Let's Discover Sundarban ( world heritage declared by UNESCO):
The Sundarbans is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world. The Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering parts of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal.More than two-third of the Sundarbans is in Bangladesh and the remainder is in West Bengal, India.
The Sundarbans delta, the wonder of nature literally means beautiful forest.The Sunderbans gets its name due to the abundant presence of the ‘Sundari’ trees. There are a lots of ‘Sundari’ trees in Sundarban.
In 1999 Sundarban was declared World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Sundarban, the largest mangrove forest in the world is the heaven for all the professional and non-professional photographers. Green, beauty and adventures place for the local and foreign tourists. Enrich treasure island of the biodiversity. Future for the thousands of depending inhabitants and new dreams for the honey hunters.
The total area (including water) of this imaging mangrove forest was estimated at 6,526 square miles (16,902 km2). Now it has reduced about 1/3 of the original size. Today the area of Sundarban is 4,143 km² (including exposed sandbars: 42 km²) and the remaining water area of 1,874 km² encompasses rivers, small streams and canals. Sundarban covered 4% total area of Bangladesh and 40% total forest of Bangladesh.
About 32,400 hectares of the Sundarban have been declared as three wildlife sanctuaries in 1977 under the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) (Amendment) Act, 1974. These are Sundarban West (9,069 ha), Sundarban South (17,878 ha), and Sundarban East (5,439 ha) named Kotka-Kachikhali Tiger point, Hironpoint and Manderbaria.
A total 245 genera and 334 plant species have been recorded. Since 1966 the Sundarban have been a wildlife sanctuary, and it is estimated that there are now 400 Royal Bengal tigers and about 30,000 spotted deer in the area. It is one of the final remaining strongholds for the endangered Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). A study in 1991 has revealed that the Bangladeshi part of the forest supports diverse biological resources including at least 150 species of commercially important fishes, 270 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 35 reptiles and 8 amphibian species.
Every year a large number of tourists and visitors come to Bangladesh from all over the world to see the beauty, nature and creature in Sundarban. Many scientist, geologist and discoverer also come here to research and discover new lives in Sundarban.
There are a huge number of observable places in Sundarban. These are
Hiron Point: Hiron point also known as Nilkamal, is the main attractive place in Sundarban for all tourists and visitors. It is a beautiful spot and great for spotting tigers and other wildlife. Visitors can also enjoy the beauty of wild nature and dotted deer’s walking and running all around the Hiron point. The visitors can get a comfortable stay here in the three-storied Rest House of the Mongla Port Authority with prior booking.
Tin Kona Island: Tin Kona Island, literally means three cornered Island, is another popular spot for wildlife spotting in Sundarbans. This Island is renowned for tiger, crocodile, birds and deer, where travelers can come across the real wildlife. It has an enchanting, but wild beauty merged with wild forests and estuaries. The visiting time of the Island is from 9am to 5pm. Many tourists from all over the world visit this Island just to have some relief from the busy life and to get ideal resting place, merged with the wild beauty of forests and natures’ blessings.
Katka: It is calm and cool silent sea beach in the world located in the heart of Sundarban. It is also a base for safaris, and good spot to see tigers and for bird-watching.
You may be heard about Kotka Beach. But you can’t imagine how beautiful it is without visiting the beach. Moreover, it is built by nature and cared by nature. When you will be standing beside the beach then the Bay of Bengal will be in front of you and behind you there is the largest mangrove forest of the world. Just imagine the scenery! Be careful there also about the king of Sundarban “Royal Bengal Tiger”.
Dublar Char Island: It is located at the southern boarder of the Sundarban facing the Bay of Bengal is famous for her beautiful scenic spots. A (dry) fish processing factory has recently been established in Dublar Char. Water vessel like launch, cabin cruiser, speedboat, etc. can be used to reach the island from Mongla/Khulna. This island is famous for Rash Mela and holy bath, a Hindu festival that carries rituals since 200 years back. A three-day long yearly ritual is a highly thrilling event for the tourists of both home and abroad. Every single year more than fifty thousand visitors visit this beautiful Island