Birds, the language of freedom,
Are here for your eyes!
They never ask for anything
Except a little corner in the Earth!
Let them fly in the blue………
& create eternity only for you!!
If you really love birds, & specially if you are a resident of Kolkata or adjacent areas, then Kulik Bird Sanctuary is the right place for you. Because it is only a few hours drive from Kolkata. The Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary alias Kulik Bird Sanctuary is located at Raiganj which is the District head quarter of Uttar Dinajpur District of West Bengal Sate of India. It is about 450 Km From Kolkata and 250 Km from Darjeeling.It was officially designated as the "Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary" in the year 1985and lies just 4km North from Raiganj town.along NH 34. As river Kulik flows beside the sanctuary and acts as the boundary in its Eastern and Southern parts , hence the sanctuary got the name.
The Kulik Heronry actually a mixed breeding of various species of waterbirds mainly Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger), Indian Shag (Phalacrocorax fuscicillis), Black Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Large Egret (Casmerodius albus), Median Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) and Pond Heron (Aedeola grayii) and the most important Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) here since 1984.
Kulik River
This sanctuary is basicaly an artificial planted tropical dry deciduous forest under the social forestry programme of West Bengal forest department which had began in 1970 with main tree species like Kadam (Anthocephalus cadamba), Jarul (Lagerstroemia flosreginae), Sisoo( Dalbergia sisoo) and Eucalyptus etc. The area of the sanctuary is 1.30 sq km in which Core Area c. 0.14 Sq km and Buffer Area c. 1.16 Sq km. The shape of the sanctuary is that of the English alphabet "U" with a network of artificial canals connected with the river Kulik. There is also a small island in the core area of the sanctuary, mainly surrounded by the Eucalyptus trees and surrounded by artificial canals is the main breeding ground for Asian Openbills. During monsoon the river water enters the sanctuary, which supports a wide variety of food for the birds, particularly for the Asian Openbill, whose main diet is Apple Snail (Pila globosa).
Part-II
me with my family and other friends will visit Kulik Bird Sanctuary in mid December. The WBTDC tourist lodge has been booked,can u tell me beside the sanctuary is there other visiting area or not,
ReplyDeletealso tell me how far the Sanctuary from Raiganj Station?
Prabir, it is 4-5 km from the station, rickshaws are available from Raiganj station for around 50 rs. There is no such famous place near the sanctuary, but if you love birds, rural bengal then lots of things are waiting for you, just roam about the forest area, you'll get it.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck and happy trip.
Sumit
i think u tell about local birds
ReplyDeleteyah , local birds. But those are not the only attraction. The total ambiance of the area is also very attractive
ReplyDeleteFor last few years in connection of my bread earning I had to stay in and around Kishanganj, which is ay the border of Bihar & WB.
ReplyDeleteIn Bihar part I have seen varios specis of birds like Hopoe, Bee-eaters, Owl of different kind,etc. But this year I am only at a distance of about 10kms. from that place in WB side and surprisingly the varities of birds are absent. What may be the cause.
it's too good br... u hv done a nice task....
ReplyDeleteWhat is the best season for birding at kulik?
ReplyDeleteJuly to october
ReplyDeleteNice place ... do you have some more photos?
ReplyDelete