Unesco World Heritage : Sunderbans National Park in India at Piyali , West Bengal . Towards the south of Calcutta , the rivers Ganga and Hoogly divide itself into many distributaries. The speed of water is reduced and the river deposits its silt just as it is about to merge into the sea. In due course, the accumulated silt takes the shape of islands on the mouth of the rivers. These are the famous Gangetic deltas. They provide an ideal atmosphere and environment for the Sundari trees to grow. Spread over an area of almost 10,000 sq kms (now shared by Bangladesh and India ), the Sunderbans are home to many exquisite animals and birds. The Indian Government has declared this 1330 sq kms of area as a national park.
Main Wildlife : Bengal Tiger, Ridley Sea Turtle ,Fishing cat, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar etc.
Birds Life : Water birds, noteworthy residents including Asian openbill stork (Anastomus oscitans), black-necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), greater adjutant stork (Leptoptilos dubius), white ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), swamp francolin (Francolinus gularis), white-collared kingfisher (Halcyon chloris), black-capped kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) and brown-winged kingfisher (Pelargopsis amauroptera).
Reptiles : The Sunderbans provide important habitat for a variety of reptiles including river terrapin (Batagur baska E), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea E), estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus E), monitor lizard (Varanus flavescens), water monitor (Varanus salvator) and Indian python (Python molurus V).
Some 90 species of fish, 48 species of crabs.
Special Attractions In Sundarban
The Sajnakhali Sanctuary : The wide variety of birds at Sajnekhati sancatuary fascinates your eyes. The most distinguishing feature of the sanctuary are the seven colourful species of Kingfisher, White bellied Sea Eagle, Plovers, Lap-Wings, Curfews, Whimbrels, Sandpipers and occasional Pelican.
Netidhopani : At Netidhopani, the ruins of a 400-year-old temple tell a tale of its own adding mystery to the surroundings.
Bhagabatpur : Bhagabatpur is renowned for having a hatchery of the largest estuarine crocodiles in the world.
Kanak : Kanak is the nesting place for the Olive Ridley Turtles.
Holiday Island : The last habitat of the Barking Deer in India is the Holiday island thronged by the tourists every year
