Sundarbans is located on the northern tip of the Bay of Bengal, penetrating about 50 miles inland. Bangladesh's portion of Sundarbans is much larger than neighboring India's, with about 6,000 square miles of impenetrable water forests.
The weather is generally hot and extremely wet. Tides and cyclones have often added to the mix and frequently altered the lay of this strange watery jungle. The "dry season" is from November to April, and it is the most popular time for visits.
From Bangladesh's capital of Dhaka, Sundarbans is reachable by bus to Khulna. Alternately, the Indian side of Sundarbans is a short bus ride from Kolkata.
The area was first settled by Indians fleeing invading Muslims and Khiljis fleeing from Afghans. For the past few centuries, however, the area has been sparsely populated for obvious reasons (extreme wetness, dangerous game and difficulty in finding fresh water).
In addition to the fear this region strikes into most visitors, it also has inspired awe. Considered one of the world's greatest natural wonders, Sundarbans was added to the Unesco World Heritage list in 1997.
