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Planning Your Adventure Sundarban Tour? Get To Know 13 Awesome Facts About Sundarbans

The moment we hear – Sundarbans – we are flooded with mental visuals of the Majestic Royal Bengal Tiger. Well, you cannot blame anyone – The forest is notorious for the Tigers! Apart from these feisty – on the brink of extinction – wildcats – Sundarbans is also a wanderlust’s True Haven. Spread across a network of brackish water, cajoled by the dense forest – especially the Sundari Trees that according to the folklore gives “Sundarbans” its name.

We’ve mentioned umpteen number of times that Sundarbans is more than just the Royal Bengal Tiger. In fact, if you are planning a Sundarban tour or a quick getaway to the mystical land of the wild then you cannot leave without learning about a few un(known) yet awesome facts about Sundarban.

So, are you ready to explore the Jungle in all its glory?

Want to plan your Sundarban trip with a good stock of information that will surely help you navigate the dense and entwined networks of the wilderness?

Yes? Read on….

Medusa's Lair?

Remember the monstrous Gorgon from Greek mythology - Medusa? What comes to your mind when you hear her name? Her HAIR and her turn-you-into-stone STARE right? Well, witness Medusa’s Lair right here in Sundarbans. No, no - you won’t become a lifeless stone. Like the serpentine hair that adorns the head of the Winged Human’s head - Sundarban’s landscape is also sketched with the abundance of Sundari Trees - whose barks and roots create a design just like the Medusa’s hair on the swampy and claying ground of the forest.

Evolution in the face of Adversity

The Sundari trees or Medusa snake hair if we can so call them, have not evolved the land around them - they themselves have evolved! In order to adjust to the high salt content in the water - these trees take up salt crystals through their roots and store them in their leaves. When the leaves shed then they shed the salt as well.

Imagine! It's like having your own water purifier wherever you go - No hassle of finding fresh water to drink!

Killing for Sport drove the Indian Rhinos from Sundarbans

India was once called the ‘Golden Bird’ - it was the land of opportunity, of riches, of abundant precious material and of exotic creatures - such creatures which the world had yet to see - one such exotic animal was the Indian Rhinoceros. The distant cousins of the African Rhino, the Indian rhinos have only one horn and were considered to be a mythical beast to be feared and killed because of their shape and size.

Once considered to be the actual habitat of these rhinos, the Sundarbans became hunting grounds for poachers - especially for the horns and hide and today, unfortunately, no rhinos are left in these parts.

Medusa's Lair?

Remember the monstrous Gorgon from Greek mythology - Medusa? What comes to your mind when you hear her name? Her HAIR and her turn-you-into-stone STARE right? Well, witness Medusa’s Lair right here in Sundarbans. No, no - you won’t become a lifeless stone. Like the serpentine hair that adorns the head of the Winged Human’s head - Sundarban’s landscape is also sketched with the abundance of Sundari Trees - whose barks and roots create a design just like the Medusa’s hair on the swampy and claying ground of the forest.

Evolution in the face of Adversity

The Sundari trees or Medusa snake hair if we can so call them, have not evolved the land around them - they themselves have evolved! In order to adjust to the high salt content in the water - these trees take up salt crystals through their roots and store them in their leaves. When the leaves shed then they shed the salt as well. Imagine! It's like having your own water purifier wherever you go - No hassle of finding fresh water to drink!

Killing for Sport drove the Indian Rhinos from Sundarbans

India was once called the ‘Golden Bird’ - it was the land of opportunity, of riches, of abundant precious material and of exotic creatures - such creatures which the world had yet to see - one such exotic animal was the Indian Rhinoceros. The distant cousins of the African Rhino, the Indian rhinos have only one horn and were considered to be a mythical beast to be feared and killed because of their shape and size. Once considered to be the actual habitat of these rhinos, the Sundarbans became hunting grounds for poachers - especially for the horns and hide and today, unfortunately, no rhinos are left in these parts.

Land of Historical Interest

For all the history buffs out there, the Sundarbans hold a surprisingly scary secret – this area was once considered a safe haven for criminals on the run from Akbar, the Mughal Emperor. Considering just how dense the mangroves are it’s not a wonder that these forests were used as dens for plunderers or dacoits.

Another amazing fact hidden in these dense mangroves is that these forests were the hiding places for the Portuguese pirates, salt smugglers, and dacoits.

For the British, these backwaters were of no use – neither could they be reclaimed nor could they be maneuvered through.
Stories of dacoity and murder and intrigue are still shared by the locals sitting around the fires to entertain tourists and children alike.
Listen if you dare!

A Straight Line Is A Straight Line

Just like any mother who always wants to protect her children – the tigress also tries to remove her cubs from harm. The main harm is from the male tigers themselves. Most often the male tigers get territorial and will try to kill off the cubs to protect their area and not share. But mama tiger is ready for action – as soon as she is able enough and the cubs are big enough to move – she carries them across the river to another island for safety.

But that’s not the intriguing part – oh no! What’s intriguing is that the tigress always has to swim in a straight line.

Why a straight line you ask? Who knows, maybe the Gods gave tigers inbuilt compasses, or maybe they have some radar which only lets them move in a straight line.

The next time when touring Sundarbans, be it in a houseboat or in a normal boat, if you see a tiger crossing the river – don’t just marvel at its beauty – try to see if it is actually crossing the river in a straight line.

King Cobra – Shockingly is included in the WWF Endangered species list

India is known over the world as the land of the Snake-charmers – which is partly true – for we are home to the most venomous snake known to man – the King Cobra. And these reptiles are found in the Sundarbans as well.

Unfortunately, these beautiful and stunning reptiles have now joined the WWF endangered species list along with the Royal Bengal Tiger and the Javanese Rhino.

For the most part, the locals of the Sundarbans respect the King Cobra considering the association with Lord Shiva – but fear overrides respect and most often they kill the cobra out of fear of their venom.

Sundarbans – The Muse Of Many Writers

With intrigue in the rustle of every leaf – The Sundarbans make the perfect backdrop to write a story.

And this has been discovered by not only Indian authors long back with books such as Sundarbane Arjan Sardar by Shib Sankar Mitra and Padma Nadir Majhi, by Manik Bandopadhyay. Also, books such as Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie and The Hungry Tide by Amitava Ghosh are also based on the beauty and intrigue of the Sundarbans.

How can you not be inspired by the beauty of the sun seeping through the trees – from the whistle of the different birds in their nests – the cool salt filled breeze blowing through your hair – the stillness of the jungle all around – calling and inviting you to enter into her heart to see if you are worthy of viewing all the riches she holds!

Widow Village: Pain or Resilience – You Decide?

The village of Kapelot has a rather unique specialty – such a specialty that no one would dare dream of taking it away from them – it is known as the Widow Village or the village for Widows.

In this village, almost every single family has one family member – mostly male –  who has succumbed to the claws of the Royal Bengal Tiger.

But why would people still inhabit these areas? Why would they still live in such a place where there is no security of life?

Well, some live there out of necessity – they don’t have the means to move out of the area – while others live there because it is their home, they have lived there their whole lives, their fathers have lived there and so have their forefathers.

But, you might wonder, why take the pain of reliving that moment of loss every second of every hour of every day?

You might call it pain but I call it resilience – it’s a battle – a silent battle being found between the ever-stubborn Tiger and the resilient women of the Sundarbans – to prove who will overcome the adversity and emerge victoriously.  

To Monster Or Not To Monster – Looks can be deceiving

When you think about the mythological dragon the first thought that comes to mind is – scary. And seeing their smaller and wingless versions on this planet is nothing short of a nightmare come true.

But, just because they look like smaller versions of Godzilla – it does not mean that the Bengal Monitor Lizard is just like that beast – terrorizing people and ruining cities.

It is true that they do terrorize – but only snakes, rodents, frogs and fish. They might look scary but are actually harmless.

Unfortunately for them, their looks are their downfall – and just as Godzilla was hunted down and killed because it looked scary – these magnificent reptiles are hunted and killed because they are considered to be poisonous.

How easy it is to judge based on the looks and not on the actual nature of the reptile? But then again, that does not only extend towards the animal kingdom, does it?

The Goddess That Unites Two Races

The most iconic and epic fact that takes place in the Sundarbans is the worship of Bonbibi, also known as the lady of the forest.

All the Hindus and Muslims residing in the area are a believer in her powers and worship her in small temples – temples which are accessible to all – no matter the race, religion, sex, colour or creed.

But how does she have so much power? And how has she been able to amalgamate the different religions together? How is it that it has been allowed?

You may have these questions to ask – and to think this is not wrong!

She is considered to be the protector – the defender of people – the vanquisher of the evil Dakshin Rai, who takes the form of a tiger. She is called upon by honey collectors and woodcutters before they enter the territory of the tigers.

She is considered to be all-powerful when it comes to protecting her children and as a mother, she does not discriminate amongst her children and neither do they discriminate amongst themselves.

To Job Or Not To Job – What’s The Buzz

Imagine you were given a job to do – a job which involves collection – a job which involves walking into the mouth of danger – a job wherein you have no surety that you might return – a job wherein there are no safety gears or harnesses or for the fact even safety gloves or goggles. Would you do it? Would you risk your life to do it?

No, for once it does not involve the Royal Bengal Tiger – but rather a creature so small that most wouldn’t notice them – a creature that is about the size of a tiger’s nail – the Asian Honeybee!

These little-winged terrors are small and inconspicuous and they make some of the best and sweetest honey in the world – but be warned – they are known as the Most Aggressive Bees of the World.

The honey collectors do not have any protective gear nor do they wear and gloves but are so apt in the work that very rarely they get bitten – but that does not mean that one should actually try it – for these honey collectors are practicing their profession for generations if not for centuries.

Bird Lovers Unite – All Your Prayers Are Answered

Are you a bird lover? Do you want to spend time trying to find rare and exotic birds? Do you want to spend hours upon hours looking for the next big event?

Well, all avian enthusiasts here’s some exciting news for you – the Masked Finfoot – with only a population of 1000 in the whole world – have made the Sundarbans their home!

They can be found nesting, eating and roaming the Sundarbans as these birds prefer the hot, humid and damp mangrove forests to incubate their eggs and raise their young.

These flat-footed birds are so named for the lobes on their feet, which enable them to swim well and climb over the dense roots of the mangroves – and are considered to be found only in South America and Africa other than India.

So, why not take your binoculars and have an adventure – go looking for the endangered Masked Finfoot!

A Lone Wolf

When touring the Sundarbans or planning a tour to the Sundarbans the biggest expectation anyone has is catching a glimpse of the Royal Bengal Tiger, or atleast seeing a paw mark of the fantastic beast.

But now there is an even more exciting event which has shaken the tourism world – a wolf in the Sundarbans!

A lone wolf – without a pack or without a mate – has been seen roaming around the National Park in the Sundarbans.

The most exciting part is that there has never been a sighting of a wolf in this part of Bengal before. Even though the Forest Department has the photos to show that this is true but still unless seen through our own eyes we ourselves don’t believe what is right in front of us.

When thinking about the Sundarbans we often imagine think of seeing a Royal Bengal Tiger move around in its natural habitat – we generally forget that it is a thriving ecosystem with a variety of animals and birds.

In most cases, we often forget that ” there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy .”