Buxa Tiger Reserve is located in the foothills of Bhutan covering an area of 790 square kilometers and is of course famous for tigers, civet and red jungle fowl. The forest was declared as a tiger reserve in 1983 and received the title of National Park in 1992. Buxa Tiger Reserve forest is the largest in North Bengal and is home to second largest tiger population in entire West Bengal after Sunderbans. There are many species of mammals, reptiles, birds and an amazing collection of medicinal plants and orchids. It is only 24 kilometers from Alipurduar and about 180 kilometers from Siliguri, reckoned as the gateway of Bengal. Certain parts of the forest have still remained unexplored due to inaccessible terrain.
Author: indispottravel
28 Mile is within the Buxa Tiger Reserve forest
28 Mile is a small settlement within the Buxa Tiger Reserve with 110 households. The number of households has increased considerably since 1960. Homestays are available for tourists at the 28 Mile Basti as it is known in the local language. There is also a well furnished cottage at 28 Mile serving guests who visit Buxa Tiger Reserve. Buxa is one of the largest forest reserves in West Bengal and is home to Asian tigers whose population is only second to that of Sunderbans. The importance of Buxa increased manifold in the year 1992 when it was declared to be a national park.
Jayanti forest village inside the Buxa Tiger Reserve
Jayanti is a small forest village inside the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal. Located along the banks of Jayanti River, this is the only settlement inside a forest area where you can spot tigers. This is where visitors can enjoy the thrill overnight. The river forms a natural barrier with the Bhutan hills on the other side of the forest. Known popularly as the ‘Queen of Dooars’, the Jayanti village is a pristine place with a wide variety of flora and fauna. Free from the pollution of city life, this vast green zone is bound to take your breath away. Staying in the village within the Buxa Tiger Reserve is a memorable experience for any traveler.
Garuchira Village Eco Tourism is around 80 km from Alipurduar
Garuchira village eco tourism is a brilliant initiative of the government to assist development in the hilly region of north Bengal. The government bungalow as part of the tourism is located in Bandapani Bil, Dalgaon Range of Jalpaiguri Forest Division. Garuchira is located at a distance of 80 kilometers from Jalpaiguri and is a beautiful place surrounded by rivers. The eco tourism spot is a lovely one with elephants making rounds of the place. Its position in the foothills of Bhutan gives it a special place in the heart of the tourists. The peaceful ambiance and the vast greenery attract tourists to this heavenly place.
Godk or Godak at a distance of 15 km from Bindu
Godk or Godak village in North Bengal is an upcoming tourist destination. The village is situated at a distance of 15 kilometers from Bindu at an elevated height with beautiful picturesque landscapes. It is also the seat of a tribal Goddess known as Debi sthan and is a sacred place for the tribal people. As tourists the landscape and also the tribal goddess will attract you to the place. You will get a glimpse of their religious rituals at this place. The tribal people worship the river here which they believe has originated from a rock which never dries.
Jhalong River Camp
The Jhalong river camp on the banks of river Jaldhaka is a natural resort in the wilderness of Himalayan foothills known as Dooars. Jhalong is a small village which has been included in the eco tourism initiative taken up by West Bengal Forest Development Corporation. Visitors seeking peace amidst nature will find this place attractive with its pristine beauty. It is actually located on the Indo-Bhutan border which adds to the thrill of the visitors. The place is full of orange orchards, small houses amidst rolling hills and lush greenery. The Jaldhaka hydel power project of phase 2 is the highlight of the region.
Rocky Island is only 3 kilometers from Suntalekhola in the Samsing hills
Rocky Island is an upcoming tourist destination in the Samsing hills of Dooars region in northern Bengal. The name Rocky Island promises lot of adventure and the place actually fulfills them. The name not only promises adventure but also evokes images of big and small rocks making an interesting trail for the tourists to follow. Well, the place has it all and once you reach there you will know that it has lived up to your expectations. You will spot massive rocks on the island named as Bhimsen, Hansdunga, Pathar Kailas, and Neel Kanta. Rocky Island is about 3 kilometers uphill from Suntalekhola and is an enchanting place away from the crowds amidst the sound of the flowing Murti River.
Suntalekhola River Camp at an altitude of around 750 meters
Suntalekhola is a small hamlet located at an altitude of around 750 meters in the Dooars Himalayan foothills of West Bengal. It lies about 4 kilometers from Samsing and is also the south eastern entry point of Neora Valley National Park. The WBFDC cottages or river camp is the best place to stay in Suntalekhola because it offers unhindered view of the beautiful green landscape and the high mountains. A number of trekking routes originate from Suntalekhola most of which lead to the National Valley National Park. This is an added attraction for the adventurous souls.
Khunia junction just outside the forest interconnects eastern and western Dooars
Khunia forest is basically a vast stretch of grassland with a huge watchtower standing almost in the middle of it. It is a part of the vast expanse of jungle covering the banks of Murti River from Latagur-Chalsa-Murti-Dhupjhora-Batabri-Ramsai-Kalipur and Neora river bed. Khunia lies on the way to Chapramari from Gorumara. The distance of Chapramari from Khunia is only 1 kilometer. The watchtower inside the forest is known as the Chandrachur watchtower which was formerly known as Khunia watchtower. This watchtower is famous for offering views of the entire expanse of the forest and also animals like bisons and elephants.
Chukchuki Watchtower or Chukchuki Birding Point inside the Gorumara National Park
Chukchuki Watchtower is also known as Chukchuki Birding Point inside the Gorumara National Park. It is an ideal vantage point for watching myriad birds and photographing them. Tourists visiting Gorumara are taken to the watchtower for bird watching either on elephant back or by a car. It is a bird watcher’s paradise where one can spot local as well as migratory birds. The watchtower is situated towards the end of the park and provides perfect view of the birds. It is one among many other watchtowers in the park from where visitors can spot different animals like rhinos for which the park is famous.