Dooars – Far From the Maddening Crowd

Imagine the perfect peace. Very little traffic, no pollution, no noise…just the melody of birds and rustling of tree leaves under the brilliant blue sky. That describes the drive from Siliguri to the Dooars region, the distance of approximately 65 kms.

by MOUSHUMI DHAR

A place that makes the busy life seems far away. A place that is stress free and leaves you full of energy, confidence and totally rejuvenated.

Welcome to Dooars. Derived from the word Dooars, the Dooars is a gateway to Bhutan and the northeastern states of India. A few hours from Siliguri in North Bengal, the region remains unexplored by a majority of tourists. It offers fascinating views of the valley, tea gardens, hills, wildlife, flora and fauna. What more could you ask for?

PLANNING FOR DOOARS

The best time to visit Dooars is between Mid September and April when the sky is clear and the weather is pleasant. Winter is particularly a good time to visit to catch a view of the most exotic migratory birds.

Summer: Temperatures usually start rising from March onwards and warm weather continues till September end. However the temperature never reach an unbearable limit and there is usually a cool breeze, in the mornings and evenings even during the warmer months.

Winter: The cold season starts from first week of November and generally continues till February. In case there is a cold spell from the Himalayas, temperatures might drop low and a thick jacket might be needed, in addition to light woolens.

Monsoon: The refreshing tropical rains make the forests appear vibrant and picturesque.

It is important to pack few essentials before your trip. These include swimming gear, pair of comfortable pants or jeans; light t-shirts and shorts, comfortable walking shoes (no high heels), sunglasses, cap and a camera to keep shooting pictures.

DRIVING IN THE DOOARS REGION

The drive from Silliguri to Chalsa in Dooars is simply breathtaking. The stretch from Silliguri to Sevoke is relatively smooth and one passes through the Kalu Rimpoche Monastery at Salugara and the Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary. Once you cross the famous Coronation Bridge, also called Baghphool; constructed in 1947 over the mighty Teesta River, the drive becomes even more exciting. You will encounter monkeys and remember to carry peanuts and bananas to feed them. The road ahead passes through the tea garden belt and lush green forests via Oodlabari and Malbazar to reach Chalsa in the Dooars.

Our ultimate destination was Sinclairs Retreat Dooars, The only luxury destination in Dooars region, located at Chalsa hilltop, where we had decided to stay. It is the ultimate place to seek respite from the pace of everyday living. Built in complete harmony with nature, the resort is ideal for those seeking rest, rejuvenation and adventure. The highlight of the resort is the 20 acres of verdant greenery interspersed with trees, flowers and shrubs.

The retreat has an Ayurvedic Centre, which offers massage, steam, sauna, and other health therapies. It also has a yoga room and a gymnasium. The pool adjoining the fitness facility is idea for those looking for a refreshing dip. The food and drink served at the Banyan Tree restaurant are made from fresh, often homegrown vegetables and fruits.

We had asked the Regional Director – Sinclairs Hotels: Mr.Vikash Kuthari to plan our entire trip and to take us to all the places around. I decided to visit all the places and enjoy the greenery and wildlife in the company of my family. Everyday we discovered a new place.

The land is crisscrossed by some great rivers like the Teesta and Torsa and by innumerable seasonal rivers, which add to the overall beauty of this unforgettable wilderness.

How to reach Dooars?

Taking direct flights from Kolkata and Delhi to Bagdogra airport, one can reach Chalsa (70 kms) in 2 hours. The most prominent railway station nearby is New Jalpaiguri that is linked to almost all the major cities. Ample accommodation is available in the Sinclairs Retreat Dooars located here.

Places to See

CHAPRAMARI, another forest is approximately 960 sq. kms and is made with the canopy of large trees like Teak, Sal, Bahera, Kawla, Dilenia, Mallotus, Chilaune, Lali etc. as well as 83 type of different recorded grass including the giant elephant grass, the guatemala etc. Some beautiful wild orchids ornament the forest and this jungle is home to a large number of wild animals.

BUXA TIGER RESERVE is the largest forest in North Bengal and has the second highest tiger population in West Bengal after Sunderbans. The park has a rich population of elephants, Indian bisons, leopards, many species of deer and many smaller mammals, innumerable species of birds and reptiles. Buxa is rich in bio-diversity and has a rare collection of orchids and medicinal plants.

THE MAHANANDA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY covers an area of 158.04 sq.km. and many wild animals are found here, not to mention the beautiful birds. The Sanctuary offers some beautiful trekking routes from Sukna. Golaghat, Deorali and the Latpancher-Mana track are the favourites for trekking and bird watching.

JALDAPARA WILD LIFE SANCTUARY, situated at the foothills of Eastern Himalayas and on the bank of river Torsa in West Bengal is vast grassland with patches of riverine forests. The Jaldapara sanctuary is a mixture of a mosaic of woods, grassland, swamps and streams. You can also catch a glimpse of the Asiatic one-horned Rhino!

LAVA, SUNTALEKHOLA,SAMSING ,BINDU ,KALIJHORA, we all came back home with an exhilarating experience. It was almost like finding once own share of paradise on earth.

GORUMARA NATIONAL PARK, located on the banks of rivers Murti and Raidak has vegetation of riverine grasslands interspersed with savannah woodlands. The park is breathtaking with its rivers and mountain ranges. Besides the one horned rhinoceros, the fauna of the park include Indian Elephant, Indian Bison, leopard, and different species of deer, turtles, pythons, monkeys etc. and more than 200 species of birds.