Dooars or Duars lies in the foothills of the Himalayas in North Eastern India. It is the alluvial floodplains of North Bengal and East Assam which acts as the gateway to Bhutan. Dooars means “doors” in Bengali, Assamese and other known languages in the area. Dooars is a beautiful journey through the lavish green hill slopes, widespread alluring tea gardens, Sal forests, sparkling streams in bright sunlight and the outline of the great Himalayan ranges add a fantastical touch to the amazing destinations. Wandering across the rich diversity, forests, wildlife, ethnic people and their diverse culture is a lifetime experience.
Let’s zoom into the top 5 beautiful attractions in Dooars:
Gorumara National Park
Gorumara National Park is situated in foothills of Himalaya in Dooars region. It is famous for the population of one-horned Indian rhinoceros. The mixed vegetation of grassland and forest add beauty to the park’s scenery. Jungle safaris and watchtowers for night vision facilities have made this national park a number one destination for tourists all around the world. Some of the popular watchtowers are Jatraprasad Watch Tower, Rhino Observation Point, Chandrachur Watch Tower, and Chukchuki Bird-watching Point.
Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary
Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary, situated in Darjeeling district is a famous destination for wildlife admirers. It is located on the foothills between Teesta and Mahananda rivers. The sanctuary is a habitat of many endangered species like Rufous-necked Hornbill, Great Hornbill and exotic species of mammals such as Himalayan serow, Himalayan Black Bear, Clouded Leopard, etc. However, it got the status of sanctuary mainly for the protection of Indian bison and Royal Bengal Tiger which are on the verge of extinction. Moreover, the alluring thick forest along with the rare species and watchtowers makes it an ideal tourist spot.
Samsing and Suntalekhola
Samsing and Suntalekhola are considered as ideal places for nature lovers. Staying in tourist cottages, eco-resorts or bungalows with hill slopes covered by beautiful tea gardens, pleasing sounds of streams and chirping birds in the backdrop makes it a heavenly and memorable destination for tourists. There are some other tourist spots around Suntalekhola such as Rocky Island (adventurous activities near river Murti), Faribasti ( a small beautiful village) and so on.
Bindu Dooars
Bindu is a beautiful valley surrounded by the hills of India and Bhutan. It is the last village of Darjeeling district, West Bengal. The road leading to this amazing destination is a memorable experience. While traveling towards Bindu, the green vegetation, tea gardens on both sides of the road and the sight of wildlife in some places make it a lifetime experience. As terrace cultivation is common there, Cardamom, oranges, and bananas are found in very good quality and cheap prices.
Jhalong
Jhalong, located on the bank of river Jaldhaka is one of the most picturesque and breathtaking tourist destinations in Dooars. To enjoy the heavenly beauty of Jhalong’s forests, wildlife, and beautiful birds, one can stay in the forest bungalows beside Jaldhaka river. Also, traveling from Khunia through Chapramari forest towards Jhalong makes the journey much more exciting. This makes it a popular spot for adventurers, bird watchers, and nature enthusiasts.