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KHULNA
Khulna is the third biggest industrial city of the
country. It is a divisional headquarter which serves
as a gateway to the seaport of Mongla and the Sundarbans.
Khulna is also famous for shrimp processing and newsprint.
Mongla : Mongla is the
second seaport of the country and gateway to the Sundarbans.
It lies 38 km. to the south of Khulna. The port authority
has got motor launches to go to the forest.
Sundarban : In the south-western
part of Bangladesh, in the district of greater Khulna,
lies the Sundarbans, the beautiful forest. It is a
virgin forest which until recently owed nothing to
human endeavour and yet nature has laid it out with
as much care as a planned pleasure ground. For miles
and miles, the lofty treetops form an unbroken canopy,
while nearer the ground, works of high and ebb-tide
marked on the soil and tree trunks and the many varieties
of the natural mangrove forest have much to offer
to an inquisitive visitor.
Here land and water meet in many novel fashions, Wildlife
presents many a spectacle. No wonder, you may come
across a Royal Bengal Tiger swimming across the streams
or the crocodiles basking on the river banks. With
the approach of the evening herds of deer make for
the darking glades where boisterous monkeys shower
Keora leaves from above for sumptuous meal for the
former. For the botanist, the lover of nature, the
poet and the painter this land provides a variety
of wonder for which they all crave.
The Sundarbans is a cluster of islands with an approximate
area of 6000 sq. km. forming the largest block of
littoral forests. It's beauty lies in its unique natural
surrounding. Thousands of meandering streams, creeks,
rivers and estuaries have enhanced its charm. Sundarbans
meaning beautiful forest is the natural habital of
the world famous Royal Bengal Tiger, spotted deer,
crocodiles, jungle fowl, wild boar, lizards, theses
monkey and an innumerable variety of beautiful birds.
Migratory flock of Siberian ducks flying over thousands
of sail boats loaded with timber, golpatta (round-leaf),
fuel wood, honey, shell and fish further add to the
serene natural beauty of the Sundarbans.
This is indeed a land for the sportsmen, the anglers
and the photographers with its abundance of game,
big and small, crocodile, wild boar, deer, pythons,
wild-birds and above all the Royal Bengal Tiger, cunning,
ruthless and yet majestic and graceful, For the less
adventurously inclined, there are ducks and snipes,
herons and coots, yellow-lags and sandpipers. It is
also the land for the ordinary holiday makers who
desire to rest or wander around at will to refresh
their mind and feast their eyes with the rich treasure
that nature has so fondly bestowed.
General Information
AREA : Nearly 2400 sq.
miles or 6000 sq. km.
FOREST LIMITS : North-Bagerhat,
Khulna and Sathkira districts : South-Bay of Bengal;
East-Baleswar (or Haringhata) river, Perojpur, Barisal
district, and West-Raimangal and Hariabhanga rivers
which partially form Bangladesh boundary with West
Bengal in India.
MAIN ATTRACTIONS : Wildlife
photography including photography of the famous Royal
Bengal Tiger, wildlife viewing, boating inside the
forest will call recordings, nature study, meeting
fishermen, wood-cutters and honey-collectors, peace
and tranquility in the wilderness, seeing the world's
largest mangrove forest and the riverine beauty.
FAMOUS SPOTS : Hiron
Point (Nilkamal) for tiger, deer, monkey, crocodiles,
birds and natural beauty.
Katka for deer, tiger, crocodiles, varieties of birds
and monkey, morning and evening symphony of wild fowls.
Vast expanse of grassy meadows running from Katka
to Kachikhali (Tiger Point) provide opportunities
for wild tracking. Tin Kona Island for tiger
and deer.
Dublar Char (Island) for fishermen. It is a beautiful
island where herds of spotted deer are often seen
to graze.
Means of Communication : Water
transport is the only means of communication for visiting
the Sundarbans from Khulna or Mongla Port. Private
motor launch, speed boats, country boats as well as
mechanised vessel of Mongla Port Authority might be
hired for the purpose. From Dhaka visitors may travel
by air, road or rocket steamer to Khulna - the gateway
to the Sundarbans. Most pleasant journey from Dhaka
to Khulna is by Paddle Steamer, Rocket presenting
a picturesque panorama of rural Bangladesh. Day and
night-long coach services by road are also available.
The quickest mode is by air from Dhaka to Jessore
and then to Khulna by road.
Journey time : It varies
depending on tides against or in favour in the river.
Usually it takes 6 to 10 hours journey by motor vessel
from Mongla to Hiron Point or Katka.
Accommodation Inside the forest
Hiron Point : Comfortable
three-storied Rest-House of the Mongla Port Authority.
Prior booking is to be made.
Katka : Forest Department
Rest-House located here. Prior booking essential.
Journey by Rocket Steamer to Mongla and Khulna
Minimum Journey time is 22 Hours for Mongla and 24
Hours for Khulna from Dhaka.
Entry Permission : Prior
permission must be obtained through written application
from the Divisional Forest Office, Circuit House Road,
Khulna (Phone 20665, 211731) to visit the Sundarbans.
Required entrance fees for visitors, vessel or boat
payable at the relevant forest station/range office.
Fee for Commercial Photography
:
Movie Tk. 5,000.00 per role exposed
Video Tk. 4,000.00 per Cassette
Still Tk. 1,000.00 per role exposed
Guided Tours : Bangladesh
Parjatan Corporation & other tour operators offers
all-inclusive guided package fours from Dhaka to Sundarbans
and return during the tourist season (October to March).
Climate : Climate in
the Sundarbans is moderate. Air is humid. Full monsoon
is from June to September. The annual rainfall average
between 65" and 70". During ebb-tide the
forest becomes bare by 6-7 feet and at high tide (30
miles and hour) the entire territory of the forest
floats on water.
Life in Forest : Only
means of transportation inside the forest is boat.
There is no road, no trail of a path anywhere. The
wood-cutters make temporary dwellings at the edge
of the forest at a height of 8-10 feet for fear of
wild animals others live on boats. In the chandpai
region it is fascinating to see the nomadic fishermen
(living with families on boats) catching fish with
the help of trained offers. Exciting activities take
place in Dublar Char in the forest where fishermen
from Chittagong gather for four months (mid Oct. to
mid Feb.) to catch and dry fish. But the most daring
and exciting of all activities is presented by the
honey-collectors who work in groups for just two months
(April-May) and it is interesting to see how they
locate a hive and then collect honey.
Flora and Fauna : The
Sundarbans is endowed by nature with rich flora and
fauna. It is a wonderful place to see or to shoot
a Royal Bengal Tiger with Camera if one has the time
to wait in the forest. There are a good number of
tigers in the Sundarbans. Lovely spotted deer are
easy to find. Besides there are a wide variety of
wildlife for which the Sundarbans is so famous
Visit to the Forest
Permission from the Division Forest Officer, Khulna
is required to visit to the forest. Cholera vaccine
is to be taken well in advance. Anti-malarial, anti-diarrhoeal,
insectrepellent cream, drinking water, green coconuts,
medical kit, light tropical dress, thick rubber soled
boots etc. are to be carried with the tourist. It
will be wise to take the help of an experienced guide
to make the journey fruitful.
Tourist season & Shooting
: Best time to visit the Sundarbans is from
November to March. Exciting honey collection season
is during April-May. Hunting is prohibited by law
in the country for the preservation of wildlife. Certain
species of birds, however, can be shot with prior
permission of the Divisional Forest Officer, Khulna,
(Phone : 20665 & 21173).
Visit to the Forest : Permission
from the Division Forest Officer, Khulna is required
to visit to the forest. Cholera vaccine is to be taken
well in advance. Anti-malarial, anti-diarrhoeal, insectrepellent
cream, drinking water, green coconuts, medical kit,
light tropical dress, thick rubber soled boots etc.
are to be carried with the tourist. It will be wise
to take the help of an experienced guide to make the
journey fruitful.
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