Sundarbans

The Sundarbans mangrove forest spans nearly 10,000 square kilometres, forming the world’s largest deltaic forest where the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers merge with the Bay of Bengal. Around 40 percent of the Sundarbans area lies in India within West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, while the remaining 60 percent extends into Bangladesh, with Sundarbans National Park covering 1,330 sq km as the Indian core zone. The region supports the iconic Sundarbans tiger population of roughly 100 animals, the only tigers in the world known to swim and hunt in saltwater habitats. In addition to the Royal Bengal Tiger, the forest shelters estuarine crocodiles, Ganges river dolphins, and more than 300 bird species. The entire Sundarbans in India is accessible only by boat, and every Sundarbans safari operates through houseboat style motor launches departing from Godkhali, located about 110 km from Kolkata, or from select eco lodges and Sundarbans resorts in the buffer zone. Dense mangrove cover makes tiger sightings uncommon compared to dry forest reserves, yet the intricate waterways, tidal creeks, and rich biodiversity create one of the most distinctive ecosystems on the planet. Multi day boat journeys offer the most immersive way to explore this extraordinary landscape.