About Gorumara National Park

Gorumara National Park is situated beside the National Highway 31, which connects Siliguri and Guwahati. The Gorumara forest, declared a sanctuary in 1976, is also one of the recent introductions to the National Parks map of India. Starting with an area of 8.61 sq km, it now covers 79.85 sq. km. Gorumara National Park is famous for being one of the last small pockets in eastern India with a natural population of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. According to a recent census, there are 19 one-horned rhinos, more than 50 elephants, 300 bison and 25 leopards in this sanctuary, besides different species of deer and birds. With the Murti and Raidak rivers flowing nearby and the mountain ranges on the horizon, the pleasant natural setting of the Park is an added attraction. Gorumara National Park is famous for its bird population - which includes brilliant submontane forest birds like the scarlet minivet, sunbird, Asian paradise flycatcher, spangled drongo and great Indian hornbill. Numerous woodpeckers and pheasants inhabit the park. Peafowls are very common. Gorumara National Park is on the flyway of numerous migratory birds, including the rare Brahminy Duck. The Gorumara Elephant Camp at Dhupjhora is a prominent place in this Park as it includes staying in tree-houses with forest canopy and elephant-rides into the forests in the mornings, meals in local village flavours and style, enjoying evenings with tribal cultural programs and visiting several photography points. There are numbers of private hotels and resorts available at Lataguri to provide accomodation services to the visitors of Gorumara national Park at unbeatable prices. October to March is considered as the best time to visit. The park remains closed in the monsoon season (normally June-September).

Places to visit in Gorumara National Park

Jungle Safari at Gorumara National Park

The Gorumara Jungle Safari is a real treat to the jungle-buffs who enjoy being in the midst of forest fauna and revel in watching their lives in the jungle. The surrounding areas, rich with flora and fauna are a birdwatchers paradise. Gorumara Jungle Safari is also known as Gorumara Jeep Safari. The Jeep Safari takes to various watch towers and points. There are in total 5 points in Gorumara National Park.

• Jeep Safari at Jatraprasad Watch Tower

  This watch tower is named after a legendary elephant Jatraprasad. It is a two-tier watch tower that offers excellent view of the Dooars Jungle and wild life. With a close proximity to the main entry point of Gorumara National Park a mere 20 minutes drive, arranged Jeep Safari to Jatraprasad Watchtower its an ideal location to enjoy catching a glimpse of wild animals like bison, deer, peacock and even leopard.




• Jeep Safari at Rhino Observation Point

  The watch tower, Rhino Observation Point, is located in front of the Gorumara forest bungalow and is famous for viewing of One-horned Rhinos. There is a salt reservoir below the tower which offers very chances to see more wild life like Elephants, Bison, and one horned rhinos.




• Jeep Safari at Chandrachur Watch Tower

  This watch tower is located near the Murti forest bungalow and offers a wonderful opportunity to witness what dense Gorumara riverine forest looks like. A Jeep safari will take 2 hrs to reach Khunia Chandrachur Watch Tower in Gorumara National Park. Khunia is a prime destination to spot the hard of wild elephant, deer and Indian bison.




• Jeep Safari at Chukchuki Bird-watching Point

  Chukchuki Bird Watching Point is a bird watchers paradise. One can view many different species of birds from here. Apart from local birds, a number of migratory birds can be seen from Chukchuki Watch Tower. Here you can see see black stork, brahminy duck, scarlet minivet, Indian hornbill, woodpeckers, spangled drongo and other variety of birds.




• Jungle Safari at Medhla Watch Tower

  The Medhla Watch Tower offers the best glimpses of the inner part of Gorumara National Park from where visitors can watch the Elephant herd crossing the river, wondering Rhinos, grazing Indian Bisons, Barking Deer etc. Mt. Kanchenjunga is clearly visible from Medhla Watch Tower on a sunny day.

Elephant Safari at Gorumara National Park

The adventurous Elephant Ride at Gorumara National Park is a lifetime experience. These rides take place at dawn & afternoon. Elephant Ride through the dense deciduous forest under soft light of sun is awesome. Journey through the woods, watching the chirping birds including Peacock from the back of an elephant is breathtaking. Enroute experience a wide view of River Murti and adjacent grassland from Kaingel watchtower. Often Rhinos and other mammals like Indian Bison (Gaur), barking dears, elephants are witnessed on elephant rides around this riverbed. There are 4 Watch towers namely Jatraprasad Watch Tower (named in the memory of a Kunki Elephant), Rhino Point (in front of the Gorumara Forest Rest House), Chandrachur Tower (Old Khunia) and the Chukchuki bird watching point which are located at various points to provide excellent view of wildlife in the park. Tourists staying in Gorumara Forest Bungalow, Dhupjhora Bungalow and other lodges of the West Bengal Forest Department can avail the elephant ride which is much more enjoyable and a better way to explore the jungle. The elephant takes you deep in the jungle, crosses the streams of water and reaches close to a one horned Rhino or a wild elephant or a deer etc. It is an one hour ride approximately.

Jatileshwar Mandir

The Jatileswar Temple or Jalpesh Mandir was built in the time of Gupta Dynasty between A.D. 320 and A.D. 600. Built with stone and clay bricks, still remain unexplored areas by archeology experts. Jatileshwar Mandir is around 30 km away from Jalpaiguri town and 13 km from Maynaguri. The temple place of Jatileshwar is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and its construction predates the one in Jalpesh. Jatileshwar primary temple is surrounded by 6 ft of water within the temple grounds. Spread over a huge area the temples are encompassed by lush green vegetation. The main idol of Lord Jatileshwara remains surrounded by 6-feet-water inside the temple, and the believers hold their breath to reach the idol, touch Him, and swim back. There is also a Maa Siddheshwari Mandir, which is also known as 'Kamakshya Temple', which is similar to the Kamakshya temple in Assam which also remains full of water during the monsoon.

Batabari

Batabari is a small village located in Jalpaiguri District in the state of West Bengal. Here lies the Batabari Tea Estate owes its name to the houses that are found in this region. They were known as "KUTCHS". The structure of these houses was made of a particular bamboo species known as Bata. The local people staying here are mainly the labourer who works in the Batabari Tea Estate. Murti River flows beside Batabari. A part of Forest near Khunia more is called as Batabari Forest by many locals. A park is also located here just near the more named as Khunia Park. Batabari can be called as the place of human dwellers of Gorumara National park.

Chalsa

Chalsa was known as Queen of Dooars in British India. Located at a distance of 57 kms from Jalpaiguri and 7 kms from Malbazar and 64 kms from Siliguri Chalsa is surrounded by hills, tea gardens, rivers and forests. The "Chalsa More" is an important road crossing on the National Highway 31. One part of the town is surrounded by Gorumara National Park and other part with Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. Canvas like tea gardens and dense forest will quench the thrist of your mind. The region is famous for its wildlife sanctuaries, the most notable of which is Jaldapara. Gorumara Wildlife Sanctuary, another haven for wildlife, is known for its flora and fauna, rich wild life. Considered as a small town, Chalsa is visited by most travellers as an obvious stop en route to different destination. Here you can get a numbers of resorts and hotels located at Chalsa for accommodation. The best time to visit Chalsa is from October to June, when the sky remains clear and the weather is bright and sunny.

Murti

Murti is a small village by the side of the Murti River an ideal picnic spot where you can enjoy the scenic beauty. Murti River floating beside and with the magnanimous Gorumara Forest standing opposite Murti is the ideal gateway to start and complete your Dooars tour. With a wonderful surroundings and over a hundred species of charming birds including the Great Hornbills, Murti offers a rememberable stay at the foothill of the Himalayas. With a close proximity to the main entry point of Gorumara National Park - a mere 20 minutes drive, arranged Jeep Safaris to Chapramari Forest under Gorumara N P and Jatraprasad Tower on the way to Lataguri, its an ideal location to enjoy your stay at Dooars. The hilly river Murti makes the place an awesome one with greenery on its banks. The river has got good current in rainy season but in rest of the time a bath in the knee deep crystal clear water of the river is must for the tourists. Camping, angling and hiking are the two most popular activities in Murti. Plus, bird watchers will have a great time too. Travelers looking for jungle safari in Gorumara National Park can spend a couple of days in Murti before heading towards jungle safari and can go for sight-seeing around the place. You can find many hotels in Murti tucked within a bend of the Murti River. There are budget hotels and a couple of very nice, well maintained private hotels with all modern facilities.

Lataguri

Lataguri is a small town located in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. The village is located outside the Gorumara National Park on National Highway No. 31. Lataguri is the nearest small Tourist Strip near Gorumara National park. Tourist may visit Gorumara National Park in day time staying at Lataguri. Day visit permission to the National Park may be obtained from: Nature Interpretation Centre, Department of Forest Govt. of West Bengal),Lataguri. Different Ranges of Gorumara National Park like Chapramari, Jatraprasad etc is situated very close to Lataguri. Lataguri gives its visitors a soothing effect and refreshes their mind. Lataguri is a perfect holiday destination for those who want to have a break from the monotonous and hectic life. Lataguri also contains a highly equip "Nature Interpretation Center" which gives its visitors almost every information they must need about the flora and fauna of the area and also a children park just adjacent to Nature Interpretation Center. Trip of an hour is needed to enjoy this spot. A number of Private Resorts / Accommodation are available here.

Malbazar

Malbazar is a sub-divisional town, having its own municipality in Jalpaiguri district, located in Northern part of the State of West Bengal. It is about 65 km from Jalpaiguri town and 40 km from Lataguri, Malbazar is the main entry point of the Gorumara National Park. Malbazar is one of the more important towns in Dooars. Malbazar town is strategically located in the Central part of the Dooars region, and due to its strategic location on the national highway, one can stay at Malbazar and visit the nearby important tourist destination of Central Dooars i.e. Gorumara National Park, Murti, Chapramari Wildlife Reserve, Jhalong, Bindu, Samsing, & Suntalekhola along with the spots of this Malbazar Sector. The biggest attraction of Malbazar is the Mal Park. There is also a beautiful tea garden named Raja Tea Estate which you can definitely pay a visit. Beside the Mal Park there is a newly built "Balaji Temple" which you can pay a visit to. The WBTDC (West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation) Tourist lodge at Malbazar is the most popular and well-equipped accommodation in Malbazar.

Bindu

At 600m, Bindu is a small village on the border with Bhutan. It is 80kms from Siliguri. The last village on the Indian side bordering Bhutan, Bindu is ringed by hills on all sides and encompasses dense forests. It is situated along the banks of the River Jaldhaka. This scenic village offers magnificent views of the Bhutan Himalayas and the snow peak mountains during winters. Located in the foothills of lower Kalimpong, Bindu also offers opportunities for small treks, starting from Todey to Tangta and extending till Neora Valley National Park. A major attraction of this village is the Bindu Dam built over the Jaldhaka River, flowing through the valley. The tribeni sangam of the hill above Jaldhaka Barrage, river and the green surroundings has created Bindu. This area is famous for Elaichi (Cardamom) cultivation. One will definitely enjoy in the midst of tea garden and calm and quiet environment. You can visit Bindu at any time of the year. But the weather remains very pleasant from November to March.

Samsing

Samsing is located at an altitude of 3000 ft in the Kalimpong subdivision of Darjeeling District of West Bengal. The pristine hill village of Samsing amidst forests and tea gardens will be your ideal destination. Samsing is still not exploited by commercialization; hence, the pristine beauty of the place is still alive. Samsing is also the gateway to the Neora Valley National Park, located at a distance of 18 km. A drive to Samsing is a pleasure trip along meandering emerald green river, the cool shades of orange orchards, sleepy hamlets, picturesque tea gardens and the lofty Himalayas. The forest area of Samsing consists of several species of animals and plants. Some of the species found here include grey nightjar, greater racket-tailed, etc. Samsing is an ideal place for those, who are looking for a break from routine city life to enjoy a relaxed vacation in the natural environment. Samsing is also known for its traditional orange orchards and cardamom plantation, which have been a mojore occupation of a large number of villagers. Other than Government owned Forest Department cottages there is private deluxe accommodation in Samsing.

Suntalekhola

The name Suntalekhola is derived from a small stream. In Nepali "suntale" means orange and "khola" means stream. Suntalekhola is a small village and a tourist spot at 20 kms from Chalsa and about 5 kms from Samsing. Green patch on the left side of the way to Suntalekhola is amazing and holds many rarities of birds and butterflies. Several trek routes into Neora Valley National Park originate from Suntalekhola. It is known for its beautiful landscape with green tea gardens, hills and forests, which attract a lot of tourists. Different species of birds, are found here, e.g. Pond Heron, Black Eagle, Hill Partridge, Red-vented Bulbul, Ashy Wood Pigeon, Bronzed Drongo, etc. There are a few home stays available in Suntalekhola, but best place to stay is WBFDC cottage.

Rocky Island

Rocky Island is an upcoming destination in Dooars. Rocky Island is about 2 km from Samsing. Murti River flows through Rocky Island. The place is surrounded by hills and ideal for land base adventure activities like trekking, rock climbing & rappelling. The campsite provides an excellent opportunity to explore the rich biodiversity and its abundant avifauna of the lower part of Neora Valley National Sanctuary. The place is adorned with the views of massive large rocks like Neel kanta, Pathar Kailas, Bhimsen, Hansdunga etc provides easy climbing practice for everyone with riverside cave to complete the adventure. A small enjoyable trek to nearby spots like Sherpagaon, Bhalukope, Jhandidara and Mo-chuki is an added attraction of Rocky Island. Accommodation is arranged in small Tents for overnight visitors.

Jaldhaka

Jaldhaka valley is a prominent tourist destination, in the Kalimpong sub-division of West Bengal. This valley is situated at a height of over 1,500 feet above sea level. The Jaldhaka River is formed by the conjunction of three streams Bindu Khola, Dudh Pokhri and Jaldhaka that originates from the Kupup lake, a small glacial lake in Sikkim. The combined streams meet at Bindu to form the Jaldhaka river, thus forming a riverine boundary with India and Bhutan in the left bank. Jaldhaka is popular for its hydro electric power station and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. Trekking and bird watching are two important tourist activities in the region of Jaldhaka. Theres no big market, no concrete buildings, no hooting cars. Jaldhaka is a hill traveller,s place. There is a beautiful forest bungalow in Jhalong beside the Jaldhaka River which provides accommodation to the tourists.

Jhalong

About 99 Km from Jalpaiguri, Jhalong, is another such lesser-trodden place of dooars situated on the bank of Jaldhaka on the way to Bindu in Kalimpong Sub-division. Jaldhaka Hydro electricity project on the Jaldhaka River is another major attraction. It operates water supply to the project and serves as a bridge for crossing over to Bhutan. Jhalong is a paradise for bird watchers. Eurasian wryneck, Crested kingfisher, Brown dipper, Hodgson's redstart, Slaty-backed forktail, Rufous-necked laughing thrush are some of the rare species found here. The activities in Jhalong include bird watching and minor trekking to Todey and Tangta. Accommodations are quite less in Jhalong. Forest bungalows and a few private resorts are there to spend a couple of delightful days. A visit to the weekly market and a bare footed walk on the banks of the river can rejuvenate you and keep you wanting for more.

Paren

Paren in Dooars, admired with lush green forest areas, hilly terrain, meandering rivers and agricultural fields and clusters of picturesque village is an ideal destination for a weekend tour. You can spot the location on your way to Bindu, at the verge of the Indian border with Bhutan and is 10 km drive from Jaldhaka. The road leading to Bindu offers a visual splendor with its exotic natural surroundings. Paren is an ideal place for enjoying treks, drives and trails. If you are a trek enthusiast, trek to Rechella and from there via Alubari, you can reach Lava, the site boasting of its natural beauty. Paren is accessible from Siliguri via Jaldaka. Jaldaka is located at a distance of 100 km. from Siliguri. You can avail shared taxi or bus to reach Jaldaka from Siliguri. Paren attracts tourists round the year. However, if you are not enough adventurous try to avoid the rainy season. The only accommodation facility is offered by Forest Department cottages. However, there are some provisions of private accommodation in Bindu, located 10 km. from Paren.

Kalipur

Kalipur is a part of the Gorumara National Park, situated in the Indo Bhutan border in the Northern part of West Bengal. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach Kalipur from Siliguri located in West Bengal. The nearest railhead of Kalipur is located at New Jalpaiguri, which lies near to the Siliguri town. If you have an adventurous bend on your mind then Kalipur is an ideal destination for you. Here you can stay in cottages built on stilts in the heart of a jungle that is crowded with wild elephants, rhinos, leopards, tigers, bears and other wildlife. Here, you can enjoy elephant safari in the early mornings and tribal dances in the evenings. If you are an ardent lover of wildlife thriving amidst lush green forest, then Kalipur is the right place for you. The elephant safari in the Gorumara Forest is a great entertainment for the tourists visiting the destination. You can also enjoy feeding the elephants and the local tribal programs in the evenings. The ideal time of visiting Kalipur starts from the mid of October and extends up to the mid of March. The park remains closed during the rainy season (15th June - 15th September) and reopens around the mid of September. However, if you are travelling in October, you may experience occasional showers.