AMAR RAIGANJ

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The headquarters of the Uttar Dinajpur district, Raiganj is a municipal town since 1951 and one of the major trade centers in North Bengal having National Highway-34 passing through it. Raiganj is 425 km from Kolkata and 181kms from Siliguri. The Kulik Bird Sanctuary is principal attraction of Raiganj. The vast and beautiful swamp land on the bank of a small river named Kulik provides home to thousands of migratory birds including Open-Billed Storks, Night Herons, Egrets and Cormorants and indigenous birds as well. The sanctuary at Kulik draws thousands of tourists every year to Raiganj.

Raiganj Bird Sanctuary is located along the National Highway and lies beside the Kulik River covering an area of 35 acres. It is the second largest bird sanctuary in Asia where migratory birds like open-bill storks, night-herons, cormorants and egrets coming from South Asian countries and coastal areas hang around. Here you can also find local birds like bulbul, kingfisher, dove, sparrow, woodpeckers and many other species foraging for food and shelter.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Altitude: 30 metres above sea level.
Temperature (deg C): Summer- Max. 25, Min. 21; Winter- Max. 23, Min. 09.
Rainfall: 155 cms (July to September).
Languages spoken: Bengali, Hindi, English.
Best season: Throughout the year but preferably October to March.

Some images from raiganj............

Niranjan Mandal

Raiganj Kulik Bird Sanctury

Altitude: 30 metres above sea level.
Temperature (°C):
Summer: Max 25, Min 21
Winter: Max 23, Min 9
Rainfall: 155 cms (July to September)
Clothings: Summer: Cottons, Tropical; Winter: Woolens
Languages spoken: Bengali, Hindi, English
Best season: Throughout the year but preferably October to March

Kulik (Raiganj) Bird Sanctuar lies along the National Highway 34, on the banks of the Kulik River, in North Dinajpur District of West Bengal. It is popularly known as Kulik Bird Sanctuary because the river Kulik flows beside the sanctuary. Established as the Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary

in 1985, it extends over 1.30 sq km in which core area 0.14 sq km and buffer area 1.16 Sq km.

With a large number of migratory birds coming to the Kulik sanctuary, it is growing as a famous tourist spot. In 2008, according to a census, 91,540 birds had visited the area, and some 70,000 to 80,000 migratory birds visit the sanctuary annually. Several types of migratory birds arrive here each year from South Asian countries and coastal regions.

They start arriving in June and continue till December. Number of tourists visiting the sanctuary keeps on increasing with each year, as there has been a rise in the number of migratory birds coming to the sanctuary. One of the largest bird sanctuaries in Asia, Kulik has the largest colony (heronry) of Open billed stork in Asia.

Home to 164 species of birds, the sanctuary visits migratory birds during end of May to Ist week of July that includ the Asian Open-billed Storks, Egrets, Night Herons and Cormorants. They depart from mid December to end of January. The nesting time is from July to August and egg laying from August to September. Inside the sanctuary, there are few watchtowers which provides a fine view of the sanctuary and the birds.

Some of the resident birds are Dove, Bulbul, Kites, Flycatchers, Sparrow, Owls, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers and Drongos.

Apart from birds, the sanctuary boasts several wildlife creatures and flora. One can find here the rare species of heronries and many more. Sissoo, Simul, Siris, Akashmoni, Khair, Lali, Khadam, Mingiri, Eucalyphus Spp., Sidha, Jarul, Sal, Sheora, Teak, Arjun are the main dominant tree species.

There is an eco park Raiganj Kulik Eco Park, built right on the edge of the bird sanctuary with the objective of enhancing the beauty of the area and to draw more tourists. Entry Fee : Rs.5/-. Picnickers are not allowed.

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