South 24 Parganas Travel Guide

South 24 Parganas district is an important district of West Bengal State with its district headquarters in Alipore. It has the urban fringe of Kolkata on one side and the remote riverine villages in the Sundarbans.

South 24 Pargana, also written as 24 Pargana (South) is an administrative district of West Bengal with its headquarters at Alipore. On one side the district forms a conglomeration of the kolkata city population owing to its close proximity to the city. And on the other it has the remote riverine villages of the Sundarbans.

These estuarine forests of Sunderbans spread over an area of some 9630 sq. kms of which 70% of the area is under saline water making it difficult jobs for honey-catchers, prawn-catchers and fishermen.

Sunderban’s exclusive variety of birds include Heron, Egret, Cormorant, Fishing Engle, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Seagul, Tern, Kingfisher as well as migratory birds like Whimprel, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Stint, Eastern Knot, Curlew, Sandpiper, Golden Plover, Pintail, White-eyed Pochard and also Whistling teal. The aquatic and reptile life forms include Olive Ridley sea turtle, hardshelled Batgur Terrapin, Pythons, King Cobra, Chequered Killback, Monitor and Lizards including the Salvator lizards. Hence Sunderbans can be righteously considered as nature’s own finale of beauty.

The region is also famous for some commonly domesticated livestock breeds which includes the Garole breed of sheep and Chinae hans or Muscuovy ducks, the Garole sheep is considered as the progenator of the Booroola merino sheep and is noted for its prolific character. However, the wool of the sheep which can be a valuable natural asset does not find any use among the natives. Bakkhali beach resort located on one of the islands jutting out into the Bay of Bengal is gaining in popularity, with improvements in transport links with Kolkata.

Attractions

Ganga Sagar: Ganga Sagar Mela, South 24 Parganas district is only one such festival which isthronged by pilgrims from different parts of the globe.

Overview of the Ganga Sagar Mela, South 24 Parganas district – Ganga Sagar Mela, South 24 Parganas district is hosted at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal at a place called Sagar which is about 105 km south of South 24 Parganas district. Sadhus and pilgrims from different parts of the country
assemble here to visit the famous temple of Kapil Muni and also to take a holy dip in the sea on the Makara Sankranti day. Ganga Sagar Mela, South 24 Parganas district witnesses largest annual gathering of devotees in India. The journey to the Ganga Sagar Mela, South 24 Parganas district is undoubtedly tiresome. But things have improved over a period of time. Held in mid January it’s a three day event when lakhs of pilgrims throng the place. Earlier, there were absolutely no communication facilities at the Ganga Sagar Mela, South 24 Parganas district. But BSNL has provided Internet facilities to facilitate easy communication. The Ganga Sagar Mela, South 24 Parganas district is spread over nearly 25 square km and there are also elaborate security arrangements to take care of the pilgrims at the Ganga Sagar Mela, South 24 Parganas district . It may be mentioned here that Rs 56 lakh had been sanctioned for providing firefighting equipment and constructing water reservoirs at the Ganga Sagar Mela, South 24 Parganas district. The Ganga Sagar Mela, South 24 Parganas district serve as meeting ground of various cultures. According to Statistical records about 5 lakh pilgrims assemble to take a holy dip and to seek blessings of Kapil Muni. People from far and near visit the Ganga Sagar Mela, South 24 Parganas district to be a part of the grand social milieu.

Sundarban: The Sundarbans National Park (Bengali: সুন্দরবন জাতীয় উদ্যান Shundorbôn Jatio Uddan) is a National Park, Tiger Reserve, UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Sundarbans delta in Indian state of West Bengal. This region is densely covered by mangrove forests, and is one of the largest reserves of the Bengal tiger. It is also home to a variety of bird, reptile and invertebrate species, including the salt-water crocodile.

In 1911, it was described as a tract of waste country which had never been surveyed, nor had the census been extended to it. It then stretched for about 165 miles (266 km) from the mouth of the Hugli to the mouth of the Meghna, and was bordered inland by the three settled districts of the Twenty-four Parganas, Khulna and Backergunje. The total area (including water) was estimated at 6,526 square miles (16,902 km²).

The present Sundarbans National Park was declared as the core area of Sundarbans Tiger Reserve in 1973 and a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1977. On 4 May 1984 it was declared a National Park. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1987

Sundarbans National Park is the largest estuarine mangrove forest in the world. Twenty-six of the fifty broad mangrove types found in the world grow well in the Sundarbans. The commonly identifiable vegetation that grow in the dense mangrove forests at the Sundarbans are salt water mixed forest, mangrove scrub, brackish water mixed forest, littoral forest, wet forest and wet alluvial grass forests.

Rivers in the Sundarbans are meeting places of salt water and freshwater. Thus, it is a region of transition between the freshwater of the rivers originating from the Ganges and the saline water of the Bay of Bengal

BakKhali: Bakkhali is a small beach resort about 132 kms from Calcutta. Despite being isolated and having limited accommodation, it is very popular with the citizens of Calcutta. One can walk to the Frasergunj beach from Bakkhali.

Bakkhali is a miniature seashore resort about 132 kms from Calcutta. It has a 7 km extended seashore stretch from Bakkhali to Frasergunj with soothingly rising and falling waves. These are twin towns now form one incessant vicinity. In spite of being secluded and having inadequate lodging, it is much admired with the populace of Calcutta. At Bakkhali, the coastline is extended and covered in dust, the waves blink in the sunshine. Intense casuarinas groves swathe the beach. It is situated on one of the various deltaic islands increase crossways southern Bengal. Most of the islands are part of the Sunderbans, except for a little at the fringes. Some of these are joined mutually with bridges over thin creeks. This tiny island juts out into the gigantic span of the Bay of Bengal. During the day, you can visit the crocodile breeding centre at Bakkhali. It is home to six crocodiles and several deer. You are also likely to encounter stray groups of monkeys.

Facts & Figures