10 Best Places to Visit in Dooars

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.- John Muir.

Dooars is a verdant land sprawled in the outmost line of the Eastern Himalayas. Located in the West Bengal Region the beauty of Dooars has surely not gone unnoticed. The unspoiled beauty of Dooars has made it a safe haven for adventurers and nature lovers.

A densely forested area with its alluring charisma has always entranced the mind of many travellers. Once in a while you might have dreamed about tasting the thrill of exploring the core of a jungle. Dooars is one of those places where you can fulfil your dreams.

If you are on your way to this enchanting place or planning your Dooars trip you can find the list of places that you shouldn’t miss out on the Dooars Tour Package you will be customizing.

1. Gorumara National Park

Gorumara is a national park of Northern West Bengal which has been declared as the best-protected area in India by the Ministry of Environment and Forest for the year 2009. It is famous for its population of Indian Rhinoceros.

Exploring the dense forest while riding on the back of an elephant can be a surreal experience that you can get while visiting Gorumara National Park.

2. Jaldapara National Park

Jaldapara National is another verdant forest of Dooars. Travelers from far and wide travel towards Jaldapara for its exquisite collection of birds. During their trip, they might even spot some rare birds like Bengal Florican and Rufous Necked Hornbill.

Along with being the home of many exotic birds, Jaldapara is also the only place where people of the Toto tribe are found. Since the 14th century, the dense forest of Jaldapara is the home to the people of the Toto tribe.

3. Chapramari

Chapramari is the oldest forest reserve in the West Bengal Region. It is also an important elephant corridor, so occasional sighting of wild elephants is not an uncommon event. The main attraction of Chapramari is its watch tower.

The watchtower is overlooking a pit of water where if luck favours visitors can witness wild animals like guar and wild elephants drinking water.

4. Murti

The next destination is named after a river stream called Murti. Surrounded by a lush sub-tropical forest, Murti is a serene river valley in Dooars.

If you like the idea of camping near a river stream, the Murti is the perfect place for you.

Listen to the gurgling of the river stream and enjoy the serenity of pristine nature in Murti.

5. Buxa

Located close to the Indo-Bhutan border is the 15th tiger reserve of India, Buxa Tiger Reserve. Although there hasn’t been an official tiger sighting since 2002, you will be graced by the occasional presence of clouded leopards and wild bison.

There are many astounding trekking routes through the thickly wooded forest of Buxa Tiger Reserve. One such trail led towards the ruins of Buxa Fort. It is a historically significant place.

During National Freedom Movement many freedom fighters were held captive in this fort. To date in the ruins of Buxa Fort visitors can feel the lingering essence of that rebellious era.

6. Lepchakha Village

If you are feeling a bit adventurous you can opt for the trek towards Lepchakha Village. It is the highest point in Buxa National Park. After a tedious uphill trek through the mixed forest of Buxa, you will reach this scenic hamlet.

Lepchakha village is often considered as the “Queen of Dooars”. From here you can witness the panoramic vista of the 12 rivers flowing through Dooars which looks like glistening snakes meandering through the plains.

The serenity and surreal beauty of Lepchakha village cannot be expressed in words.

7. Rocky Island

Sited along the bank of River Murti, is Rocky Island of Dooars. As the name suggests it is an island made up of gigantic rocks.

You can camp beside the meandering stream of River Murti on Rocky Island. The outwardly feel of camping under the starry night can give memories of a lifetime.

Listen to the alluring sound of gurgling river streams while watching the dancing flames from the bonfire, you can experience all of it on Rocky Island.

8. Suntalekhola

Enclosed by the verdant forest of Neora Valley is a rustic place called Suntalekhola. Unspoiled by modern society, Suntalekhola has become a place to find solace.

You need a cross a wooden bridge to reach the scenic hamlet. The bridge is a vantage point to watch the river cascading through the rugged path. In Suntalekhola you can also go for short treks, the famous one being towards Mouchuki.

It’s a 6km trek from Suntalekhola to Mouchuki which is through the verdant forest and offers an awe-inspiring view of the Himalayas on one side and the lush green Dooars plain on the other from Mouchuki a sight which has left many travellers spellbound.

9. Bhutanghat

Being the last point in the Buxa Tiger Reserve, Bhutanghat is one of the less-trodden destinations of Dooars. Some of you might have never heard about this place, but if you have known then you must agree with the fact that it is a pictorial destination. You can reach Bhutanghat via Alipurduar.

Cuddled in the base of Bhutan hill along the bank of River Raidak, Bhutanghat derived its name from its unique location.

The bank of river Raidak has become a famous picnic spot where tourists can spend some quality time while overlooking the daunting hill of Bhutan.

There is no such interest point in Bhutanghat that may dishearten some tourists. But for the nature lover Bhutanghat with its surreal natural beauty is a paradise for them.

10. South Khayerbari

Enclosed with the verdant forested area and sprawled across the bank of the sparkling river Torsa is a place called South Khayerbari. It is the safe haven of the feline rescued from the illegitimate animal smuggler.

After the ban on the use of animals in circuses, the forest team opened this rehabilitation centre for all the rescued animals. There are 18 leopards in South Khayerbari, which is more than you can ever spot in a jungle at once. There are small battery-operated cars that you can use to explore all the nooks and corners of this rescue centre.

South Khayerbari with its serene ambience, rich flora and unique ideology has become the safe haven for both rescued felines and wilderness lovers.

Things to be remembered while visiting Dooars

• Forest remains closed from the 15th of June to the 15th of September.
• Do not litter within the forest.
• Carry adequate insect repellent.
• Do not try to feed the wild animals.

Relish the beauty of nature without tarnishing it.

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