Manas National Park

Manas National Park is an all in one type of Park. It is a National Park, an UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve in Assam.

The Manas National Park is located in the densely forested area of the East Himalayan foothills and is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park, located in Bhutan.  The National park area is apart of five districts of the state, namely, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri and Darrang. Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid Hare, Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog and  Wild water buffalo are some of the endangered rare species of fauna found in Manas National Park.

The name of the National Park originates from the Serpent Goddess Manasa. The river Manasa, a major tributary of the river Brahmaputra, is the main river which runs through the Park. The national Park seems to have derived its name from the river. The river manas also serves as the border of India and Bhutan in the state.
The park is divided into three ranges. The western range is based at Panbari, the central at Bansbari near Barpeta Road and the eastern at Bhuiyapara near Pathsala. All the forest ranges are not easily connectable, you have to cross river and only a rough trail isavailable at some places.

The sanctuary has recorded 55 species of mammals, 380 species of birds, 50 of reptiles, and 3 species of amphibians.
The fauna of the sanctuary include Indian elephants, Indian rhinoceros, gaurs, Asian water buffaloes, barasingha, Indian tigers, Indian leopards, clouded leopards, Asian golden cats, dholes capped langurs, golden langurs, Assamese macaques, slow loris, hoolock gibbons, smooth-coated otters, sloth bears, barking deers, hog deers, black panthers, sambar deers and chitals.
Among the animals found here Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog are some of the rare and endangered species which are not found anywhere else in the whole world.

Bengal florican are in many numbers and are believed to have the largest population than anywhereelse. Other major bird species found here at the National Park include, great hornbills, pelicans, jungle fowls, bulbuls, brahminy ducks, bee-eaters, magpie robins, Kalij pheasants, egrets, crested serpent-eagles, falcons, scarlet minivets and fishing eagles

How to reach Manas National Park?
Guwahati is the nearest airport and is placed at about 180 kms / 5 hrs drive approxfrom the National Park. Regular flights are operated by major airlines from almost all over the cities in India to Guwahati. From the airport you can get cabs and bus transport to the Park.
Other road distances to Manas are:
Siliguri to Musa, Manas  326 Km
Bagdogra to Musa, Manas  335 Km
Kaziranga to Musa, Manas  401 Km

By Rail
Guwahati is gateway to the North East India. All major cities of India are well connected to Guwahati including Rajdhani Express.
There are several trains stops at Barpeta Road Railway Station, which is 22 kms to Bansbari (Musa Jungle Retreat, Manas) by road.

Accommodation Fac‎ilities in Manas National Park
Luxury Accmmodation ( total 20 rooms )       
Musa Jungle Retreat - King Sized Bed    
Bansbari Villas - 2 Villas - King Sized Bed    
Grazing Rhino - 8 Nos Independent Cottages    
Striped Panthera - 10 Cottages Twin Bedded    
     
Deluxe Accommodation
Birina ( total  6 rooms )
Double bedded Cottage     1 room
Double Bedded Room     1 room
Triple bedded Room     1 room
Four bedded Cottage     1 room
Four bedded Tents     2 rooms
           
Standard Accommodation
Florican ( total 7 rooms )
Two bedded rooms     6 rooms
Triple bedded Tents     1 room
       
For more details visit Manas National Park  

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve  is the largest prograding delta region of the world. Sundarbans National Park is the core area of the Tiger Reserve. The Park has been recognized as the World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1987.  The National Park extends through India to Bangladesh and has an area of about 26000 square kilometers.  This is the single largest Mangrove vegetation. Most of the Sundarbans National Park that is about two-thirds, falls in Bangladesh and India has only about 9630 square kilometers.  Sundarbans is the only mangrove vegetation where Tigers exist ad the forest is home to more than 250 tigers.

How to Reach Sundarbans Tiger Reserve?
If you are travelling by air Kolkata  Netaji Subhash International airport is the nearest airport to the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve. The Kolkatta airport is 112 kilometers away and the city is connected with many of the cities in India as well as abroad.  From Kolkata you can take a bus up to Basanti or Sonakhali  where you can ferry across in a boat.

If you are planning to travel by rail the nearest railway station is Canning Port about 44 kilometers away. Canning is connected to Kolkata  which has good network connections with the rest of India.  You can take a bus from Canning to either  Basanti or Sonakhali  where you can ferry across in a boat to Sajnekhali.

If you are travelling by road you can reach Sunderbans National Park quite easily through the excellant network of Roadways. You can travel to Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali and Najat from Kolkata and after that you will have to use motorboats to ferry across to the Sanctuary.

By Road
Road transportations are available from Kolkata  for Namkhana ( 105 kms ) Sonakali 9 100 kms Raidighi ( 76 kms Canning 64 kms and Najar 92 kms
All of these places have access to riverine waterways  and are placed near to Sundarbans. The interior parts of the Sunderbans  is only accessible through waterways. Regular services are available from these embarkation points namely Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali and Najat.

By Water 
You can reach Sundarbans only through riverrine waterways, motor boat  launch facilities are available
From Namkhana - Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project, Sagar Island - Jambudwip
From Sajnekhali - Sudhanyakhali - Buridhabri - Netidhopan - Holiday Island
From Sonakhali - Gosaba -
From Raidighi - Kalas

Best Season to travel to Sunderbans Tiger Reserve is from September to February of the year.

Contact Details for Sundarbans Tiger Reserve
Department of Tourism, West Bengal
Tel :  033 22254723
EMail : director.tourism@gmail.com

West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd
Tel : 033 44012086
EMail : wbtdc@vsnl.com

Tourism Centre Kolkata
Tel : 033 4401 2659
EMail : visitwetbengal@yahoo.co.in
Website : www.westbengaltourism.gov.in

Accommodation facilities at Sundarbans Tiger Reserve
Tourist Lodge and Tourist Forest Rest House run by West Bengal tourism Development Corporation Ltd
Tel : 03218 214960

Sundarbans  Mangrove Retreat
Tel : 03218 24994367

Package Tours to Sundarbans  by the WBTDC
Sundarban Safari 1
Duration 1 night and 2 days

Itinerary
Assemble at the Tourism cntre at 8 am and depart to Sonakhali by bus at 8.30 am. Arrival at Sonakhali at 11.30 am  and get transferred to MV Chitrerekha / Sarbajaya.  Visit Sudhanyakhali and Sajnekhali  watch towers. Night halt aboard the ship.
Next Day visit netedhopani watch tower and back to kolkata via the same route.
Charges from Rs 2800 on wards according to the package.

Sundarbans Safari 2
Duration - 2 nights and 3 days
itinerary
This tour package is the continuation of the Tour package 1.
Cruise through buridhabri Jungle and visit jhingakhali watch tower in addition to the above mentioned tour package .
Charges starting from Rs 3700 according to the chosen package.

For customized package tours  of WBTDC contact Mr Dhritiman Ganguly Mobile no 0 936776010

Project Tiger Reserves in India

Bandipur Tiger Reserve
Corbett Tiger Reserve
Kanha Tiger Reserve
Manas Tiger Reserve
Melaghat Tiger Reserve
Palamau Tiger Reserve
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
Simlipal Tiger Reserve
Sunderbans Tiger Reserve
Periyar Tiger Reserve 
Sariska Tiger Reserve 
Buxa Tiger Reserve 
Indravati Tiger Reserve 
Nagarjunasagar Tiger Reserve 
Namdapha Tiger Reserve 
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve 
Kalakkad - Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve 
Valmiki Tiger Reserve 
Pench MP Tiger Reserve 
Tadoba Andheri Tiger Reserve 
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve 
PannaTiger Reserve 
Dampa Tiger Reserve  
Bhadra Tiger Reserve 
Pench MH Tiger Reserve 
Pakke Tiger Reserve 
Nameri Tiger Reserve 
Satpura Tiger Reserve 
Anamalai ( Indira Gandhi) Tiger Reserve 
Udanti - Sitanadi Tiger Reserve 
Satkosia Tiger Reserve 
Kaziranga Tiger Reserve 
Achanakmar Tiger Reserve 
Dandeli- Anshi Tiger Reserve 
Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve 
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve 
Nagahole ( Rajiv Gandhi ) Tiger Reserve 
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve 
Sahyadri Tiger Reserve 


Proposed Tiger Reserves
Pilibhit 
BRT Sanctuary
Sunabeda
Ratapani
Mukundra Hills

Recommended to be Tiger reserves
Sohelwa
Bor
Nawegaon
Nagzira
KudremukhSatyamangalam

Kalakad-Mundathurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu

About Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, having an area of 895 sq kilometers, is located in the southern parts of the Western Ghats in the state of Tamil Nadu. The Tiger Reserve is surrounded by forests on three sides, that is west, north, south and villages on the east. Agasthya Malai, the third highest peak in South India is located on the core zone of the Reserve.

The Kalakad-Mundathurai Tiger Reserve forms a catchment area of 14 streams and rivers, some among them are Tambraparani, Manimuthar, Servalar, Kallar, Kodaiyar,Rama Nadi, Kadnar, Pachaiar. Many of these rivers form the backbone of the water supply in the Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi / Tuticorin and the part of Kanyakumari districts. Seven Major Dams have been constructed over some these rivers, namely Karaiyar, Lower Dam, Servalar, Manimuthar, Ramanadi, Kadna Nadi and Kodaiyar

The Tiger reserve is located at a range of altitude of 40 meters to 1800 meters and the highest point Agasthya malai at about 1681 is found in the middle of the Tiger Reserve. Kalakad-Mundathurai Tiger Reserve actually is an inter state one since it connects Tamil Nadu and Kerala

There are about 150 endemic plants . fishes, reptiles, mammal species, amphibians and birds. As per the 1997 census, there are 73 tigers and 70 leopards along with many Jungle Cats, Nilgiri tahrs. Kalakad is well known for Lion tailed monkeys, Elephants and the waterfals. The area is also called as Karungal Desam and Thenga Uruli.

Accommodation facilities at Kalakad-Mundathurai Tiger Reserve
Dormitory style cottages  are available at the Kalakad-Mundathurai Tiger Reserve maintained by the Forest Department. The Tiger Cottage, has a rest room and a few double deck beds. Ample parking place is available for the Cars and Jeeps of the visitors. There is a river flowing by the rear of the cottage and you can have a wonderful experience staying overnight. There is a kitchen also which serves tasty food for the visitors

How to Reach Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve?
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, in the state of Kerala, is the nearest airport located at about 200 kilometers from Mundanthurai and about 140 kilometers from Kalakad.

Madurai Domestic Airport, in the state of Tamil Nadu is at about 200 kilometers from Mundanthurai and 210 kilometers from Kalakad. Madurai Airport is easily connected from Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad , Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode airports.

If you are travelling by rail, Tirunelveli Railway station is the nearest at about 50 kilometers from Mundanthurai and about 45 kilometers from Kalakad.

Best time to travel to Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
December to March is the best season and the reserve will be closed during April to July. Guest house is available at Mundanthurai, Sengaltheri in Kalakad and Kuthiravotti.

Contact for more details
Field Director & Conservator of Forests,
KMTR Project Tiger,
N.G.O ‘A’ Colony,
Tirunelveli - 7,
Tamil Nadu.
Phone No - 0462-552663
E-mail - kmtrpt@sancharnet.in
Website – www.kmtr.org