Sundarbans National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance located in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. Covering 1,330 sq km (part of the larger 10,000 sq km Sundarbans delta shared with Bangladesh), it is the world's largest tidal mangrove forest and home to the highest concentration of wild Royal Bengal Tigers on Earth — an estimated 96 tigers as per the 2020 census.
Sundarbans National Park
The World's Largest Mangrove Forest — Home of the Royal Bengal Tiger
History & Heritage
UNESCO World Heritage (1987)
The Sundarbans was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for its outstanding universal value as an exceptional example of ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems. It was first declared a Tiger Reserve in 1973 under Project Tiger.
The Mangrove Ecosystem
The name "Sundarbans" derives from the Sundari tree (Heritiera fomes) — the dominant mangrove species whose pneumatophore roots create the labyrinthine forest that defines this landscape. The forest acts as a critical carbon sink and provides storm protection for millions of people in coastal Bengal and Bangladesh.
Man-Eating Tigers — A Unique Behaviour
Sundarbans tigers are uniquely adapted to swimming in saltwater channels and have historically preyed on humans — a behaviour linked to high salt content in the water that may affect their physiology. The Forest Department equips honey collectors and fishermen with face masks worn on the back of the head, as tigers historically attack from behind.
Wildlife
Beyond the Royal Bengal Tiger, the Sundarbans shelters saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus), Irrawaddy dolphins, Gangetic river dolphins, fishing cats, spotted deer, wild boar, olive ridley turtles, and over 270 bird species including the globally threatened lesser adjutant stork and masked finfoot. The intertidal zones support rich populations of horseshoe crabs and mudskipper fish found nowhere else in India.
Best Seasons & Experiences
Tiger Safari Season (November–February)
The dry winter season offers the best tiger sightings as animals visit riverbanks to drink. Boat safaris through the forest channels in the early morning and late afternoon are the primary activity — licensed guides from Sajnekhali or Sudhanyakhali are mandatory for all safaris.
Bonobibi Puja (Forest Goddess Worship)
The local fishing and honey-collecting communities worship Bonobibi — the forest goddess — before entering the Sundarbans for work. This annual puja, held with elaborate rituals and offerings at forest temples, reflects centuries of human-wildlife coexistence in one of the world's most dangerous ecosystems.
Did You Know?
The Sundarbans is so vast that over 4 million people live in the buffer zone villages surrounding the core forest — the highest human population density adjacent to any tiger reserve in the world. These communities depend on the forest for fish, honey, and timber, and live in daily proximity to the same tigers whose habitat they border — a uniquely complex conservation challenge with no parallel elsewhere on Earth.
Travel Guide to Sundarbans
How to Reach
By Air: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) — 100 km to Canning/Godkhali entry point via NH12 (2.5 hours + boat).
By Train: Canning Railway Station (Sealdah–Canning line) — 48 km from Kolkata. From Canning, take a boat to Sajnekhali (2 hours).
By Road + Boat: Drive/bus to Godkhali ghat (100 km from Kolkata) → boat to Sajnekhali Forest Office → guide-led safari begins. Most visitors use tour operators from Kolkata.
Key Safari Zones
Sajnekhali: The main entry point and visitor centre. Watch tower for tiger and crocodile sightings.
Sudhanyakhali: The best tiger-viewing watch tower — sightings are most frequent here at the freshwater pond.
Dobanki: Canopy walk (1 km boardwalk) through the mangroves — unique tree-top forest experience.
Permits & Entry
Permits: Mandatory for all visitors. Indian nationals: ₹100/day. Foreign nationals: ₹1,500/day. Camera fee: ₹50–500 extra.
Guide: Mandatory licensed guide required for all forest entry. Arrange at Sajnekhali Forest Office or through tour operators.
Safari Hours: 6 AM – 4 PM. Entry strictly controlled — no night stays inside the core forest area.
Best Time to Visit
November–February is ideal for wildlife sightings and comfortable temperatures (15–25°C). March–April is hot but tiger activity near waterholes increases. Monsoon (June–September) sees the forest inaccessible due to flooding and rough seas. The Sundarbans is one of few Indian forests open through most of the year — but advance permits are essential year-round.
Travel Tips
Book 2–3 nights for the best chance of tiger sightings — day trips rarely result in encounters. Stay at eco-lodges near Sajnekhali.
Maintain strict silence during boat safaris — any noise carries far over water and will alert tigers before they become visible.
Carry heavy-duty mosquito repellent and full-sleeve clothing — the mangrove mosquitoes are severe and malaria risk is real in the delta.
Use only government-approved tour operators — they handle permits, boats, guides, and accommodation in one package from Kolkata.