The Sundarbans, a World Heritage site, is composed of three wildlife sanctuaries, namely the Sundarban East Wildlife Sanctuary, Sundarban South Wildlife Sanctuary and Sundarban West Wildlife Sanctuary. The total area of the Sundarbans is 5772.85 SQ. km. The forest occupies 4016.85 so.km of land while rivers, canals and channels occupy 1756 SQ, km. A complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands with salt-tolerant mangrove forest, make up the three sanctuaries. The area has been recognized globally for its importance as a reservoir of biodiversity.

The Sundari tree, after which the Sundarbans is named, is native to this forest. A visit to Bangladesh would remain incomplete if the Sundarbans did not appear in the itinerary. It is situated in the southwest corner of Bangladesh. It is the largest mangrove forest in the world, criss-crossed by creeks and canals creeping around thousand of islets that swell and sink with the tide in the Bay. The cluster of isles, the water-bodies and mangrove together support an eco-system at once unique with the result that the Sundarbans could be easily developed into a treasure house of biodiversity.

The mangrove forest in the Sundarbans, particularly in the three wildlife sanctuaries, acts as a good nursery and potential breeding ground for shrimps, prawns and many other edible fishes. For its outstanding natural value, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO inscribed the Sundarbans of Bangladesh in the World Heritage list in their 21st session in 1997 and accordingly the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh declared the Sundarbans as a World Heritage Site in 1999.

The attractions of this forest are varied and many. Wild, unspoiled and unpolluted beaches are scattered here and there along the borderline of the Bay. The flora of the Sundarbans includes Sundari, Keora, Gewa, Golpata, Goran and Passur. The fauna can boast the legendary Royal Bengal Tiger, spotted dear, squirrel, rhesus monkey, barking deer, wild boar, dolphin etc. Of the reptile species there are the estuarine crocodiles, pythons, lizards, flap-shelled spotted turtles and green turtles. The fish population has betki, rekha, boncha, faissa, pangash, ritha, silon, hilsha, catfish, lobster, shrimp, prawn etc.

The forest is a birdwatchers paradise as it is the abode of varieties of rare and colourful birds like the pond heron, kingfisher, cattle egret, little egret, golden plover, white-beaked vulture, fishing eagle, white-breasted eagle, red jungle fowl and so on.

The noteworthy beauty spots of the Sundarbans are Katka, Kachikhali, Karamjal, Nilkamal, Hironpoint, Dublar Char etc.