THE SUNDARBANS, WEST BENGAL
It’s not much of a drive from Kolkata to the point where you take a ferry to the Sundarbans, so perhaps this isn’t strictly a driving getaway. Nevertheless, the place is so beautiful that it doesn’t really matter whether you drive or take a boat. The largest single block of mangrove forest in the world, the Sundarbans (‘beautiful forest’) is a unique ecosystem. It’s pretty much the only thing preventing Kolkata from being submerged by flood waters caused by cyclones, and apart from being a crucial barrier, it’s host to a rich variety of wildlife.
The magnificent Royal Bengal Tiger is to be found here, and if you can spot one, consider yourself blessed. You’ll also see spotted deer, wild boar, crocodiles, jungle cats, monitor lizards, terrapins and perhaps even the rare fresh-water dolphin. The place is a birdwatcher’s delight, with over a 100 species in residence.
The only way to explore the area is by boat, and the boat ride itself is a lovely experience. Help Tourism (www.help-tourism.com), an organisation specialising in responsible tourism involving local people, has a superb camp on one of the islands, and they’ll set everything up for you. The food they serve is delicious, and the camp is near a village, in which you can wander about to get a taste of the local life.
|
