India

Sundarbans National Park

WHS Score 2.76 Votes 15 Average 3.2

Sundarbans National Park protects the Indian part of the Sundarbans delta, which is covered by the largest mangrove forest in the world.

The mangrove system is rich in both flora (78 mangrove species have been recorded) and fauna. Tigers, spotted deer, dolphins, river terrapins, and king cobras are among its inhabitants. The area comprises forests and wetlands, including waterways, mudflats, and small islands that are constantly being changed by the action of the tides.

Community Perspective: Solivagant has described how to “visit” this site, although the core zone was strictly off-limits during his stay (2013). Els shares what a day trip to the Sundarbans from Kolkata involves and has an update on getting closer to the core zone (2024).

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Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Sundarbans National Park (ID: 452)
Country
India
Status
Inscribed 1987 Site history
History of Sundarbans National Park
WHS Type
Natural
Criteria
  • ix
  • x
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources
News Article
  • June 3, 2020 nytimes.com — Sundarbans Devastated by Cyclone
  • Feb. 24, 2014 timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Govt plans chopper ride to Sunderbans
  • Jan. 14, 2010 sify.com — India to spend Rs 200 crore for tiger conservation for the development of Sundarbans biosphere
  • March 5, 2008 theage.com.au — India's eastern West Bengal state is preparing a detailed plan to develop the coastal Sundarbans area as a global tourist destination.
  • May 1, 2007 hindu.com — Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove, faces a threat from global warming and a mere 45 cm rise in the sea level will destroy 75 per cent of the forest spread over 10,000 sq km in West Bengal and Bangladesh, a UN study said.

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Natural landscape: Forest
  • Natural landscape: Rivers, Wetlands and Lakes
Travel Information
Not open to tourists
Not open to tourists
"The World Heritage site is managed as a designated wilderness …
Recent Connections
View all (33) .
Connections of Sundarbans National Park
Geography
Trivia
  • Fatal Accidents or 'disasters'
    "Due to wandering tigers, human-tiger conflict continues to be an issue. Sunderban tigers hunt humans, and it is estimated that over a thousand of the local people have been killed by tigers over the past four decades." (wiki)

    See en.wikipedia.org

Ecology
  • Tidal effects
    "Tidal waves are a regular phenomenon and may be up to 75m high. The land is constantly being changed, moulded and shaped by the action of the tides." (AB ev)
  • Over 300 bird species
    “more than 300 species” (IUCN outlook 2020)
  • Strict Nature Reserve
    Fully. "Tourism is only permitted in the buffer zone except for Nethi Dhupani island located in the Western range of the National Park where regulated tourism (13 boats per day) is permitted" (IUCN Outlook 2020)
  • Tiger habitat
    "The tiger population, estimated at 264 in 1983 is the largest in India." (AB ev)
  • Swamps and Marshes
  • Bird Migrations
    The African-Eurasian Flyway; OUV: The Sajnakhali area, listed as an Important Bird Area, contains a wealth of waterfowl and is of high importance for migratory birds.
  • Critically endangered fauna species
    Northern River terrapin (ca. 100 remaining)

    See www.thehindu.com

  • Eagles
    "White Bellied Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster; the Vulnerable (VU) magnificent Palla’s fish eagle, Haliaeetus leucoryphus and greater spotted eagle" (IUCN Outlook 2020)
  • Mangroves
    "Criterion (x): The mangrove ecosystem of the Sundarbans is considered to be unique because of its immensely rich mangrove flora and mangrove-associated fauna. Some 78 species of mangroves have been recorded in the area making it the richest mangrove forest in the world." (OUV)
  • Turtles and tortoises
    Olive Ridley turtles, Green Turtles
  • Crocodiles
    salt-water crocodile

    See en.wikipedia.org

  • Otters
    "Three species of otter are present, two of which are assessed as Vulnerable (VU) – smooth-coated otter, Lutra perspicillata, and the oriental small-clawed otter, Aonyx cinerea." (IUCN Outlook 2020)
  • River Dolphins
    South Asian River Dolphin (Ganges sub-species) "Aquatic mammals that frequent the tidal waters include the Ganges dolphin, Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphin, Irrawaddy dolphin" (AB)
World Heritage Process
  • Recommended for combination by AB
    Future inclusion of the reserves on the Bangladesh side to form an international Sundarbans Mangrove Reserve World Heritage Site should be encouraged (AB ev)
Human Activity
  • Honey Collection
    "Collection of honey in the forest during the summer months by villagers residing in the border areas of Bangladesh and local Indian villagers has been identified as a major threat (Mathur et al., 2019). An increasing number of people entering the forest has indirectly also led to increased human-animal conflict. It has been reported that in some cases, when honey collectors attempt to expel bees from nests with smoke, fire has spread and destroyed large areas of forest" (IUCN Outlook 2020)
  • Canopy Walkways
    Half km elevated concrete and netted walkway at Dobanki watch tower. "It resembles a flyover with a 12 ft high side fencing of grill and strong net in the form of a canopy to protect tourists from wildlife."

    See www.sundarbans.net

WHS on Other Lists
Timeline
  • Holocene
    The tract of the Sundarbans is of recent origin, raised by the deposition of sediments formed due to soil erosion in the Himalayas. The substratum consists mainly of Quaternary Era sediments, sand and silt mixed with marine salt deposits and clay. Geologists have detected a southeastern slope and tilting of the Bengal basin during the Tertiary. Because of neo-tectonic movements during the 10th-12th century AD, the Bengal Basin titled eastward. Evidence from borehole studies indicate that while the westernside of the Sundarbans is relatively stable, the southeastern corner is an active sedimentary area and is subsiding. (link)

    See www.portal.gsi.gov.in

Visiting conditions
  • Not open to tourists
    "The World Heritage site is managed as a designated wilderness zone in which no commercial operations or resource extraction is allowed. The remainder of the Tiger Reserve act as a buffer zone, comprising nine forest blocks in which sustainable extractive activities are allowed via permits" (IUCN outlook 2020), see also Forum research in link

    See www.worldheritagesite.org

WHS Names
  • Misleading WHS Names
    This only includes the Indian side of the area, and focuses on the mangroves. A better name, as suggested by IUCN in its evaluation, could have been 'The Sundarbans Mangrove Reserves of India'.
  • Named after a Tree Species
    Sundari tree, a special kind of mangrove tree.

    See en.wikipedia.org

18
News
nytimes.com 06/03/2020
Sundarbans Devastated by Cyclone
timesofindia.indiatimes.com 02/24/2014
Govt plans chopper ride to Sunderb…
sify.com 01/14/2010
India to spend Rs 200 crore for ti…
Recent Visitors
Reserved for members.

Community Reviews

Show full reviews
First published: 21/11/24.

Els Slots

Sundarbans National Park

Sundarbans National Park (Inscribed)

Sundarbans National Park by Els Slots

As I had been to the Bangladeshi Sundarbans already in 2007, the visit to its Indian counterpart felt superfluous: this should be one transboundary WHS of course. And it felt even more like a chore because the visitor experience on the Indian side doesn’t come exactly recommended: I scouted for a “better” lodge to stay the night or a more imaginative tour, but all come with mixed reviews (or worse) online. So I settled for a private day trip from Kolkata. This one also suffered from poor communication beforehand, but fortunately, the logistics on the day itself worked perfectly.

A driver picked me up at 5 a.m. from my Kolkata hotel. The drive to Godhkali this early in the morning takes only 2h15 minutes (on the way back, it would be 3 hours). When you leave Kolkata’s city limits, the typical landscape dominated by creeks and channels begins. 

In Godhkali, I was handed over like a postal package to a ferryman who put me on land at the next island, and on his turn delivered me to a waiting taxi that drove me in 15 minutes across the island to another dock. This is a densely inhabited island, it looked quite idyllic but it has suffered greatly from the devastating cyclone in 2020 and is also at risk due to rising water levels. It is protected by a low mud dike covered in plastic that looks very sketchy.

My private boat was waiting at the second dock …

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First published: 25/02/14.

Anonymous

Sundarbans National Park

Sundarbans National Park (Inscribed)

Sundarbans National Park by Els Slots

I was in Sunderban, West Bengal quite a number of times to conduct a study of mental health status and needs of the survivors after two years of disaster due to Aila ( name given by Maldwip for separate identity), that occurred on 25th May, 2009 in the Southern parts of West Bengal and Bangladesh because of formation of devastating cyclone in the Bay of Bengal . While conducting my study at 8 No. Khaikhali and Deulbari, in the Kultali Block; P.O.- Ashram , I met some of the affected people like Nirupada Mondal (Fisherman), Nirmal Naskar (Autorickshaw Driver) , Rabin Naskar (Boatman), Ramini Das( Runs rented shop in Ram Krishna Mission, Khaikhali), Bishnu Pada Sardar (Farmer).... they narrated the horrible situation in Aila cyclone-affected villages of Khaikhali and Deulbari. It was not just an opportunity for me to extend my understanding of extent of disaster but also to listen to the needs of people struggling for survival. According to Nirupada Mondal immediately after disaster the survivors in the villages have been facing scarcity of food, drinking water because of the fact that sea-water ruining their freshwater ponds, and that was responsible for several survivors suffering from diarrhoea after having no choice but to drink the saline water, and loosing the means of earning livelihood as they have traditionally been dependant on agriculture that has been ruined by the saline water from Bay of Bengal that had entered their farms.

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First published: 23/03/13.

Solivagant

Sundarbans National Park

Sundarbans National Park (Inscribed)

Sundarbans National Park by Solivagant

We had previously visited the Bangladesh Sundarbans back in 2006 and had enjoyed the experience so we decided to give the Indian WHS a try when we flew in/out of Kolkata on a trip to the NE of India.

The drive south from Kolkata takes around 2.5 hours and this gets you to one of a number of jetty points from where to travel onwards – ours was at Gothkhali. From there boats are available into the Sundarbans (though you can get further by public transport across several islands by short ferries and auto/cycle rickshaws). By boat the official entrance is a further 2 + hours further on mostly through heavily populated areas on either side of a mainly narrow waterways. We had arranged an overnight at the Sundarban Tiger Camp situated just outside the park (reasonable standard) but first went to the Park HQ at Sajnekhali for registration/payment of fees etc. The only accommodation inside the park is here but our lodge was only across the river at Dayapur.

Sajnekhali was a disappointment. Its caged area contains a reasonable interpretation centre and a concrete watch tower but the distinct lack of any significant wildlife most of the time from that tower had been “compensated” for by the distant positioning of laughable, life size, plastic animals such as tiger! The Sundarban tours which operate from there are conducted in traditional-hulled motor boats with a cabin and a deck verandah, capable, I guess, of taking some 10 tourists (though most, like …

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First published: 13/06/11.

Anonymous

Sundarbans National Park

Sundarbans National Park (Inscribed)

Sundarbans National Park by Els Slots

I went to Sundarban World Heritage site with my son in a cruise named M.V.Paramhansha. It started from Millenium Park on Friday. Some Foreigners are there also. We enjoyed thoroughly our trip. It's 3 days trip. First day we stay near Namkhana. Next day we went to visit different Islands with a small boat. Food was really tasty and healthy. To see the different cricks and crevices you will be thrilled. The silence itself a beauty over there. Jungle birds like Cranes, Water ducks,Parrots,Titir,KingFishers are really interesting. If you see the different tributaries of River Hoogly it's amazing. Sundari plants are main vegetation overthere. 7 different rivers meet at different points. Like Hoogly, Matla, Saptaparni, Caning, Brahamaputra, Padma and Ganges are really worthwhile.

If you see the different flora and fauna over there by watch tower at different islands you can locate spotted deers, Cuckoo,mudskippers,moniter lizards, Crocodiles and turtles too. The people stays over there are very poor. Only they can avail fish and honey.

Agriculture is there like (Paddy and Sunflower). Some areas are covered with Solar power. Internal arrangement of cruse is really excellent.

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First published: 03/01/09.

Anonymous

Sundarbans National Park

Sundarbans National Park (Inscribed)

Sundarbans National Park by Els Slots

Sundarbans, locals called Snderbunds. Now Sndarbans and its tigers are making news every day. Tigers are getting in the villages for easy prey. All these make Sundarbans more and more popular every day. But heard from tourist, that they never seen tiger there with repeated visit. Very recently I went to Sundarbans and found lots of people are traveling there. It is good for locals as they able to get quick money. But I found the crowd makes lots of noises, especially on weekends. Tracking a tiger is hard in the dense bush, but if you give more time to certain watch towers then your chances will be bigger. For this you need to spend more silent hrs there. You can try Trips2world.net for specialized tiger safari packages in Sundarbans.

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First published: 14/08/08.

Anonymous

Sundarbans National Park

Sundarbans National Park (Inscribed)

Sundarbans National Park by Els Slots

It is important for tourists to know that the chances of seeing the tiger in this place is very very less. The main reason is that the jungle is inacessible by land, and one hs to use a motor boat. Since narrow creeks cannot be traversed using the motor boats, one generally end up cruising in the river, expecting soem animal to come by to cross the river. In this sense, unlike other jungles where animals are actively pursued using pug marks, other clues, in this place, one ends up passively waiting for the animal to some how come to the banks of the river. Also in package tours the time at the watch tower is only about 15 miniuts, the rest of the time is for travelling from the camp o the watch towers by boat. Staff was cooperative and kind. The village and the villagers were simple and loving. But the main purpose of the trip i.e to watch wild life is genearally defeated. We could not even spot a monkey in the three days at the camp.

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