FLAMSBANA - THE INCREDIBLE RAILWAY JOURNEY IN NORWAY

 

Railway journey had always been an integral part of travel. It carried the highest number of passengers with an extensive network. But there were some railway journeys where the travel played a major role and not the connectivity. In India, Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, Shivalik Railways from Kalka to Shimla, Nilgiri Railways from Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam and few other routes had importance because of its journey. Similarly, Bernina Express, Jungfrau Railway, Trans-Siberian Railway, Rovos Rail, etc., had occupied an important place in the world railway map.

Flamsbana railway journey of Norway had been considered one of the best travels out of the ten best railway journeys of the world. The train started from Myrdal to Flam covering a distance of 14 km in one hour through the elevation of 867 meters.

Myrdal railway station was situated on the main track from Oslo to Bergen. The journey from Oslo to Bergen was itself mesmerizing especially the zone between Al and Gylo, but we looked forward to enjoying the beauty of the Flamsbana railway.

As a part of the Scandinavia tour, we planned to land at Bergen from Oslo in the evening with the programme of spending a day at Bergen and then visit the fjords of Flam. But our programme got disrupted as we were a day behind schedule on account of the cancellation of a railway connection from Oslo to Bergen on account of some holiday. Since we had an open ticket, we booked a ticket for the next day. As a result, we did not get a full day to enjoy Bergen which was really a beautiful place bounded by snowcapped mountains and varieties of flowers all along the roadsides and gardens.

Bergen to Myrdal

The next morning, we started from Bergen to reach Myrdal so as to catch the connecting train from Myrdal to Flam. The journey for around two hours was so attractive, that we could not remove our eyes from the windows to have an outside view.

Myrdal Railway Station

We reached the Myrdal railway station as per the schedule and found that our train from Myrdal to Flam was waiting in the railway station for us. It was an unreserved train and unlike other trains in Europe, it was a free seat arrangement. As learnt earlier, we took our seat on the right side of the compartment to have another stunning view of the waterfall in Kjosfossen railway station.

Myrdal station was itself unique, with snow-capped mountains on all directions, stretches of snow along the railway tracks, and a heap of snow on the platform. It was a small station with two railway tracks on either side of the platform. The railway office and a restaurant were the only two structures on the platform. Having availed the gap between two journeys, we had cappuccino and snacks from the restaurant, enjoying the mesmerizing beauty of nature at a 360-degree angle.  

Myrdal to Flam

As the train pushed off, the awesome beauty of mountainous stretches opened before our eyes, with a number of waterfalls, rippling streams coming down from mountains, bumping against rocks, creating foam all along their routes, lush green trees, bushes, and unknown varieties of flowers seeking rays of the sun. It was a single-track route, few tunnels on the way, and the train like a serpent, moving at a very slow pace allowing us to enjoy nature to our satisfaction.

The stations, on the way, were very small with minimum passenger footfalls as the majority of the passengers were tourists from different parts of the world who came to enjoy the journey as also the fjords of Flam. The television screen in the compartment was also showing the entire route as clicked in the camera of someone. There were announcements furnishing information about forthcoming stations.

We got detained in a railway station where a train from the other side crossed us, which was a common issue in the case of singletrack. But the detention was not at all boring as we had scope to enjoy every bit of nature which we could see from the railway compartment.

Kjosfossen Waterfall

The train ultimately started after the crossing and gradually, we could find that we were in the midst of a cloud that entangled the entire train. After crossing a tunnel the train slowed down and we could see a huge waterfall just beside the railway platform throwing gushes of water from the top and flowing in a series of streams. The drops of water, being blown by the strong wind were making us sacred with their heavenly touch. Despite being cold, all the passengers got down from the train to enjoy the waterfall from a close distance as the train was to stop there for five minutes. The name of the station was Kjosfossen. Soon a song with music could be heard from the top of the rocks where a dilapidated hut could be seen. A lady looking like a witch, in red attire, came dancing on the rock in the tune of the song. The lady was changing position on a continuous basis moving from one rock to another within the blinking of an eye. The song and performance of the witch continued for around five minutes and suddenly the lady disappeared with the stoppage of song and music. The performance was created to entertain the passengers of the route. It seemed there was a story behind the particular episode which remained unknown as neither any of the tourists nor the railway people could explain the story behind it except that the song was composed based on Nordic mythology. But it was definitely a new experience.

There was a warning signal from the engine and guard with the request to embark on the train as the scheduled time for enjoying the waterfall was over. All the passengers rushed towards their compartment and soon the train started with the whistle.

We were spellbound to see the scenery outside. All the mountains were crowned with snow and the green trees seemed to be their garments on the body. The rippling stream parallel to the railway track was flowing in the opposite direction with the signal that even if we were going to visit the eternal beauty of the world, we would have to return in the direction of the stream.

Our journey continued for fifteen more minutes at the same pace. The railway track meandered along the side of the mountains. Each bend depicted a new picture of nature as if we were in a movie hall enjoying a series of creation of God.

We reached the platform of Flam Station, where the railway track terminated after an hour's journey from Myrdal. The station was of very small size with a few food joints and souvenir shops on the platform itself. The station was neatly maintained despite being wet because of continuous rain. Residual snow of the previous night could be seen on the railway track and also on the sheds of the tenements on the platform.

So, having enjoyed the spellbound journey from Myrdal to Flam, we proceeded to the next part of our programme in the form of experiencing the fjords of Norway.

How to reach Myrdal

There were two ways to reach Myrdal either by road or by train from Oslo. It would be better if the modes of transport were different in an upward and downward journey. Though the journey to Myrdal was included in Eurail tickets, the journey between Myrdal and Flam was considered as a tourist train and separate tickets were to be purchased. The cost of a one-way ticket would be around 67 Euros.  

The journey from Oslo to Myrdal would be between four to five hours depending upon the speed of the train whereas the journey from Bergen to Myrdal would be within two hours. Hence, if one wanted to make a day trip it would be better to reside at Bergen and then reach Myrdal. The day journey from Oslo to Flam via Myrdal in one day would be tiring and less time would be available for enjoying Flam.    

 Experience

I had the opportunity to experience travel in the majority of these types of the railway in India, but it had been my first exposure to the world-class railway journey with a proper ambiance and properly maintained compartments. It was an amazing feeling throughout the travel period especially the nature outside bewildered us with its mesmerizing beauty which I could not help sharing with my readers.

Video Courtesy: YouTube

5 STUNNING ATTRACTIONS OF NORTHEAST WHICH YOU MUST VISIT

North-East India, though an integral part of the republic, remained unexplored by the people of India for quite a long period. The distance, inaccessibility, absence of proper communication and occasional separatist movement had created fear psychosis to the entire tourist community. Their movement remained restricted to Guwahati and not beyond a few capitals of the northeastern states. But the vast region, with its mesmerizing beauty, remained virgin for quite a long period.

With the increase in communication, prevailing peace, maintenance of law and order, and access to the internet, both domestic and international tourists are now able to have information about the breathtaking beauty of the states. The tourists have now added the destinations of northeast India in their bucket lists and wish lists.

As a nature lover, I had tried to cover many spots of the northeast, some of which were really marvels of nature as also the creation of human beings which attracted the tourists from all directions.

Unakoti (Tripura)

The relics of Unakoti could be seen in a dense forest with the Raghunandan hills of Tripura totally secluded from mainstream civilization. The place is located on Agartala-Silchar Highway, 178 km from Agartala, 10 km, and 17 km from Kailashahar and Dharmanagar respectively.

There was a myth that Shiva with one crore (10 million) Gods and Goddesses were travelling to Varanasi. On the way, the entire team became tired and wanted rest. Shiva permitted them to take rest with the condition that all should wake up and start moving at dawn. But being tired, all of them remained asleep despite the call given by Shiva. Shiva got vexed and left for Varanasi alone with the curse that the Gods and Goddesses would remain static in the hills forever. Even today all sculptures of all important Gods and Goddesses could be seen on the walls of the hill. Since one less than one crore Gods and Goddesses remained in the hills permanently, the name of the place became Unakoti or one less than one crore.

As per the historians, the sculptures were drawn in the eighth or ninth century by the then sculptors of Tripura but details of them could not be ascertained. But the sculptures on the rocks of Raghunandan hills remained immortal.

Another attraction of Unakoti was Ganesh Kund (well). Three Ganesh deities had been inscribed on the walls of the well along with a deity of Lord Vishnu.

There were undulating paths leading to the sculptures and at times with elevation so as to have a clear view of all the sculptures.

There were no boarding or lodging arrangements in Unakoti. The tourists would have to ply either from Agartala for an entire day trip for from Kailashahar or Dharmanagar which were comparatively nearer.

Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh)

Tawang is a far-flung destination in Arunachal Pradesh and is nearer to the town of Tezpur in Assam (330 km) than its capital at Itanagar (448 km). Tawang held the title of the oldest monastery of India. The historical structure was huge covering a large area of land in the hill station. The panoramic view of the monastery as also entire Tawang located at a height of 10,200 ft was unique. The entire town of Tawang had grown up based on the monastery where presently around 500 lamas resided. There was a large deity of Lord Buddha with a height of 26 ft duly decorated with thanka and khada. The smell of essence stick, candle, the lamp had created a heavenly atmosphere inside the main hall of the monastery.

It learnt that once Tawang was a part of Tibet ruled by Tibetian rulers. But the downfall of Tibetian rulers in 1914, led to the annexation of the place in India.

Keeping aside the monastery, Tawang itself had its own beauty as a hill station. One had to cross the deadly Sela Pass to reach from Dirang to Tawang. The other tourist spots near Tawang were Sangetsar Lake, Pitisore Lake, Bumla Pass, War Memorial, and above all Tawang Museum which carried the legacy of old scriptures, thanka, utensils, masks, the deity of Lord Buddha made of different metals and materials, musical instruments, war weapons, dresses, ornaments etc that were worth seeing.

The major communication to Tawang from Tezpur were vehicles on sharing basis or hiring the entire vehicle, a limited number of buses, and hitchhiking in goods carrying vehicles. The tourists had to obtain Inner Line Permit (ILP) for entering Arunachal Pradesh which would be checked at the Bhalukpong border.

Loktak Lake (Manipur)

Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake of India covering an area of 980 sq km located at Moirang in Manipur. It is around 45 km away from the capital, Imphal. The lake is covered with large biomass locally called Phumdis which floated on the water like solid grassland. The local fishermen stayed on the Phumdis constructing houses. There were homestays, shops, and other utilities that had been constructed on the Phumdis.

The largest Phumdi covered an area of 40 sq km and was situated in the southeastern shore of the lake. Keibul Lamjao is a national park totally situated on the Phumdis where the state animal Sangai resided. Loktak Lake was the lifeline of the entire Moirang region. There were more than 50 inhabited villages on the Phumdis who resided for generations. The local residents were dependent upon the lake for their daily consumables including paddy, vegetables, and fish.

Considering the biodiversity values and ecological status, the lake had been designated as a wetland of international importance.

The stay arrangement for visitors were available in two Phumdi islands, Sandra and Phubala with a cafeteria that drew tourists from all destinations. The day tourists could hire a boat to cover the lake including the islands and tasty fish fry with a hot cup of tea in the cafeteria.

The nearby tourist places were Moirang town, up to which Indian National Army under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose could reach to attain freedom struggle. INA Museum with all documents of the liberation army and a statue of Netaji depicted his historical movement. Keibul Lamjao National Park was also a part of Loktak Lake covered with phumdis where Sangai (a local species of deer) was available.

Buses and shared vehicles were available from Imphal to Moirang and the tourists would have to hire a car for the local sightseeing. It would be better if the tourists hired a vehicle for the day to cover all the tourist spots on the route.

Mowlynglong (Meghalaya)

Mowlynglong is a small village that has created a mark on the tourist map of Meghalaya as also India. The village is located at about 90 km from the state capital Shillong. The unique feature of the village was the adjustment of the local tribal people conserving nature. The entire village had been kept clean by the residents through the installation of dustbins along the village roads and their proper utilization. The village was awarded the prestigious award of “Asia’s Cleanest Village” in 2003. Every household had dustbins made of bamboo and even children were taught to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. The waste of each household, in turn, were accumulated and transported to a central dustbin after segregation of dry and wet waste. All the houses were decorated with flowering plants either in their garden or in flowering pots that enhanced the beauty of the village many folds.

The village was bordered with Thailang River, a small stream danced along the mountains of Meghalaya. There was a small church constructed in the center of the village, which added the flavor of the beauty of the place.

The main attraction of the area was “Living Root Bridge” which was a natural phenomenon where roots from two trees on opposite sides of the rivulet joined together to form a bridge. The roots entangled each other in such strong bonding, that human beings could walk freely over the roots without being scared of free fall.

There were many homestays in Mowlynglong where the tourist could spend overnight along with a taste of local cuisine. Otherwise, the tourist could have a day tour with lunch at the village on pre-booked order basis.

Though there was bus service from Shillong to Mowlynglong, they were mostly occupied by local residents and in the case of the day tour, it would be better to hire vehicles for the day from Shillong. On the way, the Ramakrishna Mission of Cherapunji and panoramic view of the Sylhet district of Bangladesh could be enjoyed. The tourists could also take a diversion to enjoy a boat ride on the Dawki River on the border of India and Bangladesh.    

 

Kaziranga National Park (Assam)

There are plenty of reserve forests and national parks on a pan India basis. But the highest attraction to the tourists, who wanted to have the flavor of the national park of the northeast, should not miss Kaziranga National Park in Assam. Located 220 km away from Guwahati, on Jorhat Highway, the park had a total inhabited area of 430 sq km along the bank of River Brahmaputra. The national park was converted to Tiger Reserve in 2003 adding buffer zone to a total area of around 850 sq km.

Sandwiched between the foothills of eastern Himalayas and Brahmaputra, the forest was totally covered with elephant grass that suited easy movement of animals like elephant, rhinoceros, wild buffaloes, boars, various species of deer, wild bear, foxes, serpents, varieties of birds, and other wild creatures. Every year the seasonal the flood of the river disturbed the mobility of animals which resulted in visibility of wild animals on the highway in monsoon.

Since the forest was located on the highway itself, the public transports plying to Jorhat, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, etc could be availed to reach the entry point of the forest. There was an ample number of private and government lodges including forest bungalows, resorts, where the tourist could reside for a couple of days to have multiple visits.

The forest department provided jeep safari and elephant safari in the morning and evening to have an accessible reach to the wild animals. The charges for different rides and entry tickets varied from time to time. The forest remained closed for monsoon generally from 01 May to 31 October every year. But the schedule of opening and closing might change based on the flood situation of the Brahmaputra which hindered the movement of tourists.

The visitors could also enjoy the picnic spot on the bank of Kohra River in their leisure time, which was located within walking distance from the tourist lodge complex.

Why Visit the Places

The treasures of the northeast were the jewel in the crown of the country which remained hidden for a long period. With the advent of technology, visibility beyond mainstream India had increased to a considerable extent. It had brought the hidden treasures out of the box and now tourists were inclined to visit some of these places to have a new taste of India.

The tourists from all over India especially of southern, western, and northern India could now add some jewels of the northeast in their wish list kitty and start exploring the unknown destinations.        

 

 

HAMPI - GLORIOUS HISTORY OF INDIA

 

My destiny sometimes carried me to such destinations about which I had never thought or planned. It had happened a number of times in my life. I was fortunate to inherit nomadic nature from my father who used to take us for tours within very short notice. The same stories got repeated in my case also.

Planning

I was at Hyderabad for some period with my son. Having leisure time, I used to surf the Internet and YouTube on a regular basis. Suddenly, I came across a place called Hampi, about which I did not know much except the name. The distance from Hyderabad to Hampi was around 375 km by road and via Hospet by train. The latent desire to explore the unseen destination exploded in my heart. I started searching the train schedule and found that the route was circuitous and there was no chance of availability of tickets within a couple of days. My next choice was the bus as the distance was not so much. I found that there were lots of buses plying from Hyderabad to Hospet via Hampi. Immediately I booked a ticket on the next night bus starting at around 20.00 hrs from Hyderabad and reaching Hampi the next morning at 07.00 hrs.  My next target was to search for a budget hotel at Hampi. I selected two to three hotels through www.booking.com but did not book so as to take a chance of bargaining. I noted down the price which would be a tool for bargaining. Since I was alone I took the risk of taking a chance.

Journey to Hampi

The bus picked me up from a designated location at Hyderabad. It was a sleeper coach with all types of logistics but not at all comfortable for sleeping at night. After crossing a few pick-up points the bus finally took NH-167 that led to Hospet via Raichur in Karnataka. After spending almost a sleepless night because of a jerk, brake, and tilt on a continuous basis added with sporadic bad patches on the road, I reached Hampi at around 07.30 hrs in the morning. The bus dropped me at a place wherefrom the main location was around 4 km. I had to take an auto-rickshaw and reached the hotel just beside the main temple. As usual, the hotel owner quoted a price that was higher than the price indicated on the website and I had to pull down the price a little below the price indicated on the website. The location of the hotel was very good, just beside the main temple with all the other facilities available in the hotel. Having freshened up, I did not want to waste my time and after heavy breakfast, I started off for sightseeing having hired an auto for a total package of Rs.1000/- that too after bargaining a lot.

History of Hampi

The historical site of Hampi is located on the bank of Tungabhadra River covering an area of around 26 sq km. As per mythology, the nomenclature of Hampi is derived from Pampa or Kishkindhya of the Ramayan era. The myth as learnt related to the desire of Parvati to marry Shiva and ultimately resulting in the marriage of Shiva and Parvati in that location after a lot of hurdles. The second myth was that Rama and Laxmana met Sugriva and the army of monkeys at that location where the war with Ravana was planned. However, there was no historical evidence of the above myths.

The historical evidence was related to the Vijaynagara Kingdom in 1500 AD when the place became very important because of being an important trading center. Traders from Portugal, Persia, China, and other countries used to come for business and the place flourished with wealth.

However, consecutive attacks of the Delhi Sultanate especially Allaudin Khilji and Muhammad Bin Tuglaq destroyed the entire kingdom to ruins, relics of which were visible in the present days.

The monuments were protected by the Archeological Survey of India and had been declared as a site of World Heritage by UNESCO.

Locations to Visit

The relics of the entire Vijaynagara Kingdom were spread within a periphery of 26 sq km along the banks of Tungabhadra River. Therefore, it would not be possible for a person to move on foot unless plenty of time was available. It would be better to hire an auto-rickshaw or a car to move around. The drivers generally acted as a guide but with limited knowledge. Hence, a study on the subject would be preferred to have a full idea about the history of the place unless a professional guide was hired. The major locations, where I visited, were as follows:

     Virupaksha Temple and its surroundings

     Vitthala Temple and the entire complex 

     Water supply infrastructure

     Krishna Temple, market, Narsimha, and Shivalinga

     Achyutraya Temple and its surroundings

     Hazar Rama Temple

     Kodandarama Temple

     Monuments on the bank of Tungabhadra river

     Pattabhirama Temple and its surroundings

     Mahanavami Platform and it's complex

     Hemakuta Hill and monuments

     Patabhirama Temple and its surroundings

     Elephant stables and enclosures

     Fountain – a marvel of engineering

     Community kitchen

     Ganagitti Temple complex

     Ahmed Khan Mosque.

     Sunset point

     Lotus Mahal

     King’s Balance

     

    These were a major attraction, which I could cover in one and a half days. As I was residing very near to Virupaksha Temple, some of the visiting points were within walking distance. So my target was to cover the distant parts on the first day itself.

The evening rituals of Virupaksha Temple were worth seeing. The illuminated temple with electric lights and candles, chanting of hymns, songs dedicated to God really attracted a lot of tourists including foreign tourists. The Gopuram (main entrance) was almost 50 meters high with beautiful architecture all along the front and backside drew the attention of the tourists.   

Another peculiar feature of the entire area was the position of rocks on the hillocks. It had been observed that one stone was placed loosely on another stone as if it was a task of a human being. But it was a natural phenomenon and the stone on the top did not get tilted despite bearing hurdles of natural calamities. The same phenomenon could be seen on the return journey to Raichur.

Return Journey

As my check out from the hotel was scheduled at around 09.00 hrs in the next morning, I took my backpack and had breakfast in a local restaurant and was ready by around 07.30 hrs. I hired the same auto-rickshaw for a half-day tour paying Rs.500/- and covered the destinations which I missed on the previous day.

The same auto-rickshaw dropped me at the Hospet bus stand and I was fortunate to get a bus directly going to Hyderabad because it was beyond schedule on account of a technical fault. The seat beside the driver helped me to view the entire return journey and reached Hyderabad at around midnight.

How to Reach

The nearest railway station is Hospet which is around 13 km away from Hampi. The main bus stand is also at Hospet wherefrom buses for Bengaluru (345 km), Hyderabad (375 km), and a few other cities and towns are available. The nearest airport from Hampi is Belgaum which is 240 km. 

Boarding & Lodging

There were too many hotels, guest houses, and homestays in Hampi where tourists could stay depending on the category of their demand. There were eateries including roadside joints where the food including continental food was available catering to the requirement of all types of tourists.  There was ample scope for bargaining on lodging aspects based on the onslaught of tourists.

Why Visit Hampi

Keeping apart the religious importance of the temples, the entire Vijaynagara Kingdom was a marvel of architecture in such a planned manner, that even today it had been considered excellence of engineering. Despite undulated landmass with rocky soil, the technology of water supply to the entire area was worth examining. The market complexes, elephant stables, and other public places were constructed keeping in consideration the utilization of space, free access to the public as also the monitoring of the administration. I was astonished to find the height of engineering skills in that period when the majority of the instruments that we used today were not even invented. Further, the artistic taste of the then rulers, the deployment of skilled artisans, and the proper utilization of their skills had been excellent.

We are used to appreciating the excellence of Mughal art and architecture through the monuments constructed in the northern part of India. But the height of skill and excellence in art and architecture in the southern part of India had gone unnoticed to our tourists but had not been unnoticed by foreign tourists who were regular visitors to the site.

So next time when you plan to visit any historical site just place Hampi in your bucket list and you will really rejoice our glorious past.       

 Backlink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Och08t7RBtM

 

12 REASONS WHY I LOVE TO VISIT DOOARS

 

History

The nomenclature “Dooars” derived from the word “Dwar” or “Du-ar” which meant door. Actually, the entire area was the gateway or door to South Bengal and southern states when the ancient silk route used to be operative. Silk route was the largest trading corridor that extended from Myanmar (Burma) to Afghanistan and beyond the Hindu Kush mountains to Europe. With the passage of time, the silk route got abundant and new avenues of business opened.

Present

But Dooars still remains door or gateway to Assam and all northeastern states of India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan and considered as a trading route.

But Dooars does not remain only a trading route. The location of Dooars being on the foothills of the Himalayas, the mesmerizing beauty attracts a lot of tourists from the state and nearby states. If we consider Darjeeling Himalayas to be the crown of Bengal then Dooars is the necklace of the state.

However, Dooars has always been my favourite destination and a special place to visit around the year for the following reasons

1.   Network of Rivers

The total area of Dooars is around 880 sq km covering from river Sankosh on the west and river Dhansiri on the east. The major rivers are Teesta, Torsa, Sankosh, Raidak, Jayanti, Jhaldhaka, Murti, Karatoya, Kalchini on the western side and Manas, Dhansiri, Brahmaputra on the east. These are perennially flowing rivers. There are hundred more rivers and hill streams intersecting the area in every direction cover the entire region which remains dry throughout the year. The beauty of the region flourishes with the advent of monsoon. Since the majority of the rivers are flowing from Bhutan the huge current bumping to the plains enhances the beauty of many folds. There are many forest bungalows, tourist bungalows, hotels, resorts, and homestays beside the rivers where tourists and travellers can relax enjoying its beauty, and listen to the rippling music round the clock. People who have an inclination for river rafting can also participate in the sports in some of the rivers flowing through Dooars

2.   Forests of Dooars

Jaldapara National park, Gorumara National Park, Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, Chilapata Forest, Singalila National Park, Neora Valley National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve in Bengal, and Manas National Park in Assam are contagious and harbours animals like elephant, rhinoceros, gaur (Indian bison), various varieties of deers including cheetal, sambar, clouded leopard, Indian leopard, sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, wild fox, wolf, monitor lizards, python, cobra, red panda, various types of monkeys and langurs, otters, wild hares, Himalayan Thar, Bhutan takin, Himalayan goral, pygmy hog, wild boar, crocodile, gharial, etc are found. Of late Royal Bengal Tiger has also been spotted in the camera laid by the forest department. It’s a heaven for wildlife lovers, who can explore the entire region to have full satisfaction. Incidentally, the forest of Dooars is connected with Manas and Kaziranga National Parks through forests of Bhutan and there is free movement of animals in the region. The forests of Dooars remain closed generally from mid-June to mid-September as the forest trails become inaccessible due to heavy rain and the period is the breeding season of the majority of habitats of Dooars.

3.   Birdwatcher’s Paradise

Dooars is the paradise for ornithologists. Other than peacock, hornbill, parrot, kingfisher which can be found in abundance, birds like the Eurasian spoonbill, Brahmani duck, various types of storks, cormorant, red napped ibis, vulture, eagle, owlet, woodpecker, dollar bird, green pigeon, merganser, etc as also common birds can be traced in the forest trail especially in the morning and evening. The rivers of Dooars and the water bodies give refuge to migratory birds during the winter season. There are bird watching clubs in North Bengal who are undertaking programmes on a regular basis to guide the ornithologists from pan India as also abroad. Heavy rainfall, abundant supply of food, and temperature within reasonable limits help the majority of the birds to remain in this region throughout the year and migration is minimum.

4.   Tea Gardens of Dooars

 Tea Gardens are one of a feather in the cap of Dooars. Stretches of tea gardens with varieties of tea throughout the entire belt has increased its beauty. The gardens are well-trimmed, maintained, and pruned on a regular basis so as to earn foreign currency from the supply of tea. As all are aware, Darjeeling tea has worldwide fame. But Dooars is the extended coverage where Darjeeling tea plantation takes place.

Tea tourism has become a part of travel in Dooars and Darjeeling. The huge bungalows of tea gardens are being let out to guests where the tourists can stay within the periphery of tea gardens, enjoy local cuisine, and can have a taste of quality tea. It is a relaxing change from the hustle-bustle of urban life where the tourist can be in their own world.

5.   Ethnic Tribes of Dooars

The original residents of the Dooars are Koch, Mech, Tharu, Dhimal, Rajbanshi still exist in their own form despite getting mixed up with other communities. Their rituals, culture, and heritage persist with modification.

There are other tribes like Santhal, Malpahari, Kheria, Munda, Oraon, Chik, Baraik, Magar, Ho, Khasi, Korhoy, Rava, Garo, Dukpa, Boro, Hazong, Kachhai, etc who are either residing for a long time or might have migrated from bordering Assam and Jharkhand and majority of them are working in tea gardens. Few of the tribes have also migrated from Bhutan and Nepal during the British period as their support staff but have settled in Dooars for generations together.

There is a particular tribe called Toto who is considered as one of the most primitive tribes of Dooars staying concentrated in a particular area now called Totopara near Madarihat in Alipurduar district. They are mainly engaged in agriculture and allied activities and of late education has become their priority.

6.   Handloom and Handicrafts

Since the majority of the tribal are self-reliant, their handloom and handicraft have taken an important place in the map of the country. The Mekhla or Dokna is a traditional dress material weaved through handloom which has a huge upcountry market. The gamchha or towel woven by Rava, Garo, Boro, etc has created demand in the local and upcountry market. The area is famous for 3Ts i.e. Tea, Timber, and Tourism. The furniture and utilities prepared by the tribal of Dooars are quality products because of the high quality of timber and their manufacturing skills. The Koch and Mech are expert in manufacturing cane and bamboo products which are abundantly available in the forests of Dooars. The entire Teesta and Torsa belt are jute growing areas. The local tribal are also engaged in manufacturing jute products some of which are ethnic with traditional values.

7.   Cuisine of Dooars

The entire region is inhabited with various types of tribes having their own culture, heritage, and food habits. As a result, the foodies can have varieties of tastes which not only include tribal foods but also cuisines from Bengal, Assam, and migrated Bangladeshis who have settled there. Considering the network of perennial rivers, huge varieties of fishes are available round the year. The famous fish Boroli, Chital etc are only available in few rivers of this region. Since the rivers of Dooars are not contaminated due to industrial waste and pollution, the traditional fishes still flow up and down the river and the places are not dependent upon cultured fish. Along with the fish the varieties of “Shag” (leafy vegetables) can add flavor to the taste buds of any tourist. I personally have tasted vegetables cooked from tea leaves. The abundance of rainfall, fertile soil, rich minerals, minimum use of fertilizers, and organic manure has led to quality vegetables in this region and one can easily differentiate the taste with the vegetables available in an urban area. A particular type of small size potato, which is called Badami Alu locally, is the only product of this region and not available even in the state capital. The tribal people mostly rear pigs, goats, lambs along with hens, and ducks in the natural environment, and their meat and eggs are available in the local market.

8.   Places of Interest

Coochbehar has been a princely state even after independence with rich history and heritage. The kingdom of Coochbehar extended up to Tripura and the family has a connection with the kings of Rajasthan. Coochbehar Palace has been converted to a museum under Archeological Survey and mementos are being displayed there.

Buxa Fort has historical importance in the freedom struggle. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and other freedom fighters were imprisoned there. Presently, the fort is in dilapidated condition.

There are other places like Jalpaiguri Palace, Nal Raja Garh, Gosanimari-Rajpat which have got historical importance but not being maintained properly

9.   Trekking Routes

The trekkers can visit Dooars region to avail undisturbed natural trekking programmes to Sandakphu, Bhutanghat, Buxa, Lepchakha, Singalila National Park. The trekking includes trekking through mountain stretches, through jungles, along the river beds, trekking for bird watching, trekking for the discovery of flora of Dooars, and to the tribal villages in the foothills of Dooars. Trekking guides can be contacted through trekking clubs in Dooars.

10.        Connectivity

The entire Dooars is well connected from all angles. The nearest airport is Bagdogra in Siliguri which is between 50 km to 200 km range depending on the location to visit. There is another airport at Coochbehar which is presently inoperative but ready for takeoff and landing which is in the range of 15 km and 100 km.

The railway track connecting North-East India and the rest of the country pass through Dooars. The train journey through Dooars is breathtaking and the entire beauty can be enjoyed in a couple of hours. The main stations are New Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Coochbehar, New Mal Junction and Jalpaiguri.

The National Highway 31 passes through Dooars from Siliguri and all the locations are well connected through a network of arterial roads. The road connecting India and Bhutan, India and Nepal are also diversions of the national highway. Public transports from Siliguri town are available in plenty connecting all important places of entire Dooars.

11.        Logistics

Homestay has taken an important place in Dooars. There are huge numbers of homestays in all the locations. Staying in the residences of ethnic tribes, experiencing their culture and cuisine will definitely be a new experience. The website www.humrohome.com can be visited to choose the location of the stay. The charges are reasonable and the host can act as a local guide to the tourists.

West Bengal Tourism Corporation (WBTDC) has also set up hotels with all modern facilities. The booking can be done from their website at Jaldapara, Batabari, Tilabari, Gajoldoba, Mal, Kalimpong, Siliguri, Kurseong, Jalpaiguri www.wbtdcl.com and for West Bengal Forest Development Corporation (WBFDC) at Murti, Rasikbil, Barodabari(Malangi), Jaldhaka, Suntaleykhola, Mongpong, Samsing, Garubahan, Buxa, Chilapata, and Lolegaon which can be booked through www.wbfdc.net.

Further, there are hotels and resorts of all ranges in the majority of the locations and available within a reasonable range that can be checked from their individual websites.

12.        Transport

Tenzing Norgey Bus Stand and P C Mittal Bus Terminal in Siliguri cater to the entire transport services of Dooars. The government and private buses are available throughout the day as also a few night services at a reasonable cost. Few buses are to be pre-booked and the rest can be booked on spot based on the availability of seats. Further, there are share taxi services from Siliguri Taxi Stand for the entire Dooars. The vehicles can also be booked privately for dropping or for continued services throughout the stay. The cost depends upon season, availability, and period of booking. In case of higher number of passengers of a group, it is better to privately book the vehicles so as to have the liberty of movement.

So friends, while preparing your bucket list of visiting places in COVID free world, why not keep the name of Dooars and take a chance to enjoy nature in its entireness and select the destination of your choice?