Visit Netidhopani - A tiger watchtower and 400-year-old Temple
Netidhopani is a picture-perfect place for travellers to Sundarbans due to its ancient houses and serene lake. The attractions that makes this place a not-to-miss travel destination in Sundarbans is a tiger watchtower and a 400-year-old temple which although is in ruins, but still draws visitors for its mystique and charm.
Visit Bhagabatpur crocodile project
Located at the confluence of the Saptamukhi river system, adjacent to Lothian Island (one of the wildlife sanctuaries in the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve), this place is famous as a hatchery of estuarine crocodile, Batagur Baska species of tortoise along with amazingly dense mangrove forest. The project involves captive husbandry of saltwater crocodiles, incubation and nurturing of crocodile eggs, growing them to the desired age and then releasing them into the wild.
Magnificent photography opportunities
Trust us, there is no place better than Sundarban to display ones photographic skills. Just remember to keep the camera on as one enters the forest to get some captivating clicks of abundant flora and fauna. From saltwater crocodiles to deer species to ferocious tigers to dancing dolphins, here one can get a chance to behold and capture the sights of various bewitching wildlife creatures and lush greenery in the lenses.
Bird watching at Sajnekhali, Mangrove interpretation center and Museum
Situated in the northern part of Sundarbans Reserve, Sajnekhali is among some of the best places in Sundarbans to watch incredible feathered creatures. Amid lush greenery and river channels, there is also a Sajnekhali watchtower where one can have close encounters with more than 200 species of birds including, sandpipers, kingfishers, Caspian tern, open billed stork, whimbrels, white-bellied sea eagles, herons, and many more. It is the highest watchtower in Sundarbans with a view of river on one side and the endless stretches of the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve on the other side.
The complex also houses a mangrove interpretation center and the museum. Here one can gain significant information about this amazing and most captivating ecosystem and the wildlife living inside it. In this one and only museum located inside Sundarbans, several artefacts and relics about the reserve are displayed. The museum is also the place to get updates on the latest tiger spotting.
A tour of local villages
Imagine a wildlife travel experience complimented with rural tourism, where one will get to connect with the tribal people of Sundarbans and learn about their culture. Get immersed in their lifestyle and witness the local dance drama called 'Bonbibi Pala'. One can also learn about the local food with a cooking class, or go on a fishing or crab jaunt around the village.
INTERESTING FACT: Do you know there is a village in Sundarbans called 'Widow Village' where the residents have some of the family members attacked/eaten by tigers?
SUNDARBANS IN BANGLADESH:
For a true experience and thrill of an adventure in the Sundarbans of Bangladesh, one should dive deep into the mangroves on a three or four-day boat trip that usually starts from Khulna (or Mongla), a town 220 Kms away from the capital city Dhaka. One will eat and sleep on board the main tour boat which are basic in nature with shared facilities. There will be opportunities to break into smaller groups to track wildlife including the elusive Bengal tigers, either on foot (armed forest guards will accompany you) or on smaller boats along narrow river channels inside the mangrove forest.
Most of the trips go south as far as Kotka, a deserted mangrove sea beach, before slowly sailing back to Khulna or Mongla. One will be able to spot Deers, wild roosters, otters, reptiles, wild boars, monkeys etc. and a huge variety of birdlife. Though the chances of spotting a Bengal tiger are slim, however, the real adventure lies in the hope of spotting one.
Here is a list of activities one can indulge with us in the Sundarbans of Bangladesh:
Visit the Sundarbans Wildlife Sanctuary:
At Sundarbans, you’re in the middle of the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world. This is also the reason why the elusive Royal Bengal Tigers take shelter in their dense network of forests. The 6000 sq km vast spread of jungle in Bangladesh is accredited as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The forest can be accessed by local Cruise (vessel) or local dinghies that glide in the network of canals taking visitors close to the edges of the mangroves, from where animal sighting are plenty. The place supports exceptional biodiversity in its terrestrial, aquatic and marine habitats, well hidden in the dense foliage and swamps. Spring and winters are considered the best time to visit this beautiful wildlife sanctuary.
Storytelling by the Last Insider:
Over a cup of tea & out of the blue, an unassuming man will erupt and greet – your storyteller in Sundarbans!
The Last Insider - There are hundreds of experts in Bangladesh who have intruded inside Sundarbans hundreds of times. But there remains the last insider whom Sundarbans lives inside. Privileged to be a son of a humble boatman of the forest department, our storyteller grew up with Sundarbans – with the mangrove, it grows and winds it blows. Our storyteller still goes to bed with her magic darkness and wakes up with the mighty mangrove lights. He started his career as a 'helper' of a guide for the tourists visiting Sundarbans and will narrate some real and amazing stories about the place and the creatures residing here.
Activities in and around Katka wildlife sanctuary area.
The activities here includes country boat trips inside small canals and a peaceful walk behind the Katka forest office. In addition to hundreds of bird species, deer, pythons, saltwater crocodiles, rhesus monkeys, and monitor lizards, the most famous resident here is the Bengal tiger. This predator has fully adapted to its environment and may be spotted swimming across the maze of waterways.
Enjoy a short Trek
Another interesting activity here includes a hike through the mangroves to Tiger point or an easy trek to the beautiful beach facing the sea, all under expert guidance. The sea waves touching the shore are a pleasure to watch there.
It does not matter if one visits Sundarbans from the Indian side or Bangladesh side, as visiting this place is an experience of a lifetime. But, what does matter is one should be an explorer, a wanderer, a true wildlife buff who can leave the luxury behind and look for some rustic experience. We, at
Indo Asia Tours, are all about the handcrafted tours, memories, and moments you take out of your trip, and believe us, this escapade will be a life-changing one!
During travel to India, many people dream about getting a glimpse of the Royal Bengal Tiger from proximity. Though it may sound like a thing beyond the bounds of possibility at Sundarbans, but one may have a chance of sighting the Royal Bengal Tiger here. During safaris through the river channels and creeks, tigers can be spotted at the sides of the channels or swimming through them. However, tiger spotting at Sundarbans is a sheer luck factor as the tigers roam freely in this world's largest mangrove forest.
There is nothing more blissful than capturing the dazzling sights of this magnificent aquatic species during a trip through Sundarbans. A boat cruise will take one to the river's open area traversing the entwining and towering mangrove forests where the cute dolphins usually offer an indelible display, which somewhat resembles a dancing show. Sundarbans is said to be amongst a few places in India where one can get a sight of dancing dolphins.
Sundarbans National Park is also famous for the night safaris to witness Phytoplankton, small micro-organisms that glow in the dark! So, a moonless night is the best way to experience the bio illuminances and the glowing forests.
Thank you, patrons, for reposing faith in our destinations and enquiring for customised virtual destination awareness training programs. We are proud to conduct them successfully so far and are looking forward to hold similar virtual destination awareness training programs for your team or yourself or a virtual tour for your clients. Let us know the destination of your interest along with your convenient date / time and we will be happy to set up a program for you.
