4N 5D DOOARS
Covers : Gorumara National Park, Samsing, Sunthalekhola, Murti, Jhalong, Bindu, South Khayerbari,
Jaldapara and any three watch towers along with Elephant safari
Day 1 : New Mal Junction to
Lataguri.
Upon
arrival at the New Mal junction railway station/airport, you are received and
driven to your hotel/resort at Lataguri. This place is close to the Garumara
National Park. We prefer to put up our guests in hotels/resorts which give you
a feeling of being either in the forest or in a tea garden.
Late
in the afternoon, we take you to have a feel of the Forest. Depending upon the
availability of tickets/entry passes, we would take you to any one of
the following watchtowers at:
- · Jungle Safari which includes a visit to the Mahakal water
reservoir.
Overnight
at Lataguri Hotel/resort
Day 2 : Excursion to Jhalong,
Bindu, Samsing, Sunthalekhola
This
morning after breakfast, we take you for an excursion to Murti, Jhalong, Bindu
samsing and Sunthalekhola.
Murti
is a small village by the side of the Murti River. It is an ideal picnic spot
where one can enjoy the scenic beauty. Lucky ones can even catch a glimpse of
elephants and other animals by the side of Murti River when they come to drink
water.
Jhalong
is situated on the bank of the river Jaldhaka on the Indo-Bhutan border. It
lies at the foothills of the Himalayas, on the way to Bindu in Kalimpong
sub-division. Jaldhaka Hydro Electricity Project on Jaldhaka River is a major
attraction in this area. Bird lovers can enjoy a varied collection of hill
birds as well as migratory water fowls here.
Bindu
is the last village of West Bengal before one enters Bhutan. It is a beautiful
valley on the bank of the river Jaladhaka. This river serves as a natural
physical boundary separating West Bengal and Bhutan. Bindu is also famous for
its cardamom plantations. Visit to this place is an experience worth
remembering.
Samsing
is a tea estate in the Dooars, a small locality of about 100 houses which has
grown around the tea gardens. On the top of the hill there is a beautiful
Guesthouse. The silence of the place is disturbed only by the noise of the
gurgling river Murti, which flows about half a kilometer below. The drive to
Samsing is through lush green tea gardens and the descending mist on the tea
gardens during the monsoons is a sight to behold. It is a great spot to watch
birds.
Suntalekhola
or Suntaley Khola (also Suntaleykhola) is a small village and a
tourist spot in the Darjeeling District of West Bengal. The altitude of the
place ranges from 650 to 950 m. It gets its name from a small stream: Suntaley
Khola. In Nepali, Suntaley means orange and khola means stream.
This place is nearly 5 km from Samsing. The green patch on the left side of the way to Suntalekhola is amazing
and holds many rarities of birds and butterflies.
Overnight
at Lataguri Hotel/resort
Day 3 : Elephant safari
and Excursion to South Khayerbari and Jaldapara.
After
breakfast, drive straight for an excursion to South Khayerbari animal rescue
centre and Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. As on 11th Jan, 2011, there
are eight tigers in South Khayerbari rescue centre of which seven had been
seized from different circus troupes and one was brought from Alipore Zoo. The
South Khayerbari Animal Rescue Centre is also the home of 18 leopards. A
leopard safari (Optional), the only one of its kind in India, can also be
availed in South Khayerbari Eco Park.
Declared
a wildlife sanctuary in 1991, for the protection of the Indian one-horned
rhino, Jaldapara is situated in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas. The
river Torsha flows through this rain forest sanctuary which is mostly covered
with tall grasses. The sanctuary encompasses luxuriant vegetation and a rich
variety of wildlife. The Malangi River also flows nearby from east to west.
Riding elephants is the only way to move inside this forest and Visiting time
is 9A.M. to 4 p.m.
The
forest is mainly of Savannah Type covered with tall elephant grasses. The main
attraction of the sanctuary is Asiatic one-horned rhinoceros. The sanctuary
holds the highest rhino population in India after Kaziranga National Park in
Assam. The other animals found are tigers, elephants, deers, sambhar, barking deer,
spotted deer, hog deer, wild pig and bison. 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
fishing eagle and shikra, besides jungle fowl, peafowl, patridges, and lesser
pied hornbill. Python, monitor lizards, kraits, cobras, geckos and about 8
species of fresh water turtles have also been found in the sanctuary here.
A
thrilling elephant safari is organized in the early morning from Hollong to
offer the exquisite beauty of the vast grassland of Jaldapara. You can also
enjoy the jeep safari (Optional) inside the sanctuary which is another main
attraction. Overnight at Lataguri Hotel/resort
Day 3 : Watch tower and transfer to Kalipur or RhinoCamp
or Gorumara Elephant Camp.
In
the morning, we take you to have a feel of the Forest from a watchtower.
Depending upon the availability of tickets/entry passes, we would take you to any one of the following watchtowers at:
· Jatraprasad
· Chukchuki, or
· Jungle Safari which includes a visit to the Mahakal water
reservoir.
In
the afternoon, you would check-in either to the Kalipur Eco Village, The
Gorumara Elephant Camp or the Rhino Camp. Enjoy the evening at leisure.
If
you are at Kalipur, in the evening, you will enjoy the bullock ride and visit
the Medhla Watch. Watch wild animals from the watch tower and return at
evening. Enjoy an evening of tribal dance. Overnight at Kalipur Eco
Cottage/Rhino Camp/Gorumara Elephant Camp.
Day 5 : One Forest watch
Tower in the morning and depart for onward journey.
Early
in the morning, enjoy an Elephant safari. Thereafter, rest of the day is free
for leisure. Drop to airport/railway station for onward journey. Tour ends with
sweet memories |