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.
Category: Picnic Spots in West Bengal
Picnic spots in west bengal
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.
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.
Ramsai (Ramsay) Forest and Eco Camp in Gorumara National Park
Ramsai eco camp is basically a rhino camp located close to Kalipur eco camp in Gorumara. It happens one of the 5 camps managed by the forest department of Jalpaiguri established to promote tourism in the Gorumara region. Of course, like all the other 4 this Ramsai eco camp also provides an opportunity to experience jungle stay full of adventure and wildlife safari. An added opportunity at this camp is the vast tea estate of Ramsai. In fact, for adventure lovers visiting the place during monsoon will be a great idea because at Ramsai rhino camp tourists are allowed during this time of the year.
Gorumara Kalipur Eco Resort at Gorumara for jungle adventure and village lifestyle
Klaipur eco resort at Gorumara is a unique combination of jungle adventure and village lifestyle. The resort is located in the southern part of the Gorumara National Park famous for one horned rhinos which also serves as the border to Medla forest. The facility is administered by the Forest Department of Jalpaiguri Div II. Kalipur is one of the 5 such camps facilities run by the forest department of Jalpaiguri. This is an amazing facility for jungle lovers and adventure enthusiasts because this will remind you of the tree house stay. You will simply love the abundance of nature in these parts.
Chatakpur Eco Resort
Chatakpur Eco Resort is located on Siliguri-Darjeeling Road and is only 7 kilometers from Sonada and 18 kilometers from Jorbanglow. Enjoying an elevation of 7887 feet, this lovely little hamlet has only 90 villagers and is being developed by the forest department as an eco resort for tourists. It is an ideal destination for people seeking peace and quiet in the Himalayan Mountains. Amidst the lush greenery, wooden cottages, forest trails and the majestic Kanchenjunga, this is a paradise on earth. The best place for bird watchers, Chatakpur offers that much awaited freedom and freshness from the confined city life.
Tiffin Dara View Point is an altitude of around 2,360 meters
Tiffin Dara is a point from where the 360 degree view of Kanchenjungha can be seen without any interruption. Dara means point in the Lepcha language and Tiffin Dara is a point in the Eastern Himalayan range in North East India offering a breathtaking view of the world’s 3rd highest peak. 2 kilometers uphill from Rishyap, a small hamlet, Tiffin Dara can be reached by trekking on the mountainous trail. The best part of this trek is that it goes through the dense forest filled with birch, pine, fir trees and different varieties of orchids. Chirping birds and some mountainous dogs might accompany you through the journey. Continue reading
Koro Hills, Bankura
Koro Hill is quite a popular tourist attraction in Bankura. The hill is 400 feet high with a hamlet called Amarkanan at its foothills. This scenic location is only 19 kilometers away from Bankura and is a favored picnic and trekking spot for tourists and locals alike. Do avoid the months of May, June and July if you wish to trek the mountain due to heavy rainfall. Visit during the other 9 months and enjoy the surroundings and the village. Continue reading
Durgapur Barrage, Bankura-Burdwan
Durgapur Barrage is situated across the Damodar River in Durgapur. It is located in the Burdwan district of West Bengal. It is a major part of the Damodar Valley Project creating hydroelectricity from Damodar and its tributary Barakar River. Durgapur Barrage constructed downstream is controlled by the government of West Bengal. The dam’s control along with the canal network was handed over to the West Bengal Government in the year 1964.
The Durgapur Barrage was built in 1955 to a length of 692 meters and height of 12 meters. The barrage constitutes 34 gates sized 18.3m ×4.9m. The tally of 34 is reached by taking into account the under sluices as well. The right and left under sluices are 18.3m x 5.5 m (60 ft x 18 ft). Among the canals, the right bank main canal is 88.5 kilometers long while the left main canal is 136.8 kilometers long. Besides the main canals there are also branches which make an accumulated length of 2,494 kilometers. The left bank canal discharges 260 cubic meters per second whereas the right bank canal discharges 64.3 cubic meters per second. The catchment area of the Damodar-Barakar Basin is 19,547 square kilometers. The linear waterway is 622 meters.
A few steps ahead from the main barrage is a canal. There is a short foot bridge. Try to have a look the lock gate is open. Enjoy the thrill in your body.
How to Reach
Arriving at Durgapur Barrage is easy because it can be easily accessed from all quarters of the country. The nearest airport to the barrage is Dhanbad airport which is situated at a distance of 94 kilometers. The nearest railway station is the Durgapur Junction Station located only 2 kilometers from the barrage making it easy for people to reach the barrage.
Other attractions near Durgapur Barrage
When you are through with the barrage, you can take a look around because there are quite a few places of interest nearby. Within a radius of 2-5 kilometers, there is the Durga Statue, Makalir Mandir, Ram Mandir, Loknath Babas Mandir and also Bhabani Pathak’s Cave and Tilla. The City Center Church and the Kumaramangala Park are also closeby.
If you are in a mood to shop or just wish to pick up a souvenir you can visit the Muchipara Market, and CBI Mamra Bazaar, Lal Bazaar which are within 5 kilometers of the Durgapur Barrage. The Faridpur Mini market is 7 kilometers from the barrage. There are also a couple of malls among which the Junction Mall and the Suhatta Shopping Mall are famous. If you wish to beat your fatigue, then catch a sip of your favorite drink at the High Octane Pub.