From the slopes of the lesser Himalayas to the deltaic islands in the mouth of the Ganges, West Bengal boasts a biosphere extremely rich in flora and fauna. Being a potpourri of highly diversified history, culture and nature, West Bengal has flourished as one of the major eco-tourist destinations in India. With its broad network of river channels and geographical features, the deltaic region in South Bengal is renowned for exhibiting the largest mangrove forest in the world.

Dooars

Lying in the Himalayan foothills of North Bengal, Dooars is the home of natural beauty. The wildlife rich tropical forests, the innumerable hill streams cutting across the green carpet of tea gardens make it one of the most picturesque destinations on the list. The Dooars valley stretches from the river Teesta on the west to river Sankosh on the east, an area covering roughly 130km by 40km. Famous for its rich biodiversity; it also boasts the Gorumara National Park, Jaldapara Wildlife sanctuary and the Buxa tiger reserve.

Jaldapara

Jaldapara national park is a National Park situated at the foothills of the eastern Himalayas of North Bengal. Jaldapara is an area of vast grassland with patches of riverine forests. It was declared a sanctuary in 1941 to protect its abundant flora and fauna and it holds the largest population of the Indian one horned rhinoceros in the state, an animal threatened with extinction. Other animals include the Indian leopard, Indian elephant, wild pigs, and Bison. It is also a paradise for bird watchers as it is home to the crested eagle, the Bengal Florican, the Finn's weaver, the jungle fowl and the partridge. Pythons, cobras and kraits as well as eight species of water turtles can be found here.

Gorumara National Park

Declared the no.1 national park by the Indian ministry of Environment and Forests in 2009, Gorumara is the most visited National park in the state. Located in the Dooars region of the Himalayan foothills Gorumara has since recorded fifty species of Mammals, one hundred and ninety four species of birds, twenty two species of reptiles, seven species of turtles and twenty seven species of fish. One can also visit the adjoining forest villages to get acquainted with the culture and customs of the village folk.

Sunderbands

Declared by the UNESCO as a world heritage site, the Sunderbans remain the world's biggest mangrove sanctuary. Home to one of the largest concentrations of Royal Bengal tigers on the planet, the Sunderbans reserve is a network of channels and semi submerged mangroves that form the world's largest river delta. Widely considered by many as one of the most alluring sanctuaries in the world, the Sunderbans is truly one of a kind. The aqua fauna of the Sunderbans coupled with the incredible variety of reptiles also found will make your visit truly an experience of a lifetime.

Bird Sanctuary

Spread over a massive area of 35 acres, the Raiganj bird Sanctuary is the second largest bird sanctuary in Asia. Home to a hundred and sixty four species of birds, a further 80,000-100,000 migratory birds visit the sanctuary every year. In the last couple of decades the number of tourists visiting the sanctuary has been on the rise. The district administration and the state governments are in the effort of enhancing the beauty of the area.

Neora Valley National Park

Neora valley National Park in Kalimpong comprises of an ecosystem rich in abundance of flora and fauna, lush green valleys and meandering rivers with snow clad mountains in the backdrop. Utopia for trekkers and nature lovers, the Neora River runs through the park. With varied topography, one can spot several bird species at different altitudes including the Rofus-throated partridge, Brown Wood owl, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Chestnut Headed Tesia, Dark Breasted Rosefinch and many more. Spread across eighty eight square kilometres, animal species such as the Black Bear, Sloth Bear, Golden Cat, Leopard Cat, Goral, Barking Deer, and Himalayan Flying Squirrel are found. Endangered species such as the Leopard, Red Panda and Musk Deer can also be found and are preserved with top priority.

Buxa Tiger Reserve

Lying close to the international border and sharing the border with Bhutan, the Buxa Tiger Reserve has an extremely rich bio diverse ecosystem representing the highly endemic Indo-Malayan region and comprising a part of the Terai Eco system. It encompasses eight forest types and covers 117 square kilometres and houses some of the rarest species of animals like Asian Elephants, Leopard Cats, Bengal Floricans, Regal Pythons, Hispid Hares, Hog Deer, Slender build Vultures, Great Hornbills and many more. Among the bird species, the Wagtails, Common Teals, Black Stork, Large Whistling Teal and Minivets are easily spotted. The Buxa Fort and the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple are other attractions in the area.