The Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, Bangladesh

The Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, covering an area of 140,000 hectares, is one of the largest mangrove forests in the world. It is located in Bangladesh, in the delta of three big rivers, the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna, as they empty into the Bay of Bengal. The Sundarbans were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site during the 21st session of the World Heritage Committee meeting in Naples, Italy, on 1-6 December, 1997.

UNESCO lauded the Sundarbans for being an excellent example of ongoing ecological processes. It is also rich in fauna, counting some 260 different species of birds as well as many endangered mammals including the Bengal tiger, Indian python and estuarine crocodiles. The mangrove area is interlaced with a complex network of tidal waterways, punctuared with mudflats, islets and covered with the tenacious salt-tolerant mangrove trees.

Photos of The Sundarbans Mangrove Forest

The Sundarbans, Bangladesh
Author: Monster eagle (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0)

Ferryboat in the Sundarbans
Author: Frances Voon (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0)

Mudflats in the Sundarbans
Author: bri vos (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0)

The Sundarbans at sunset
Author: joiseyshowaa (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0)

What to See in The Sundarbans Mangrove Forest

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: N 21 56 60 E 89 10 59.988
Inscription Year: 1997
Type of Site: Natural
Inscription Criteria: IX, X

Etymology

There are several theories how "Sundarban" got its name. It may have come from the Bengali language meaning "beautiful jungle". Alternatively, it may also be due to the high number of Sundari trees growing in the area. Thirdly, it may also be a corruption of Samudraban, meaning "sea forest".

Location

The Sundarbans are located along the coast of Bangladesh at the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers.

Location Map

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Visiting The Sundarbans Mangrove Forest

Your base for visiting this World Heritage Site is Dhaka. You can get your hotel there to help you make the arrangement, or select the appropriate tour package or day excursion. Get a full list of hotels in Dhaka here.

Getting there

Arrange with a travel agent in Dhaka for safaris into the Sundarbans. Alternatively, you can go there as an independent traveller by first obtaining a permit to enter the Sundarbans National Park through the divisional forest office at Circuit House Road, Khulna. Hire a boat to take you into the park. You can get one from Mongla or Dhangmari.

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Click here also for a full list of hotels in Bangladesh or hotels worldwide. If you prefer budget accommodation in hostels, guesthouses or inns, check out hostels worldwide for budget accommodation providers with online booking.

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