Destination Details

Sundarbans, Bangladesh

The Sundarbans is the world’s largest contiguous mangrove forest, located in the delta of the Ganges River, Brahmaputra River, and Meghna River on the Bay of Bengal. Spanning about 10,000 km²—roughly 60 percent in Bangladesh—it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its biodiversity and ecological importance.

Key facts

• Area: ~10,000 km² (6,017 km² in Bangladesh)

• UNESCO designation: 1997

• Dominant species: Sundari tree (Heritiera fomes)

• Flagship wildlife: Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)

• Best visiting season: November–February

Geography and ecosystem

Formed by tidal channels and mudflats, the Sundarbans stretches from the Hooghly River in India to the Baleshwar River in Bangladesh. The region’s saline, waterlogged soils support about 78 mangrove species, including gewa, goran, and keora. Its dense vegetation stabilizes the coastline, mitigates cyclones, and nurtures an intricate estuarine food web that sustains fish, crustaceans, and migratory birds.

Flora and fauna

The forest shelters about 334 plant species and over 693 wildlife species. The endangered Royal Bengal tiger is the top predator and uniquely adapted to swimming in saline waters. Other mammals include spotted deer, macaques, fishing cats, and wild boar. Reptiles such as estuarine crocodiles, pythons, and king cobras thrive alongside aquatic life like the Gangetic dolphin and olive ridley sea turtle. More than 260 bird species—herons, kingfishers, and sea eagles—make the forest a major avian sanctuary.

Human life and culture

About four million people live in and around the Sundarbans, depending on fishing, honey collection, and eco-tourism. The local culture venerates deities such as Bonbibi, guardian of the forest, and celebrates festivals like Raas Mela on Dublar Char Island. Villages adapt to frequent flooding through stilt houses and seasonal agriculture.

Conservation and challenges

Protected zones include the Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuary, West, and South sanctuaries in Bangladesh and Sundarbans National Park in India. Despite legal safeguards, rising sea levels, salinity intrusion, and industrial pressures such as the Rampal Power Station project threaten this fragile ecosystem. Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection, tiger monitoring, and community-based resource management to sustain both biodiversity and livelihoods.

Tourism

Eco-tours from Khulna or Mongla offer boat safaris to key spots such as Karamjol, Katka Beach, Hiron Point, and the watchtowers of Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, and Dobanki. Visitors experience the intricate mangrove waterways, vibrant wildlife, and the striking coexistence of humans and nature that define the Sundarbans.