins, water monitors and a wide
variety of birds, fish and crustaceans which live in
perfect harmony with nature. The tourists can also visit
the crocodile enclosure, a shark pond, a turtle hatchery
and a Mangrove Interpretation Centre inside the Sajnekhali
Visitors' Centre.
Sunderbans, the
undiscovered greenery is the place that owes its name to
Sundari trees, consist of a large flora population like
Genwa, Dhundal, Passur, Garjan and Kankra. Apart from
these trees, inpenetrable Goran Trees between 1.8 mtr. &
3.6 mtr. High covers almost the entire region. One of the
most remarkable feature of this place is the bayonet like
roots of mangrove forests that stick out above the water
level.
Nature apart, if you want to feel the essence of
spirituality then this is the place to be. A place of Ma
Bonobibi ( the Goddess of the forest) to Shiber Kumir
(Lord Shiva’s Crocodile) or from Dakshinaroy (an orgre,
the ancester of all tigers) to Kapil Muni ( an incarnation
of Vishnu).
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History
It was once the capital of undivided India and situated on
the banks of river Hooghly, Calcutta links eastern India
to the rest of the country. Cited as the Mecca of the East
this megacity is known for its museums, monuments
festivals, culture, art, music sports, food and specially
its warm hearted people. A city that is intensely alive to
cultural, artistic and intellectual persuits offer the
tourists such itense distinctive memories that seems to
grow on everyone. |
