About Buxa Tiger Reserve

The Buxa Tiger Reserve is a 760-square-kilometre (290 sq mi) tiger reserve located inside the Buxa National Park in West Bengal, India, in the Buxa hills of the southern hilly area of Bhutan. There is a great diversity of flora ranging from riverine forests, dry mixed forests, wet mixed forests, to evergreen forests, Savannah forests etc. Of the different endemic floral species of North East India, 60% are found in Buxa Tiger Reserve representing more than 1000 species. More than 100 species of medicinal plants are documented in Buxa Tiger Reserve. There are 68 species of mammals in Buxa Tiger Reserve including the commonly encountered elephants, gaur, leopard, fox, rhesus macaque, chital, barking deer, wild pig, malayan giant squirrel etc. There are around 250 species of birds in Buxa Tiger Reserve including different species of barbets, drongos, bulbuls, minivets, leafbirds, black birds, redstarts, flycatchers, raptors, woodpeckers, jungle fowls, parakeets and among the large birds, peacocks and hornbills. A favourable time to visit Buxa Tiger Reserve is from November to April. Park remains from closed 15 June to 30 September. Buxa Tiger Reserve is situated in Alipurduar sub-division and the nearest railway station is the Alipurduar Junction.

Places to visit in Buxa Tiger Reserve

Jayanti Forest

Jayanti is a small forest village within Buxa Tiger Reserve in Alipurduar district of West Bengal, India. It is located along the Jayanti River, forming a natural border with the Bhutan hills. You can get a panoramic view of the forest as well as the lower Himalayan range from the banks of river Jayanti which remains dry for most of the year. The Jayanti village used to be a major town in the area before the area became a tiger reserve. The place has lost its significance since then and today it is only a small village. The wide expanse of Jayanti River and Bhutan hills on the other side is a nature lover,s delight. Several movies have been shot here making the spot instantly recognizable to connoisseurs of Bengal movies. Way to Jayanti through the densely forested Buxa Tiger Reserve is a fascinating experience and another huge attraction of Jayanti tour. Meeting a herd of Elephant or Spotted Deer or plenty of Peacocks are most common sights on the way to Jayanti. Being situated in a remote corner of West Bengal along the boundary of Bhutan, this beautiful place is a small village where there are very limited staying options. Run by CESC Co-op Credit Society, it is the best staying option available at Jayanti. Hotel Banante, Nature Hut Resort and Banalata Resort in Jayanti are also good staying options.

Rajabhatkhawa

Rajabhatkhawa is located just 15 kms from Alipurduar, and it is the gateway to the famous Buxa Tiger Reserve. Serving as an entry point to nearby forests, this little town is bounded by rivers like Raidak and Jayanti. Surrounded by dense forests Rajabhatkhawa is an ideal place for the wild life lovers. It is a hamlet with a beautiful and a small rail station and a small village market. Many migratory birds like Goosanders, Ibis Bill, Fork-tails and many other species of birds are found in Rajabhatkhawa and among local birds that can be spotted are Pheasants, Cuckoos, Minivets, Flycatchers, Mynas, Orioles, Owls, Parakeets, Partridges, Sunbirds, Swallows, Swifts, etc. On the way to Rajabhatkhawa one can see the lush green tea gardens and forests. Kalchini, Patkapara and Buxa Duar are the neighboring towns. National Highway 31C passes through this town. A watchtower deep inside the Rajabhatkhawa forest gives the best opportunity to view elephants, bisons and tigers. The place is famous for its numerous trekking spots and many of them are through the forests of Buxa. The trek can be an exhilarating experience and youmay sight many different animals in their natural setting. The best time to visit Rajabhatkhawa is during winter season from October-June. The forest remains closed for tourist from 15th June- 15th September. A number of good resorts with luxurious accommodation which includes A.C. and non A.C. suites, Deluxe A.C. rooms and standard rooms with a range of facilities are there in Rajabhatkhawa to accommodate tourists.

Mahakal Cave

Jayanti also features a stalactite cave known as the Mahakal cave. Mahakal Cave is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is well known among tourist circles as a destination for sightseeing and pilgrimage for Hindus as the cave is devoted to Lord Shiva. The trek to reach the Mahakal Cave runs through the dense forests which has got famous for fantastic bird watching. The trek is short and lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes. There is also a Mahakal Temple in three adjacent caves. The first one has the idols of the trinity of Brahma Vishnu and Maheshwara. The second and the middle one host the idol of Lord Shiva while in the third one dwells the Goddess Mahakali. The best time to visit the Mahakal cave is during Shivratri festival when a fair is organized in the town and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm every year. Locals as well as tourists come in large numbers and give a dynamic and vibrant atmosphere to an otherwise calm and serene place. Also, the place is beautiful throughout the year but it must be avoided during rainy season as the cave itself becomes slightly inaccessible. Jayanti Mahakal cave is full of stalactite and stalagmite formation and is quite interesting for tourists. You must hire a guide before venturing for the cave.

Bhutanghat

If you are looking for an ideal escape to the wild, Bhutanghat can offer you the perfect leisure destination that you have been in search for. Located on the Bhutan Border, the place is known for its enchanting natural scenes and mesmerizing ambience. Nature lovers come to the place for the sheer beauty of the place, and that's the reason, Bhutanghat is getting popular among Dooars tourists by the day. It is located in a mountainous terrain flanked by hills covered with luxurious green forests and is an attractive destination for wildlife lovers. Endangered species of animals like tiger, rhinoceros, elephant, make their habitats in the forests. Bhutanghat is blessed with scenic beauty and the swift flowing River Raidak. During rains,the river is totally changed. A violent flow of water comes down from the hill. There are ample choices for trekking as leisurely walks can open up new areas of mixed interests within the jungles. People who are tired of their busy city lives can enjoy the beauty of Bhutanghat at its natural best after the rains.

Jayanti River Bed

The Jayanti River is a sinuous river flowing through the Buxa Tiger Reserve. The river has its origin in Bhutan and flow all the way down to India. The River usually remains dry throughout the year but during monsoons it gushes with cool sparkling water. The sound of the river simply refreshes and soothes your mind. During the night, the Jayanti River Bed shimmers under the glistening moonlight. Even the distant areas overlooking the river are plainly visible. There are also the remains of a railway bridge which lies almost submerged in the riverbed, as it was washes away in 1993 through floods in the region. Wild animals are often found to come to the river bank to drink water or cross the river moving to the other side. Just along the river, a small village called Jayanti is located which form a border between India and Bhutan. The village is secluded and does not have many establishments in order to maintain tranquility and calmness of the area. Due to its location between wide forests and the Bhutan hill range situated beside the river Jayanti River Bed has become an immensely popular tourist spot. Many movies have also been shot on the Jayanti River Bed at different times.

Pokhari Hill

Pokhari or Pukhri Hill means in Nepali a hanging pond on the hill. It is at a distance of 4km from Jayanti. This is a sacred or holy lake on the top of Pokhari Hill. It is place of religious worship for the Bhutanese and other local people. The pond is considered as extremely sacred and people even do not touch its water with feet. To reach Pokhari Hill one has to trek the distance partly through forested hills and partly through previously used roads. The whole trek is quite a joyful experience and provides a scope to come so close to nature. On their way to the lake, a visitor usually notices many peacocks. Large number of big-sized Magur and Turtle fish in the waters of the Pokhari is another attraction of the place. Feeding of the fishes is allowed while killing is strictly prohibited with severe penalties for non-compliance. The beauty of the surroundings is certainly something which has a refreshing effect.

Buxa Fort

There is a fort on the top of the Buxa Hill is located at an altitude of 867 metres in the Buxa Tiger Reserve, Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal known as Buxa Fort. The Buxa Fort depicts a strong history with regard to Indian Independence. The Fort has its own cultural heritage which makes it a favourite tourist spot. The fort is followed amid the dense forest with exotic viewpoints 30 kilometers from the town of Alipurduar. In subsequent times, the Koch kings had taken possession of the fort before it was seized by the Bhutanese in the second half of the eighteenth century. The Bhutan King used the fort to protect the portion of famous Silk Route connecting Tibet with India. In the 1930s became famous as a high security and inaccessible prison after the Cellular Jail in the Andamans to hold mostly political prisoners. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is also said to have been detained here for a period of time. Buxa Fort has gained increasing popularity with tourists both for its historical value as well as for its being a popular trekking destination. Tourist can visit Buxa Fort any time of the year excepting the monsoon as the forests remain closed. WBFDC Buxa Jungle Resort and local resorts are available for accommodation. There are also homestays which have developed around the vicinity of the Buxa Fort.

Trekking in Buxa (Lepchakha Village)

The Lepchakha village is a picturesque village which can be reached by trekking for 3km from the Buxa fort. Situated over hills, the Lepchakha village provides panoramic views of the beautiful surrounding plains and hills. This destination still posses the essence of raw nature and it can be explored only by trekking. This village with a very small population of about a hundred people is located very close to Bhutan, in an areal distance not being more than 2 kms. The main attraction of Lepchakha is the view from the hilltop. There is a large ground where you can sit on a bench and be mesmerized by the view of Dooars in front. Lepchakha village is isolated from all the road connections, electricity and share the border of Bhutan. Dukhpa tribe is a dominating tribe of Bhutan, but this village fell on the Indian Territory. Though now an Indian tribe they still follow the Anarchy rule of Bhutan. The village is also called the heaven of Dooars because of its naturally blessed beauty.