West Bengal

Sunderbans

Area : 2608 sq. kms. 
Altitude : Sea Level.
Temperature (deg C): Summer- Max. 42, Min. 37; Winter- Max. 29, Min. 9.2.
Clothings : Summer- Tropical / Cotton, Winter- Woollens.
Languages spoken : Bengali, Hindi, English.
Best season : September to March. July to September for Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary.
STD Code : 03219. 

A thrilling cruise through the largest estuarine delta in the world and the biggest colony of the `Royal Bengal Tigers' - the Sundarbans. These evergreen mangrove forests pulsate with a myriad forms of life. Above the Kingfisher and White-bellied Sea eagle add a brilliant burst of colour. The sea creeps in at high tide. The forests float. The ebbing waters reveal nature so alive on the glistening mud flats. The land is split by numerous rivers and water channels all emptying into the Bay of Bengal. Venture further to discover a rich tribal folklore. It is believed that Bonbibi, the goddess of the forest, protects the wood-cutters, honey-collectors and fishermen on their hazardous missions. For, as the saying goes, `Here the Tiger is always watching you'.
Delta-forest home of the Royal Bengal Tiger. The Ganges, which is rightly known as the Ganga, carries silt and fertility from its ice-melt sources in the high Himalayas, through the lush plains of India, past the riverine port of Calcutta. Here, however, it is no longer the Ganga because it has become one of the major distributaries. For, in the flat grey-clay lands of Bengal, the great river splits into numerous channels, dividing and sub-dividing like the roots of a tree, till it pours through many mouths into the Bay of Bengal.

Between Calcutta and the final outpouring of the river are the lands knows as The Sunderbans: literally, the Beautiful Forests. Some people, believe that they could," however, have got their name from the profusion of Sundari trees. These forests are extremely dense, often impenetrable, fringed by mangrove jungles and are one of the most intriguing wilderness on earth. Most journeys through these humid forests are done by boat, and it is a fascinating trip. Fishermen’s boats, like black scimitars, drift past, spreading nets for the fish that teem in these rich waters. Near the delta villages the clay is relieved by green vegetation. When the tourist ferry stops, occasionally, visitors walk ashore on palm- and-bamboo jetties to enter forest areas fenced in by bamboo corrals. 

Fiddler crabs extend their cherry-red claws out of their mud burrows; curious, air- breathing, mud skipper fish climb the stilt roots of the mangroves on their flipper-like fins, viewing intruders with pop-eyed amazement. Tribes of honey gatherers live in these dark forests. They believe that the giant, saline water drinking Royal Bengal Tigers always attack from the rear and so they wear masks on the backs of their heads. This is why a posse of armed policemen accompanies all visitors who venture into these beautiful forests. Other wild creatures which lucky visitors might see are spotted deer, boar, monkey, crocodile, python, Salvator lizards, and a wide range of water birds. 

Entry
To visit Tiger Project area including Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary permission is to obtained from:
The Joint Secretary (Forest), Govt. of West Bengal, 4th Floor, G-Block,Writers' Building, Calcutta- 700 001, Tel: 225-5601 Extn 411/754.

Infrastructure
Air : Nearest airport is Calcutta (131 kms). Indian Airlines connect Calcutta with the all major cities in India. 
Rail: Sundarbans is accessible only by riverine waterways. From Calcutta there are suburban train to Canning and buses to Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali and Najat from where Motor launch services are available for Sundarbans. 
Road: Above mentioned embarkation points from Calcutta are: Namkhana (105 km), Sonakhali (100 km), Raidighi (76 km), Canning (64 km), Najat (92 km). 
Waterways: Approximate time taken between various points are : 
1. From Namkhana - Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project (2.5 hours) Sagar Island (2.5 hours) Jambudwip (3.5 hours)
2. From Sajnekhali - Sudhanyakhali (40 minutes) Buridabri (Tiger Project Area) (5 hours) Netidhopari (3.5 hours) Holiday Island (3 hours)
3. From Sonakhali - Gosaba (1 hour)
4. From Raidighi - Kalas (5 hours) 
For Private Launches Contact: West Bengal Launch Owners' Syndicate, Calcutta 

Jaldapara Sancturary

Area : 100 sq. kms.
Altitude : 61 metres.
Best season : October to May. (Particularly March & April, when new grass is growing).
Clothings : Summer- Cottons, Winter- Woollens.
Languages spoken: Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, English.

Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary situated in Alipurduar Sub-Division of Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal was constituted in the year of 1941 for the protection of wild life, particularly single horned Rhinos. River Torsha runs through this riverrain forest sanctuary which is mostly covered with tall grasses. The wild life, in addition to the famous single horned rhinos, consists of Royal Benggal Tigers, wild elephants, deers, swamp deers, hog deers, wild pigs, bisons and a number of birds, pea-fowl etc.

Getting there 
Air : Bagdogra is the nearest airport from where tourist can reach Jaldapara by road-route, noted below. (Shiliguri to Bagdogra - 13 kms).
Fare: Calcutta- Bagdogra (Mon,Wed,Sat,Sun) Rs.2019 (J), Rs.1462 (Y). 
Rail: All the mail & express trains stop at Birpara/Hasimara railway stations both are 20 kms away from the sanctuary. Only passenger trains stop at Madarihat railway station which is 7 kms away from the sanctuary. Madarihat Tourist Lodge is in walkable distance from the rly. station.
Fare (approx): Calcutta- Madarihat Rs.775 (I), Rs.240 (II). 
Road: Jaldapara is connected by road with Darjeeling and Shiliguri.
(a) Darjeeling-Shiliguri-Jalpaiguri-( via New Teesta Bridge )-Mainaguri- Dhupguri- Gairkata- Birpara- Madarihat ( 140 miles or 224 kms.)
(b) Darjeeling- Siliguri- Sevoke- Bagrakot- Mall- Chalsa- Nagrakata- Binaguri- Madarihat ( 214 kms.). Journey time from Shiliguri is about four hours. Entry-point to the sanctuary is at Madarihat, which is connected with Bagdogra airport and New Jalpaiguri/Shiliguri by road. Distance between Shiliguri and Madarihat is 214 km, takes 4 hours. Rates of private vehicles range Rs.300-400 for a full car. But in season shared vehicles are available,Rs.35-40 per seat. 
Transport : 11 seater Matador Mini Bus is attached to Madarihat Tourist Lodge which can be hired for the following places: 
(a) To Hollong and back: Rs.50 per head, subject to minimum charges of Rs.350; 
(b) Madarihat to Phuntsholing: Rs.450 (both way).
For other places Rs.5 per km. subject to minimum charges Rs.200. N.B.S.T.C. buses, Royal Bhutan Govt. buses, Mini buses and Private buses are available from Shiliguri to Hasimara and Madarihat. 

Places to see
Local excursions may be arranged to visit tea gardens to see the manufacturing of tea in the nearby tea gardens by prior arrangement with the authority.Anthropological excursion in nearby Tribal village, TOTOPARA, can be arranged.

Regular (2-day) conducted tours to Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary including Dooars and Phuntsholing (Bhutan) @ Rs.650 per head are organised by the Tourist Bureau, Govt. of West Bengal, Hill Cart Road, Shiliguri, Phone: 21632.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Tourist Bureau, Government of West Bengal, Hill Cart Road Shiliguri- 734 401, Darjeeling, Tel: 21632.
Tourist Bureau, Government of West Bengal, 3/2 B.B.D.Bag (East), Calcutta- 700 001, Tel: 248-8271, 248-8272.