Tag: dooars tourism

Jhalong Bindu Jaldhaka

by mercury on August 24, 2019

Jhalong and Bindu with Jaldhaka water project

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Jhalong Bindu Jaldhaka project

If one thinks that Dooars is all about jungles and wildlife then they are highly mistaken. The Dooars tourism also provides us with the option to visit beautiful river valleys, villages and hills and enjoy the fresh air and view from there. A Dooars tour including Jhalong and Bindu with the Jaldhaka water project is such an experience.

Situated near the Indo-Bhutan border, Jhalong is a beautiful hill station in the banks of the river Jaldhaka. One can feel like they are back to the time when there were no tall concrete buildings and clouds of smoke around them. The fresh air and the scenic beauty of the place are mesmerising. Jhalong is where the Jhalong River meets the Jaldhaka River. Also, the Jaldhaka water project (Jaldhaka Hydel Project) has also been established here and thus Jhalong is also called Jaldhaka sometimes.

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How to reach

If one wants to visit this beautiful place then they can take an one day trip to Jhalong from Lataguri during their Dooars tour. All they need to do is take the morning safari from Lataguri and enjoy the ride in a jeep to the beautiful Jhalong. One can expect sightings of elephants in the road. Rubber plantations can also be seen on the way near Khunia forest. There is also the option to stay in resorts or hotels, in case one doesn’t want to go back to the same concrete surrounded life. In case one wishes to solely enjoy the hilly Dooars, they also have the option to take a bus from Siliguri straight to Jhalong.

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Attractions in Jhalong

  • Gairibas view point: On the way, the Jeep Safari stops at the Gairibas view point from where the Jaldhaka River is clearly visible. The Bhutan hills rises beyond the river and right below on the Indian side of the river, one can see the little settlement of Jhalong sitting there. 15-20 minutes are allotted to spend there watching the beautiful valley from above. Beside the view point, one can find a restaurant that offers to take various snacks for the rest of the journey. One can also try a full course Nepali meal in the restaurant around lunch time. Other than this, the restaurant also has a small garden area with chairs where one can sit and enjoy a wonderful view of the river and the beautiful Bhutan hills.
  • Jhalong River Camp: If you are an adventurous person then the Jalong River Camp may help you enjoy your Dooars tour better. The Jhalong River camp is situated in the banks of the Jhalong River. This camp is established by the WBFDC (West Bengal Forest Development Corporation) where tents like camps are provided with amenities including hot water in attached bathrooms and food. A common dining area is built with wooden gazebos under shades of trees to give a better camping vibe.
  • Jhalong Market: How can a holiday be complete without shopping? If one takes a bridge and cross the Jhalong river from one side to the other, they reach a village which leads to the Jhalong Market. Bhutanese villagers that live across the Jaldhaka river come here for weekly provisions. Not only one can come here for shopping but they can also witness the harmony between the Indians and the Bhutanese. Other than this there is also another market in the Bhutan Hills known as “Gol Market” where the Indians are allowed to visit.
  • Jaldhaka Hydel Project Site: The Jaldhaka Hydel Project was one of the foremost hydro electric projects in India and is one of the best tourist attractions in Jhalong or Jaldhaka for the wide variety of migratory birds that fly down here The dam also serve as a bridge to go across to Bhutan. One requires a special permit from the WBSEB (West Bengal State Electricity Board) to visit the dam. Bird watchers may have a great time because of the sighting if migratory water fowls from Central Asia and Ladakh.

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Also situated in the Indo-Bhutan border, Bindu is a small village known for the landscape of the Jaldhaka river, hills and forests. It is the conjunction three streams originating from the Kupup Lake (a glacier lake in Sikkim) which later form the Jaldhaka river. Bindu is where the second oldest dam in India (the dam over the Jaldhaka river) was built known as the Bindu dam used to control the water supply in the Jaldhaka Hydel Project. One can use this dam to cross the river and reach Bhutan on the other side though vehicles cannot pass over it. One is free to sit on the huge rocs sitting in the river bed though they should mind their steps as they are slippery and the water current might be strong. One can see cardamom plantations and orange orchids all around. The scene of the hills, plantations and the river with the dam and the water gushing down is just spectacular.

Hope you enjoy your Dooars tour package including Jhalong and Bindu with the Jaldhaka water project.

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Jaldapara Forest

by mercury on August 24, 2019

Jaldapara

dooars jaldapara tour package
jaldapara forest

Home to the river Torsa, Jaldapara is an area of vast grassland with patches of riverine forests. Jaldapara was declared to be a wildlife sanctuary in 1941 for the protection of the wide variety of flora and fauna that are found in this region including the one-horned rhinoceros which is currently said to be endangered. If you like to visit forests or are interested in wildlife and flora photography then a Dooars tour including Jaldapara is best for you. Jaldapara is a great mixture of grassland, deciduous forests and river banks. These river banks hold refuge to a large number of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds and it’s a great experience to watch them with our naked eyes.

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How to reach

To reach this beautiful place one has three options:-

  1. By air: Since Jaldapara is a wildlife sanctuary, there is no way to reach there directly. To reach there by a flight, Bagdogra is the nearest airport. One can easily reach Bagdogra and then take a road trip to Jaldapara via Siliguri.
  2. By Train: During a Dooars tour New Jalpaiguri station or NJP station is a vital spot as it is connected to most of the tourist attractions in the Bengal Dooars. The nearest train station is Madarihat. Other than that all trains stop at Birpara and Hasimara which are close to Jaldapara too.
  3. By road: One can also reach Jaldapara by road via the NH 31. One living in Kolkata can easily take a bus from Esplanade and reach Jaldapara. The entry point of the sanctuary is in Madarihat in the Siliguri – Hasimara section.

Places to visit in Jaldapara

best dooars tour plan
best dooars tour plan in Jaldapara forest
  • Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary: The Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary is one of the largest sanctuaries in the Bengal Dooars. The rivers Torsa and Malangi flows through the rainforest holding refuge to a wide variety of wildlife including elephants, Asiatic one-horned rhinoceros (the sanctuary holding the highest population of rhino in India after Kaziranga National Park), tiger, deer, sambhar, barking deer, spotted deer, hog deer, wild pig and bisons. The only way to travel through the forests is by the elephant safaris or jeep safaris. The elephant safaris take place in the morning starting from the Hollong Lodge of the WBFDC (West Bengal Forest Development Corporation). Usually only four trained elephants of the forest department take part in the safaris named- Laxmi, Minakshi, Madhumala and Priyadarshini. The Hollong Lodge is located deep inside the forest. One who wants to enjoy the elephant safari from Hollong Bungalow Lodge needs to fill out the forms by the previous afternoon.
  • Chilapata Forest: The Chilapata Reserve Forest is a dense forest bordering the Jalpaiguri district and near Jaldapara National Park falling under the Alipurduar district. One can witness the sightings of the one-horned rhino, elephants, bisons, deer, leopard, etc. To visit the Chilapata forests, one can take a jeep safari. They can also have a tour of the nearby Mathura Tea Estate.
  • Khariabari: A separate leopard rescue centre is situated on the west side of Jaldapara. It is a small stretch of the forest in Khariabari where leopards are taken care of. Tourists are welcome to come and visit the leopards.

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If one wants to stay near the Jaldapara National Park, the only option is to stay at Madarihat. The small town of Madarihat is completely surrounded by the Jaldapara forest. One can visit Madarihat not only for exploring the national park but also for the pictorial sceneries of the place. The small town is surrounded by tea gardens, deciduous forest and hilly terrain along with small river streams throughout the town. The town has its own railway station which allows visitors to easily come here. It is thus the point through which the tourists reach various other Dooars tourism attractions. Not only can one reach Jaldapara from Madarihat but they can also reach Chilapata forest which acts as a corridor between the Jaldapara and Buxa reserve forest. Madarihat is the place which gives tourists a perfect balance between forests and society. From going on a safari in a jeep through the forest to walking through the tea gardens in Madarihat, one can enjoy all sorts of things including the beautiful landscape.

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Wish all tourists have a wonderful holiday in the Dooars.

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Phuentsholing Town

by mercury on August 23, 2019

Phuentsholing Town

phuentsholing town
Phuentsholing Bhutan Gate

The border town of South Bhutan is Phuentsholing town which is a highly-populated area. It is an ethnic commercial place dominantly for Indian, Bhutanese and Nepalese. The Zangtho Pelri Lhakhang being in the middle of the town so you can just walk to it. The Crocodile Farm is 15 minutes away from Phuentsholing town and you can also take a walk to see that. The Bhutan Gate, you will cross on your way if you are traveling by road from Jaigaon. It’s best to hire a local taxi to see the Karbandi Gompa, Torsa Tea Gardens. The prime time to visit is October and November. This place can be covered during Dooars tour and Bhutan Tour Package.

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Karbandi and other Monasteries in Phuentsholing

The Karbandi Monastery in Phuentsholing has several rooms in the main temple where many Buddha’s statues are kept. This Monastery holds the history of Bhutan and is decked with bright colorful prayer flags. This Buddhist temple is between Jaigaon and Phuentsholing. Visitors can see four beautiful large statues i.e. Buddhist deities, Shakyamuni Buddha, Shubdrung Ngawang Namgyal, and Guru Rinpoche. The Zangto Pelri is in the middle of Phuentsholing Town and is surrounded by a beautiful flower garden. The temple has 4-meter-high statues, the most prominent of which, is Guru Rinpoche. It was built in 1990 under the commandment of Dasho Aku Tongmi.

Crocodile Park

crocodile park phuentsholing
Crocodile Park at Phuentsholing

The Crocodile Breeding Park in Phuentsholing was opened in 1976 with fewer facilities and fewer improvements. The farm was later developed in 2003 and expanded the pond and area for 22 crocodiles. It is home to some of the extinct species like Muggar and Gharial. There are about 6 Gharials which feeds on 12 kgs of fish on alternate days and about 15 Muggars.

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