SOME FAMOUS ATTRACTIONS:
JALDAPARA NATIONAL PARK
The forest is mainly savannah covered with tall elephant grasses. The main attraction of the park is the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. The park holds the largest rhino population in India after Kaziranga National Park in Assam. Other animals in the park include Indian leopard, Indian elephants, sambar, barking deer, spotted deer, hog deer, wild boars, and gaur. Jaldapara is a paradise for bird watchers. It is one of the very few places in India, where the Bengal florican is sighted. The other birds to be found here are the crested eagle, Pallas's fish eagle, shikra, Finn's weaver, jungle fowl, peafowl (peacock), partridge, and lesser pied hornbill. Pythons, monitor lizards, kraits, cobras, geckos, and about eight species of fresh water turtles can also be found here. All these can be found on the different routes offered for Jeep Safari and Elephant Safari i.e Chilapata Range, Kodlabasti Checkpost, Hollong, Lankapara, Salkumar Gate and NEC watch tower respectively.
SOUTH KHAIRBARI NATIONAL PARK
A Nature Park and a Leopard Rehabilitation Center, South Khairbari National Park are located a mere 11 km away from Jaldapara. The park has a beautiful setting with River Boori Torsa River flowing through it. Battery-driven cars take tourists through the park and it is an interesting place to be. Tigers that are released from the circus are brought here for rehabilitation.
TOTOPARA VILLAGE
Totopara is a small village in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal. It can be visited to witness an indigenous experience. It is located on the banks of river Torsha and on the Indo Bhutan border. The village is popular for the Toto tribe who lives and is an endangered tribe with only 1000 members today. Along with the government, some non-government agencies have been striving to uplift the living condition of the Toto tribe. Living with them and observing their lifestyle is something which can be very enjoyable when on a trip to Jaldapara and have enough stretch of time.
CHILAPATA FOREST
This dense forest is located close to Jaldapara National Park on the fringes of the Jalpaiguri district. It is located about 20 km from Alipurduar and a few minutes from Hasimara town. There is an eco-tourism resort here at Kodalbasti that is operated by The West Bengal Forest Development Corporation (WBFDC). The dense forest and the wild ambiance are perfect for a hideout and it is definitely worth a visit. Spending some solitary moments in the wilderness with the chirping of birds breaking the silence now and then for is therapeutic for the soul and the mind.
GORUMARA NATIONAL PARK
This is another fascinating place in the Dooars area of West Bengal and a frequently visited tourist destination. It is located about 80 km from Jaldapara National Park and is located on the banks of rivers Raidak and Murti. Gorumara is also popular for the Asiatic one-horned rhino, bison, and Asiatic elephants. It was declared a reserve forest in 1895 and became a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1949. The National Park is spread across 80 sq.km. Rivers Indong, Jaldhaka and Murti flow through the park and offers a breathtaking view of the landscape.
BUXA TIGER RESERVE
Buxa Tiger Reserve located in the Alipurduar district of north Bengal is bound by the Gangetic plains and the Himalayas. Tourists can spot animals like Sambar Deer, Asiatic elephants, gaur, Indian leopard, and Bengal tiger and is home to more than 284 species of birds. Created in 1983, this was the 15th tiger reserve in the country. The reserve encompasses eight types of forests like northern dry deciduous, low alluvium, northern tropical evergreen forest, etc. There is a Buxa Fort which is an important landmark here which was captured by British-India from Bhutan after the Bhutan War.
Gajoldoba and Apalchand Forest
An hour’s drive from Jaldapara will take tourists to Gajoldoba reservoir which was formed by Teesta Barrage for irrigational purposes. It is enveloped by the Baikunthapur Forest. For bird lovers and photographers this is a must-visit destination from Jaldapara. This is because, owing to the reservoir and the thick forests surrounding it, it has become a home to several species of birds, some of which are quite rare. These birds come from as far as Central Asia and Ladakh. Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Greylag Goose, Bar-Headed Goose, Common Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Common Teal, Spot-billed duck, Indian Cormorant an Indian Pond Heron are only a few of the many species that can be spotted here.
JAYANTI
There are a number of villages inside Buxa Tiger Reserve and Jayanti is one of them. The small forest village is situated along the banks of River Jayanti that forms a border with Bhutan hills. The picturesque village offers visitors a charming view of the surroundings and the unadulterated beauty is captivating. The peace and calmness of the place are extremely soothing and one can spend hours near the river listening to the silence. Jayanti is quite popular among hikers. There is a 13 km trek Jayanti to Buxaduar and the trail passes through the dense forests of the Tiger Reserve. The thrilling trekking trail attracts enthusiasts and is a memorable experience.
DOOARS TEA ESTATE
A part of the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands Ecoregion, Dooars are the alluvial floodplains that are found in north-eastern part of the country. A part of the Dooars is in West Bengal and another part in Assam. In Bengal, it covers Jalpaiguri district and Alipurduar district. Apart from the dense jungle and wildlife Dooars is also famous for the sprawling tea estates producing some of the finest tea in the world. A trip to these tea gardens is definitely worth a visit. It is a treat to watch the lush green gardens, learn about how tea is produced and indulge in some tea-testing sessions.
JHALLONG RIVER CAMP
Along the way to Kalimpong, on the banks of the river Jaldhaka is located the town of Jhalong, right at the foot of the Himalayas from where one can witness true scenic beauty the mighty ranges have to offer. hallong is generally considered a birdwatcher’s dream come true with several species of hill birds like the Laughing Thrush, Redstart, Brown Dipper and other migratory ones. For a more inside look into the various bird species, one can also visit the Jhallong Tourism run bird sanctuary.
BINDU RIVER
A small village at an altitude of 600m or about 2000 feet, on the India-Bhutan border, Bindu is famous for its cardamom plantation, pristine nature, and river Jaldhaka. The place has come up as a popular offbeat tourist destination of Dooars. Bindu is scenically placed in Kalimpong district among the high mountains all around with Jaldhaka River flowing through the valley making a natural border between Bhutan and India. Bindu is where the Jaldhaka Dam is located, it is one of the oldest Hydro-electric projects between India and Bhutan. Three streams namely Dudh Khola, Bindu Khola, and Jaldhaka have met at the dam site. With the increasing importance of Gorumara as the tourism hub of Dooars, Bindu has also become part of a day tour for visitors to Gorumara.
Phuentsholing
The gateway of the land of thunder dragons, Phuentsholing is often regarded as the abode of kings and queens of the Himalayan Kingdom. Time moves at a slow pace here and the simplicity of the inhabitants complements the serenity of nature. At an altitude of only 300 meters, this commercial center in Bhutan lies adjacent to Indian town Jaigaon on the Himalayan foothills. the Bhutan Gate is the main entrance and exit from and to India. In terms of orderly planning, municipal cleanliness, and architecture, the difference between the two cities is evident. Located beside the Regional Immigration Office, the gate looks beautiful with exquisite woodcraft and the well-maintained flower beds in close vicinity create a beautiful setup.
ALIPURDUAR
Alipurduar is an important district in north Bengal and lies en route to the northeast states of India and Bhutan. A major part of the Dooars now falls under Alipurduar district and is only 50 km Jaldapara. Dooars is undoubtedly the biggest attraction in Alipurduar and tourists drive down frequently from Jaldapara for a tour of the forest area. The art and craft of Alipurduar is also an attraction for tourists. There are influences of multiple cultures which accounts for their rich cultural heritage. There are a number of carnivals that are celebrated here throughout the year like Lossar, Theugap, and Karam.
COOCHBEHAR
Tourists traveling to Jaldpara can drive down to Cooch Behar if they have time to spare. It is located 60 km from the national park. A princely state before the independence of India, Cooch Behar was later integrated into Indian Union. The biggest attraction here is the Cooch Behar Palace or Rajbari that was constructed in 1887 during the rule of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan. Modeled on the Buckingham Palace of London, the palace is a stunner. An intimidating structure sprawled across a huge area, the palace attracts a large number of people. Apart from the palace, there are many famous temples here like the Madan Mohan Temple, Siddheswari Kali Temple, etc.