Wildlife Tourism in West Bengal

Stretching from the slopes of the Lesser Himalayas in the North to the Deltaic Islands in the South, hosting the largest mangrove forests in the world, West Bengal boasts a rich biodiversity. The state is home to plenty of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and forest reserves that contain rich treasures of wildlife. Amongst them all, the "Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve", stretched across 2,585 square kilometres along the Gangetic Delta, is an iconic symbol of the state, encompassing within it the largest Tiger Reserve and National Park in India. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the reserve is famous for its celebrated Royal Bengal Tigers that attracts wildlife enthusiasts from across the globe, especially between November and February. 

Apart from the tigers, Sunderbans is also home to several species of exotic birds. Some of these are brown winged kingfisher, pallas’ fish eagle, grey headed lapwing and mangrove whistler. Like tigers, the reserve also boasts an impressive population of invertebrates and reptiles. The tidal creeks and a criss-crossed network of marshy waterways are most ideal for estuarine saltwater crocodiles, which are found here in large numbers. Besides, Sundarbans also host several endangered species of turtles, with the most commonly sighted among them being olive ridley turtles, ground turtles, river terrapins and hawksbill turtles.

The Darjeeling Himalayan hill region also houses an amazing variety of wildlife. The “Singalila National Park”, located in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, is the most popular wildlife reserve of the region. It covers an expansive area that stretches from an altitude of 1800 metres to 4000 metres, encompassing dense forests of oak, bamboo and rhododendrons. A large variety of mammals, birds and reptiles call these forests their home. Animals which can be easily spotted are leopard cats, long tailed pangolins, barking deer, and many endangered species, including the red panda, himalayan black bear and clouded leopards. Singalila is also quite popular amongst trekkers, with the well-known trail of Sandakphu - Phalut running through the wilderness of the park and offering breathtaking views of the magnificent Kanchenjunga Range that extends all the way from Nepal to Bhutan. 

Another wildlife gem of the Himalayan region in West Bengal is “Neora Valley National Park”. Rising to an altitude of 3200 metres in the north, the park is criss-crossed by several mountain streams, with the gorgeous Neora River flowing right through its heart. It is also home to innumerable endangered fauna and avifauna species. While clouded leopards, musk deer and red panda are a common sight, amongst the birds, Rufous-throated Partridge, golden throated barbet, chestnut headed tesia and crimson-breasted woodpecker are spotted quite easily. The park is also home to several poisonous reptiles, including king cobra, green pit viper and lizards.