5N 6D DOOARS & MANAS WILDLIFE SANCTUARY FOREST TRAIL
Covers: Gorumara National Park, Chapramari forest, Chilapata Forest, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary.
Highlight of the trip:
If you don’t like popular (read crowded) wild destination and love to be left alone with mother nature, this can be a dream vacation for you. You’ll surely love the raw wildness and freshness of this tour.
Day 1: New Mal Junction to Lataguri .
Upon arrival at the railway station/airport, you are received and driven to the Forest Department’s accommodation (Travel time 1-5 to 2 hrs approx) either at:
- Dhupjhora Elephant Camp or
- Kalipur
Eco-Cottage or
- Gorumara Eco
Village
.
Dhupjhora Elephant Camp:
Accommodations are available in a few cottages but the tree house (named Teesta) popularly known as Gachbari is the one that attracts the most.
The rooms are equipped with attached bathrooms but without geysers. However hot water is provided at your doorstep on request.
Activities at Dhupjhora Elephant Camp:
Staying in the tree-house provides one with the forest Canopy life. River Murti is just a walking distance away. Indulge in Elephant Captivity management where you can see and experience giving elephants a bath, Elephant joy ride and Folk dance in the evening.
Activities at Kalipur Eco-cottage OR Gorumara Eco Village:
Enjoy Elephant joy ride and Folk dance in the evening.
Overnight stay will be at any one of the above mentioned properties.
Breakfast (No) Lunch (Yes) Dinner (Yes)
Day 2: Transfer to Chapramari Wilderness Camp at Panjhora
After breakfast, we drive you to Chapramari Wilderness Camp at Panjhora (Travel time 2 hrs approx).
This Wilderness camp, at the foothills of the Himalayas, besides the River Murti as well as the Chapramari forest is a wonderful location to chill out.
Here, the river Murti meanders its way down to the plains unveiling a serene panoramic view of distant tea gardens against the backdrop of mountain plains on one side and dense forest of Chapramari on the other.
You can enjoy the safari to the Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary (Gypsy & guide charges Payable by the guests on the spot) or simply choose to leisure it out.
Overnight stay will be at Chapramari Wilderness Camp at Panjhora.
Breakfast (Yes) Lunch (Yes) Dinner (Yes)
Day 3: Transfer to Barodabri Malangi lodge OR Buxa Jungle Lodge
After breakfast, we would start for the next leg of your journey to Hasimara, where we would put up at the Malangi Lodge or the Buxa Jungle Lodge at Rajabhatkhowa located within the Forest areas of Buxa Tiger Reserve. (Travel time 1hr 30 minutes to 2hr approx from Chapramari)
The Barodabri Malangi Lodge situated near the Hasimara Air base and the Assam Bhutan border is our preferred stay option and your base for exploring the Chilapata Forest and its adjoining areas. In case accommodation is not available at the Barodabri Malangi Lodge, we would put up at the Buxa Jungle Lodge at Rajabhatkhowa and continue with exploring the Chilapata Circuit from there.
The Chilapata Tourism Circuit Sector consists of:
- a) Chilapata
Forest,
- b) Barodabri (Malangi),
- c) The Kodal Basti (Mendabari Jungle Camp) and
- d) The Nal Rajar Garh
The Chilapata Sanctuary is the green corridor between the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary and the Buxa Tiger reserve. Inspite of having some of the densest forests in the entire Dooars area, the Chilapata forest have been recognized neither as a Wildlife Sanctuary nor as a National Park. It still remains a mere reserve forest for exploring wildlife in the wilderness. However, the real thrill and experience of exploring this dense forest is either by taking:
- a Guided Jeep Safari which includes a visit to the
Mendabari Watch Tower and the Kodal
Basti forests (
Payable by the guests on the spot
)
, OR
- An Elephant ride (
Payable by the guests on the spot
).
Numerous forest trails and walks are also a major attraction here. One can also enjoy a visit to the nearby Mathura tea estate on a Tonga (Horse pulled Carriage) or can even have an excellent and authentic cultural experience by visiting the Rabha tribal community in their villages.
Nal Rajar Garh :
Hidden deep inside the Chilapata forests are the ruins of a 5th century fort, the Nal Rajar Garh (Fort of the King Nala), believed to be built during the Gupta era. The dilapidated remains today are a handful of stone and brick blocks with distinctive carvings. The ruins also consist of a broken wall and a broken gate of the Nal Rajar Garh, where, it is believed, the soldiers of the Maharajahs of Cooch Behar stayed to protect the kingdom from Bhutanese invasion.
Breakfast (Yes) Lunch (No) Dinner (No)
Day 4: Chilapata to Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
After breakfast, we drive to our next destination, the Manas Wildlife sanctuary. (Travel time 4:00 to 4:30 hrs)
The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is one of India's most magnificent National Park and a well known World Heritage site.
The Reserve runs along the Indo-Bhutan international border and is situated on the banks of the river Manas at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas.
In this grass and jungle habitat of unparalleled beauty, tigers, elephants, capped Langurs, Golden Langurs and Bengal Floricans share this exquisite wilderness with other rare and endangered species.
In fact, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary harbours the maximum number of endangered species from India as listed in the IUCN Red Book. Spend the day at leisure at Luxury Jungle Camp ( Birina Tourist Lodge ).
Breakfast (No) Lunch (No) Dinner (No)
Day 5: Full Day Jeep Safari in Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife sighting at Manas is neither regular nor frequent, but when it occurs, it usually occurs at close range and that can catch you unawares.
The easiest way to get around the Sanctuary is to take a guided tour. Jeep trails through the forest facilitate the viewing of a wide variety of birds and animals. One has to be vigilant and look both in the undergrowth as well as on treetops.
Trips into the forest are only permitted between sunrise and sunset; the timings are 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Our vehicle along with a Guide would take you around the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary as well as the river banks for sighting elephants and buffaloes. However, Sanctuary Entry Tickets and Guide Charges have to be paid by you at actual.
Overnight stay at Luxury Jungle Camp.
Breakfast (No) Lunch (No) Dinner (No)
Day 6: Elephant Safari/Excursion to Rasikbil and departure from Alipurduar.
The last day’s itinerary would depend upon your departure timings.
You can opt for:
- Availing an elephant ride at 05:00a.m. (Extra payable) and depart from Manas Wildlife Sanctuary for being dropped at the railway station,
- OR
- Depart early from Manas Wildlife
Sanctuary; visit Rasikbil before being dropped at the railway station at
Alipurduar or New Mal Junction.
Rasikbil or Rasikbeel is a small lake that attracts a lot of birds that nest in the trees around the lake. The varieties of birds that live in and around the lake include cormorants, different varieties of storks , ibis, spoonbill, kingfisher, parrots, owl and many others.
There is a Deer park and a Crocodile Rehabilitation Center by the side of the lake. There is also a Leopard house, a python house, Aviary & a Tortoise Rescue entre.
After this visit, at appropriate time, we drop you to the railway station for your onward journey. Your tour ends with sweet memories.
Breakfast (No) Lunch (No) Dinner (No)