In this article, we would be providing you with the details of the different travel locations of the Dooars of North Bengal.

A part of North Bengal Tourism- Dooars

1. JALDAPARA NATIONAL PARK

Jaldapara National Park, situated on the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas along the bank of river Torsa, is famous for its Asiatic One-Horned Rhino. The National Park characterized by an extensive grassland is also a homeland for many species like Asiatic Elephants, Swamp Deers, Gaur(Indian Bison) and a great number of birds.

The main attraction of Jaldapara is the elephant safari conducted for spotting the wildlife. Besides, jeep safaris are also organized inside the jungle. The best place to stay here is the Hollong Tourist Lodge of WBFDC. Among private accommodations, The Mystic Forest is a perfect stay. The nearest tourist spot is Madarihat.

A detour in Chilapata: The dense woods on the eastern part of Torsa river, known as Chilapata Forest, is also a part of the Jaldapara Forest. It’s one of the good options for a day tour from the Jaldapara. Chilapata Forest serves as the elephant corridor between Buxa Tiger Reserve and Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. The jeep safaris through this dense forest is a lifetime experience, not be missed if you are travelling in Dooars.

2. GORUMARA NATIONAL PARK, CHAPRAMARI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, LATAGURI & MURTI

Gorumara National Park is perhaps the most popular zone of the North Bengal Tourism, a jungle lover would ever vouch for. It is well known for its diversified flora and fauna which includes Indian Bison, elephants, One-Horned Rhinos, leopards, deers, etc. Amidst the dense forests of Sal and Shimul, the watchtowers are great spots for watching the animals. A jeep safari is also available at the buffer zones of the jungle.

The nearest stay is either in Murti or Lataguri. Good lodging choices in close proximity to the forest are – The Reserve Gorumara or The Chapramari Wilderness Camp.

Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the oldest forests in Dooars, is an extension of the Gorumara National Park, bifurcated by the Murti River.

On the banks of the Murti river, Murti is one of the finest tourist spots. The crystal clear water of Murti, along with the surrounding picturesque landscape, is a perfect place to relax one’s mind and soul.

The best accommodation at Murti is the Murti Tourist Lodge of WBTDCL and Banani Lodge of WBFDC. Or you can also opt for the privately-owned Murti Tourist Lodge.

Lataguri is a small tourist village situated at the confluence of Murti and Jaldhaka river in the midst of thick deciduous forest and a quaint landscape. It is just 25 kms drive from the fringe of Gorumara National Park.

Out of the several resorts at Lataguri we recommend the Tuskers Den Forest Resort the most.

Recommended Read: Offbeat travel destinations of North Bengal – Palmajua and Chatakpur

3. NEORA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Maintaining its unique biodiversity, Neora Valley is perhaps the only forest in the Eastern Himalayas that has a few virgin forest patches that are yet to be explored by humans.

The jungle family includes Himalayan Thar, Tiger, Goral, Himalayan Black Bear, Clouded Leopard as well as the endangered species of  Red Panda. The valley is bliss for bird watchers. Here you’ll find birds like Redstart, Whistling Thrush, Golden Headed Black Finch, Niltava.

There are two routes to reach Neora Valley. One is through Kolakham, a forest village situated about 10 km from Lava. Another one is through Samsing, mostly availed by trekkers who enjoy camping and trekking in the forest trails. Forest permits are available both at Lava and Samsing. The best place to stay here is the Neora Valley Jungle Camp.  

4. SAMSING, SUNTALEKHOLA AND ROCKY ISLAND

Samsing is one of the greatest tourist attractions of the North Bengal Tourism. It has a majestic view of the lush green tea gardens, hilly slopes, orange orchards, cinnamon plantations. And the trickling sound of the Murti River adds to it charm . Situated at a distance of only 17 kms from Chalsa, you can experience a beautiful drive to Samsing through the unending stretches of tea gardens like Samsing Tea Garden, Chalsa Tea Garden etc.

There are several homestays at Samsing, which offer a good and cozy stay. Among the private hotels, Samsing Backwoods Adventure Camping offers a cozy stay at a reasonable tariff.

Rocky Island – Located at a distance of merely 3 km from Samsing, is a campsite located at the banks of river Murti. It is an upcoming eco-tourism destination in North Bengal offering opportunities like camping activities, rock climbing, river bank trekking, etc.

Suntalekhola – Just 4kms from Samsing, Suntalekhole is famous for its thrilling stay at the WBFDC lodge. The mysterious dense forests, the ghostly silence & the remote location – everything is just too thrilling. Apart from the government stay, the Mayjhora Homestay offers a comfortable homely environment amidst the locals.

HOW TO REACH DOOARS:

The only airport in this belt is the Bagdogra Airport. From here, prepaid taxis are available for any part of the Dooars area.

By train, the most preferred station will be the New Mal Junction, as it is located right at the Dooars belt. But very few trains are available for this station, like Kanchankanya Express from Kolkata. The next best option is the New Jalpaiguri station, from where pre-paid cabs are available.

IDEAL TRAVEL PLAN TO DOOARS

Ideally, you can plan for a 7 to 8 days visit to the Dooars, to enjoy and explore the unique and rare beauties of North Bengal Tourism. We suggest the following travel plan:

• Reach New Mal Junction by Kanchankanya Express
• From New Mal Junction, book a cab to Gorumara and halt there for 2 days.
• Next, you can visit the Neora Valley via Kolakham . You can also spend a night at Kolakham.
• Early next morning, travel to Samsing, Rocky Island and Suntalekhola. Among these, you should consider a halt at Suntalekhola for 2 days stay if you get a booking at the WBFDC forest resort to absorb in the sights and sounds of the beautiful place.
•  After enjoying the tranquility of Suntalekhola, you can go on for a 2 days stay at Murti ,which is in close proximity to Jaldapara and Chapramari forests.

Although all types of North Indian and South Indian foods are available here due to the tremendous development of tourism but don’t miss the local dishes like momos, dry fish pickles and bamboo shoots. And when you are in the land of tea gardens, do not dare to miss a steaming cup of the aromatic Darjeeling tea.

The best time to visit Dooars is October to March.

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