The scence started changing as the train re-started from Siliguri station. Soon filthiness of township remained behind and wilderness abound. We crossed Tista river at Sevok.Then the jungle started. Whistling through dense forests and occassional tunnels we touched some sweetly named railway stations like Bagrakot,
Oodlabari & Damdim until we reached New Mal junction, the starting point of our dooars tour.
It took us only about 45 min through lush green jungle and tea gardens to reach Tapovan Resort at Lataguri by hired jeep. Situated at the fringe of Gorumara National Park, Lataguri is one of the most convenient places to explore Dooars with its jungles, tea gardens, numerous rivers with vast river beds, wild animals and multitude of birds to fill your hours of solitude with fullness of natural bliss.
It takes a half day to visit Gorumara National Park which is rich in natural & wildlife treasures.
Beauty of the forest in a misty December morning with all its chill can be best experienced from its Jatra prashad watch tower, named after the most beloved kunki (trained) elephant of the place. Herd of Indian Gaur, occassional elephant near the salt pit,or lonely Great Indian Hornbill are some of the common sights of this national park.
While getting out from Gorumara National Park, we spent some time by watching activites in a nearby tea garden,how women of different ages were sorting out two leaves and a bud with their brisk experienced hands.
In the afternoon we went to Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary en route to Nagrakata, crossing river Murti. We spent some time by the river where scenic beauty is truely magnificient. At Chapramari we saw Indian Gaur in abundance near the salt pit. Some Peacocks were seen, too.
The next day we visited Jhalong. The path was uphill after Chapramari & beauty of the whole route was eye soothing. At Jhalong we had a good view of nearby Bhutan hills & river Jaldhaka. We returned to our resort after visiting Jaldhaka hydel project at Bindu.
The rest day at our resort was spent in listening to the hermitic silence of the jungle, occassionally broken by cacophony of peacock's call. At the afternoon we went by car for half an hour to the entry point of Medla watch tower from where we reached the place near the confluence of rivers Murti & Jaldhaka by buffalo cart. Spending some time at this picturesque place, we went to the nearby forest hamlet (Kalipur & Chottoya bon basti) to enjoy cultural programme presented by an Oraon tribal group.
The last day we had an early lunch and visited Samsing and Suntalay Khola, about one hour journey from Lataguri. At Suntalay Khola, there is the fine resort of West Bengal Forest Development Corporation,
where solitude seekers may rest for two or three days.At nearby Samsing, we saw strawberry plantation and visited the dilapidated Samsing tea estate. We boarded down Kanchankanya Exp. from New Mal junction in the evening for Calcutta.
1. New Mal junction to Malbazar 3.2 km
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| Tapovan Resort, Lataguri |
It took us only about 45 min through lush green jungle and tea gardens to reach Tapovan Resort at Lataguri by hired jeep. Situated at the fringe of Gorumara National Park, Lataguri is one of the most convenient places to explore Dooars with its jungles, tea gardens, numerous rivers with vast river beds, wild animals and multitude of birds to fill your hours of solitude with fullness of natural bliss.
It takes a half day to visit Gorumara National Park which is rich in natural & wildlife treasures.
Beauty of the forest in a misty December morning with all its chill can be best experienced from its Jatra prashad watch tower, named after the most beloved kunki (trained) elephant of the place. Herd of Indian Gaur, occassional elephant near the salt pit,or lonely Great Indian Hornbill are some of the common sights of this national park.
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| Gorumara National Park |
While getting out from Gorumara National Park, we spent some time by watching activites in a nearby tea garden,how women of different ages were sorting out two leaves and a bud with their brisk experienced hands.
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| Tea garden at Gorumara |
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| Murti River |
In the afternoon we went to Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary en route to Nagrakata, crossing river Murti. We spent some time by the river where scenic beauty is truely magnificient. At Chapramari we saw Indian Gaur in abundance near the salt pit. Some Peacocks were seen, too.
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| Chapramari Wildlife Santuary |
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| Chapramari Watch Tower |
The rest day at our resort was spent in listening to the hermitic silence of the jungle, occassionally broken by cacophony of peacock's call. At the afternoon we went by car for half an hour to the entry point of Medla watch tower from where we reached the place near the confluence of rivers Murti & Jaldhaka by buffalo cart. Spending some time at this picturesque place, we went to the nearby forest hamlet (Kalipur & Chottoya bon basti) to enjoy cultural programme presented by an Oraon tribal group.
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| Lataguri |
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| Jhalong |
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| View from Medla Watch Tower |
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| View from Medla Watch Tower |
where solitude seekers may rest for two or three days.At nearby Samsing, we saw strawberry plantation and visited the dilapidated Samsing tea estate. We boarded down Kanchankanya Exp. from New Mal junction in the evening for Calcutta.
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| Suntalay Khola |
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| Strawberry plantation at Samsing |
Distance at a glance:
1. New Mal junction to Malbazar 3.2 km
2. Malbazar to Lataguri 29 km
3. Lataguri to Gorumara 3.8 km (towards Malbazar)
4. Gorumara to Jhalong 53.2 km
5. Jhalong to Bindu 11 km
6. Lataguri to Samsing 40 km
7. Samsing to New Mal junction 27 km
13149 Up Kanchankanya Exp departs from Sealdah everyday at 20:30 hr to reach New Mal junction at 09:13 hr the following day.
13150 Dn Kanchankanya Exp departs from New Mal junction everyday at 18:40 hr to reach Sealdah at 08:15 hr the following day.
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