Sundarbans is a world which is different from what we construe as our territory. It is a place which is not just renowned for the notorious Bengal swamp tigers also known as man eaters. It is a place which is also not just a place renowned for being an UNESCO world heritage site. It is a world in itself. The trip for me which was decided quite impulsively and at a time when the forest remained closed due to the ongoing pandemic as well as being off season. Well amidst all the expectations that was there to visit the world’s largest continuous mangrove surrounded by Gangetic delta, I could not see a single charismatic wildlife. That may be in the form of the Bengal Tiger, Crocodile, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar. However, we did get a sneak peek of an isolated Rhesus monkey and a few Kingfishers near the Pakhiraloy (Bird Sanctuary). The idea of my one-night, two-day trip taught me that visiting a national reserve is more than that of looking for wildlife. Appreciating the green expanse, eating meals on the marine vessel, seeing the cultural presentation of the locals and listening to their legends, myths and the constant struggle of the people there. The understanding of the importance of Sundarbans against natural calamity such as floods, cyclones for Kolkata and even Bangladesh as it expands into the two nations of India and Bangladesh. The thrill of seeing the national reserve of Sundarbans on water and waiting for the sneak peek of wildlife is a thrill. Taking a trip from Kolkata the roads across certain stretches are tricky. However, some of them are now being repaired and made to be smooth. The vessels can be made more touristy for premium travellers as done in Sundarbans. As for the infrastructure development in Sundarbans there have been improvements as per the testimonials of the locals. Coming from the privilege of Kolkata we may surely judge the road conditions; transportation modes and many more availabilities however surely there have been lot of changes. The new changes are also coming in for the local of the Sundarbans and their daily life of being surrounded by water, Crocodiles and Tigers is undergoing a steady change. Importantly the beauty of Sundarbans, its thrill of the sights, sounds and the feeling of being there in nature is something which cannot be forgotten even if you don’t get to see Panthera Tigris, Crocodile etc. There is an evening program of the local with their music and dance surely not to be missed. One can also try a night stay on the boat which can be quite thrilling and also yet to be enjoyed by me. However, this is just the beginning of the first encounter with Sundarbans for me I feel strongly. Therefore, for a weekend trip either with your family, friends or near and dear ones it is a place that you can visit and immerse yourself with
