No matter how many times people belonging to North Bengal visited Dooars, Dooars seems pristine. Tourists across India and outside India have visited Dooars for its lush greenery and iconic wildlife. Basically, the region covers 350 km from the Teesta River, West Bengal to the River Dhansiri, Assam.
The Greenery of Dooars amazes our senses, covering tea gardens, Terai-Dooars Savannah, moist deciduous Gangetic plain forest, grasslands, green hilly terrains, and tress like Shirish, Teak, Khair, Shimul. Among accommodations, you can choose forest bungalows, hotels, and jungle resorts in Lataguri Dooars.
Lataguri is one of the key attractions in Dooars, imprinted with Savannah grasslands, sub-tropical moist broadleaf forests, semi-deciduous forests, etc. Apart from wildlife visits, the Lataguri Nature Interpretation Centre and Murti River are popular in Lataguri.
This blog shares the three best wildlife destinations located in Lataguri Dooars that will make your wildlife exploration splendid.
1. Jaldapara National Park
Quench your thirst for Dooars wildlife exploration by visiting Jaldapara National Park, located in Alipurduar District in the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the banks of River Torsa, Jaldapara nestles beautifully at the Eastern Himalayan foothills, spreading across 216.51 sq. km.
Indian one-horned rhinoceros are the star attraction in this national park. And, other exclusive ranges of wildlife animals in Jaldapar are the Indian elephant, hog deer, barking deer, chital, gaur, leopard, wild boar, sambar, swamp deer, etc.
Birdwatching is a major outdoor activity in Jaldapara, involving birds like River Lapwing, Indian Shag, Moorhen, Egret, White Breasted Waterhen, Nightjars, Owls, serpent Eagle, Pallas Fishing Eagle, Gray-headed Canary Flycatcher, Indian Peafowl, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo.
You can approach Jaldapara via Madarihat, Hasimara, Falakata, and New Jalpaiguri Railway Station. Siliguri is well-connected to Jaldapara via the National Highway 31. Taxicabs are available at NJP and Bagdogra Airport for Jaldapara tours. In Siliguri, there are many options for car rental.
2. Gorumara National Park
Gorumara National Park is a major tourist spot in Lataguri Dooars. It is situated on the outskirt of Lataguri on National Highway No. 31. There the key attraction is the population of one-horned Rhinoceros. Wildlife animals popular there are Indian Chital, Indian bison, hog deer, sambar deer, barking deer, leopards, wild boars, sloth bears, Asian elephants, etc. Stay at the best resorts in Lataguri near Gorumara Forest.
Many beautiful submontane forest birds that dwell in Gorumara are the Ashy wood swallow peafowls, Great Indian Hornbill, Scarlet Minivet, Asian Paradise Flycatchers, Great Spangled Drongo, woodpeckers, pheasants, etc. Gorumara is nearly 15 min from Lataguri and 2 hours from Siliguri.
3. Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary
Established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1998, Chapramari is another major tourist hotspot in Dooars Lataguri, about 20 minutes from Gorumara National Park. This wildlife sanctuary and Gorumara are actually separated by River Murti, which originates from the Neora Valley National Park. Book budget resorts in Lataguri for family tours.
Chapramari is around 30 km from Chalsa and 2 hours from Siliguri. The sanctuary is home to more than 100 species of birds. Major wildlife animals found in the Chapramari are leopards, boar, gaur, elephants, chital, deer, pangolins, etc.
Beautiful forest birds in the territory are Indian treepie, white-breasted kingfisher, thrush, green magpies, mynas, scarlet minivet, and migratory birds like teals, Brahmini ducks, etc.
Satisfy your wildlife exploration with a jeep safari, elephant safari, watchtower visits, and birdwatching. The national parks and wildlife sanctuaries remain closed during monsoon season for animal breeding (June 15 to September 15). Make sure to skip this period if you’re mapping out a wildlife tour in Dooars.