4 and 5 Days' Dooars Short Holiday Travel Plan and Guide - Gorumara, Jaldapara, Jayanti, and Buxa Tiger Reserve Tour Itinerary - 2021

Today, I present you with two short holiday plans for the West Bengal Dooars region, covering some of the most scenic and popular tourist destinations in Gorumara National Park, Jaldapara National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve, and Jayanti River.

This blog will also cover some of the other nearby and popular tourist spots that you can visit. If you want to go for a more relaxed holiday, you can omit some of these areas of interest based on my inputs.

Select the most appropriate plan depending on the number of days you have available for your holiday. I have tried to cover the maximum number of locations and tourist spots in Dooars though these two plans. You can further customise them as per your personal preferences.

Also, I have provided hyperlinks wherever possible to offer you more information on some of the locations I have highlighted. You can click those links and view detailed YouTube videos on them  (narrated in Bengali language) to learn more.

So, here are the two tour plans to help you with your short Dooars holiday:

Plan A

Duration:  4 nights + 4 days

Locations: Chilapata (Jaldapara), Buxa Tiger Reserve, and Jayanti River

Leaves required: 2 to 3 days if clubbed with the weekend.

Day 0 - Night train from Kolkata to New Alipur Duar Train Station after office hours (no leave required).

Day 1 - Transfer from New Alipur Duar Station to Chilapata (Jaldapara National Park) in the morning (reach homestay by lunchtime). After lunch, you can:

1. Enjoy walks beside the surrounding forest (along with a local guide).
2. Visit a scenic picnic spot by the Bania River in the afternoon (before dark).
3. Feel the jungle after dark from within the boundaries of your homestay.
4. Night-stay at Chilapata.

Day 2 - Transfer from Chilapata to Jayanti via Jaldapara National Park and Buxa Tiger Reserve. This day can include:

1. An early morning jungle safari within Chilapata forest (the homestay can arrange this for you in advance).
2. After safari and breakfast, checkout from homestay and drive to South Khayerbari Eco Park and Tiger Rescue Centre in Dhupguri area.
3. After visiting the Eco Park, drive to Coochbehar Rajbari, a popular tourist destination. You can omit this spot if you want a less hectic tour.
4. Next, move to Sikiyajhora in Buxa Forest. Here you can enjoy a great boat safari in what is known as the Amazon of Dooars.
5. From Sikiyajhora, drive to Jayanti River, via Rajabhatkhawa checkpost. Once you reach the homestay, enjoy a peaceful walk by the Jayanti River, and relax for the rest of the day.
6. Night-stay at Jayanti.

Day 3 - Activities in and around the Jayanti River. You would require a local guide at all times for these activities.

1. Start your morning with a trek to Pukhri Lake (after breakfast).
2. After completing the trek, you can visit Chhota Mahakal cave. You can drive to it, or trek to it as well if time permits, depending on the water level in the river. Here, you can also swim at Chhota Mahakal, if the water level permits - this is a great experience!
3. You could also opt for the Bada Mahakal Trek, but it would be difficult to fit in a short travel plan. For that, you would require a separate tour plan of Jayanti and Buxa Tiger Reserve, also covering popular tourist spots such as Santhanbari, Buxa Fort, Lepchakha Trek, etc.
4. Once you complete the Chhota Mahakal trek, you can also visit the Chunia Watchtower to complete this day, and return to the homestay.
5. Night-stay at Jayanti.

Day 4 - Buxa Jungle Safari and return to New Alipur Dura. Night train to Kolkata.

1. Go for an early morning jungle safari in the Buxa Tiger Reserve. This can be arranged in advance from the homestay.
2. After the safari, you can also visit Bhutiya Basti before you head back to the homestay, or omit this if it seems very hectic.
3. Have your lunch, check out from the homestay and drive to Rajabhatkhawa Nature Interpretation Centre (museum) if time permits.
4. Next, drive to New Alipur Duar Station and board the night train to Kolkata. Reach Kolkata in the morning the next day

Plan B

Duration:  5 nights + 5 days

Locations: Lataguri (Gorumara), Chilapata (Jaldapara), Buxa Tiger Reserve, and Jayanti River

Leaves required: 3 to 4 days if clubbed with the weekend.

Day 0 - Night train from Kolkata to New Jalpaiguri Station after office hours (no leave required).

Day 1 - Transfer from New Jalpaiguri station to Lataguri (Gorumara National Park) in the morning (reach hotel by lunchtime). After lunch, you can:

1. Enjoy walks in the Lataguri market and book for the next morning Gorumara Tiger Safari.
2. Visit the beautiful Murti River and enjoy a great sunset.
3. Experience the sound of the jungle after dark. If you are lucky, you may see wild animals like wild boars, elephants, wild dogs and peacocks in the jungle as well from your hotel!
4. Night-stay at Lataguri.

Day 2 - Transfer from Lataguri in Gorumara National Park to Chilapata Forest in Jaldapara National Park, after a jungle safari within the Gorumara Forest.

1. Start your day with a very early morning tiger safari within the Gorumara National Park. Make sure you book tickets for this in advance from the counter, as otherwise you will not be able to purchase tickets for the morning safari in all probability.
2. After the Safari, return to the hotel, have your breakfast and checkout. Start your drive to Chilapata forest and reach there by lunchtime.
3. After lunch at Chilapata, enjoy walks beside the surrounding forest (along with a local guide).
4. Visit a scenic picnic spot by the Bania River in the afternoon (before dark).
5. Feel the jungle after dark from within the boundaries of your homestay.
6. Night-stay at Chilapata.

Day 3 - Transfer from Chilapata to Jayanti via Jaldapara National Park and Buxa Tiger Reserve. This day can include:

1. An early morning jungle safari within Chilapata forest (the homestay can arrange this for you in advance).
2. After safari and breakfast, checkout from homestay and drive to South Khayerbari Eco Park and Tiger Rescue Centre in Dhupguri area.
3. After visiting the Eco Park, drive to Coochbehar Rajbari, a popular tourist destination. You can omit this spot if you want a less hectic tour.
4. Next, move to Sikiyajhora in Buxa Forest. Here you can enjoy a great boat safari in what is known as the Amazon of Dooars.
5. From Sikiyajhora, drive to Jayanti River, via Rajabhatkhawa checkpost. Once you reach the homestay, enjoy a peaceful walk by the Jayanti River, and relax for the rest of the day.
6. Night-stay at Jayanti.

Day 4 - Activities in and around the Jayanti River. You would require a local guide at all times for these activities.

1. Start your morning with a trek to Pukhri Lake (after breakfast).
2. After completing the trek, you can visit Chhota Mahakal cave. You can drive to it, or trek to it as well if time permits, depending on the water level in the river. Here, you can also swim at Chhota Mahakal, if the water level permits - this is a great experience!
3. You could also opt for the Bada Mahakal Trek, but it would be difficult to fit in a short travel plan. For that, you would require a separate tour plan of Jayanti and Buxa Tiger Reserve, also covering popular tourist spots such as Santhanbari, Buxa Fort, Lepchakha Trek, etc.
4. Once you complete the Chhota Mahakal trek, you can also visit the Chunia Watchtower to complete this day, and return to the homestay.
5. Night-stay at Jayanti.

Day 5 - Buxa Jungle Safari and return to New Alipur Dura. Night train to Kolkata.

1. Go for an early morning jungle safari in the Buxa Tiger Reserve. This can be arranged in advance from the homestay.
2. After the safari, you can also visit Bhutiya Basti before you head back to the homestay, or omit this if it seems very hectic.
3. Have your lunch, check out from the homestay and drive to Rajabhatkhawa Nature Interpretation Centre (museum) if time permits.
4. Next, drive to New Alipur Duar Station and board the night train to Kolkata. Reach Kolkata in the morning the next day.

Please note: Whenever you are in the forest areas, you would probably require a local guide to accompany you. For this, do not forget to get in touch with the homestay management in advance to understand your options. Sometimes, your driver can also act as the guide.

Hope you found the above details useful?

If you found these plans interesting, and want more information on the hotels, homestays, jeep or car rentals, or any other information from me, do leave me a comment in the section shared below.

I will try to respond to your queries at the earliest!

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Thank you! Happy holidays!