Chilapata Travel

Last week we, a group of four nature enthusiasts, planned for a trip to Dooars. This time we wanted to explore the Chilapata Reserve forest area. We booked the Mendabari Nature Camp for two nights. This camp was at a pleasant 40 minutes drive from Hasimara railway station through a dense elephant infested forest. We did not book for the third night and planned for homestay in tribal village. I had been to Chilapata few times before and each time it mesmerized me with a different beauty.

We boarded Kanchankanya Express and it departed on time.  Next morning we woke up and found the train was running few hours late. Now if someone does not know, the Kanchankanya Express is the only train to reach Hasimara, Malbazar and Alipurduar. The train passes through a forest and through couple of tunnels after it crosses Siliguri junction. 

Our driver and old friend Rabi was waiting for us at Hasimara. We quickly started off for Chilapata. When we reached Mendabari, we met a family there who who sighted a couple of rhino in the adjacent grassland. 

Dooars in the monsoon

Me and Anirbanda suddenly picked up the plan to visit Dooars in the monsoon,.Kolkata was becoming boring with water, mud and traffic this season, so we headed towards Suntaleykhola on June 23^rd. We booked rooms in the WBFDC's Wilderness Camp at Suntaleykhola, the orange country for 2 nights, and got a huge discount at the famous Murti Bunglow for the offseason offer.

We boarded on my favourite train Kanchankanya Express on 23^rd in the evening 8.30pm and reached New Mal Jn. next morning at about 11am. The car was awaiting us we took some breakfast and strated for Suntaleykhola. The road was awesome, with cloud capped mountains, and rivers, and the tea gardens everywhere. 

We reached the place, put the luggage in the room and jumped on the small river/spring flowing beside the camp. 

Unplanned North Bengal

We, two friends, were planning for a trip to Jayanti in North Bengal from the day we had seen the film 'Abar Aranye'. Ultimately we decided to start last week.

The Kanchankanya Express started on time. Next morning we woke up at New Jalpaiguri Station, the railway track goes inside deep elephant infested forest after Siliguri station. This journey is no less than a safari itself. We saw 3 peacocks, quite few elephant footprints, and some elephant corridor sign beside the railway track. It should be noted that on this track the train speed is limited to 20kmph to avoid accident with the with animals. At noon we reached Alipurduar Jn. Station. We had a very good Bengali lunch there in a nearby small hotel, and then after some bargaining took an auto to Jayanti. After just 20 minutes we are again inside a forest. The road is in pretty good condition compared to other forest roads.

We reached Jayanti in an hour, and dropping the luggages inside the hotel room (not that a luxury arrangement, but clean rooms and toilets) we rushed to the bank of the river. But what we found was big lorrys/cars taking the stones of the river, plastic scattered everywhere, a totally polluted river bank, added to that there were some tourists playing loud music, disturbing nature in every respect. The February river looked dead, and only things that we could enjoy were many birds and the landscape of forests in every direction. But those were very common in the whole Dooars.