Chilapata Forest | |
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forest | |
  Chilapata Forest  Chilapata Forest | |
| Coordinates: 26°33′02″N89°22′47″E / 26.550556°N 89.379722°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | West Bengal |
| District | Alipurduar |
The Chilapata Forest is a dense forest near Jaldapara National Park in Dooars, Alipurduar district, West Bengal, India. It is about 40 km from Alipurduar, and just a few minutes away from Hasimara town.
The forest forms an elephant corridor between Jaldapara National Park and the Buxa Tiger Reserve, [1] and is rich in wildlife. New species continue to be found. [2] The forest used to be home to large Rhinoceros populations. In hunting expeditions in 1892-1904, in and around Chilapata Forest, the Maharajah of Cooch Behar recorded killing one rhino, injuring another, and sighting of over 14. [3] Rhinos now are extremely rare. Indian leopards are still common. [4]
It is hoped that eco-tourism will provide a new source of income for the indigenous Rabha people, who now depend on the forest mainly for firewood. [5]
West Bengal State Forest Development Agency (WBSFDA) runs an eco-tourism resort at Kodalbasti, providing basic accommodation.
One of the main attractions is the ruined "Nalraja Garh", or fort of the Nal kings, built in the Gupta period in the fifth century C.E., the Golden Age of India. Although poorly maintained, the site has considerable archaeological interest. Other activities include Tonga rides through Mathura tea garden, boating on the Bania river and angling on the confluence of the Kalchini, Bania and Buri Basra. [6]
Jaldapara National Park is a national park situated at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in Alipurduar District of northern West Bengal, India, and on the banks of the Torsa River. Jaldapara is situated at an altitude of 61 m and is spread across 216.51 km2 (83.59 sq mi) of vast grassland with patches of riverine forest. It was declared a sanctuary in 1941 for protection of its great variety of flora and fauna.
The Dooars or Duars are the alluvial floodplains in eastern-northeastern India and southern Bhutan that lie south of the outer foothills of the Himalayas and north of the Brahmaputra River basin. This region is about 30 km (19 mi) wide and stretches over about 350 km (220 mi) from the Teesta River in West Bengal to the Dhansiri River in Udalguri district of Assam. The region forms the gateway to Bhutan. It is part of the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion.
Jalpaiguri district is a district of the Indian state of West Bengal. The district was established in 1869 during British Raj.
Gorumara National Park is a national park in northern West Bengal, India. Located in the Dooars region of the Himalayan foothills, it is a medium-sized park with grasslands and forests. Gorumara National Park was established in 1992. It is primarily known for its population of Indian rhinoceros. The park was declared as the best among the protected areas in India by the Ministry of Environment and Forests for the year 2009.
Buxa Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve and national park in northern West Bengal, India, covering an area of 760 km2 (290 sq mi). In altitude, it ranges from 60 m (200 ft) in the Gangetic Plains to 1,750 m (5,740 ft) bordering the Himalayas in the north. At least 284 bird species inhabit the reserve. Mammals present include Asian elephant, gaur, Sambar deer, clouded leopard, Indian leopard, and Asian golden cat.
The Terai–Duar savanna and grasslands is a narrow lowland ecoregion at the base of the Himalayas, about 25 km (16 mi) wide, and a continuation of the Indo-Gangetic Plain in India, Nepal and Bhutan. It is colloquially called Terai in the Ganges Basin east to Nepal, then Dooars in West Bengal, Bhutan and Assam east to the Brahmaputra River. It harbours the world's tallest grasslands, which are the most threatened and rare worldwide.
Totopara is a village in the Madarihat-Birpara CD block in the Alipurduar subdivision of the Alipurduar district of West Bengal, India.
Malbazar, also known as Mal, is a town and a municipality in Jalpaiguri district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Malbazar subdivision. It lies about 65 km from Jalpaiguri and 55 km from Siliguri. It lies on the bank of river Neora.
Binnaguri is a cantonment town located in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal state, India. It is located at 26° 46' N latitude and 89° 3' E longitude at an altitude of 216 metres above sea level.
Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary is close to the Gorumara National Park. Chapramari is about 30 kilometres from Chalsa and Lataguri in northern West Bengal, India. The total coverage of the forest is 960 hectares.
Chalsa is a census town in the Matiali CD block in the Malbazar subdivision of the Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal, India.
Alipurduar District is the 20th district in the state of West Bengal, India. The district has its headquarters at Alipurduar. It was made a district by bifurcating Jalpaiguri district in 2014.
Dam Dim is a village in the Mal CD blocks in the Malbazar subdivision of the Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, India. It is famous for tea gardens and moist deciduous forests. Dam Dim is specially renowned for drama. Dam Dim has its own drama group, Damdim Yuba Natya Sangstha.
Madarihat is a census town and a gram panchayat in the Madarihat-Birpara CD block in the Alipurduar subdivision of the Alipurduar district, West Bengal, India. This town is situated on the outskirts of Jaldapara National Park, which is famous for Indian rhinoceros. This is one of the main tourist spots in North Bengal, surrounded by tea gardens, forests, hills, and small rivers, and also having highly diverse population. Madarihat is also world famous for the local wooden furniture.
Bagrakote is a village in the Mal CD block in the Malbazar subdivision of the Jalpaiguri district in the state of West Bengal, India. The main reason behind Bagrakote being called as a Tea Garden is that it was by the virtue of the Duncan Goenka Group that established a tea garden in Bagrakote providing a stable livelihood. Thus people from neighbouring villages and even some far off places like Sikkim have migrated to Bagrakote, in search of better living conditions.Bargach is the capital of bagrakote.
The New Jalpaiguri–Alipurduar–Samuktala Road line is a railway line that connects New Jalpaiguri- Siliguri Junction with Alipurduar and Samuktala Road in the Indian state of West Bengal. This railway line passes through the beautiful Doars region, which includes Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Dooars-Terai tea gardens, Sevoke Railway Bridge, River Teesta, River Jaldhaka, River Torsha, Gorumara National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Jaldapara National Park, Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, Chilapata Forests, Tunnels, Hills, Valleys etc.
Odlabari is a census town in the Mal CD block in the Malbazar subdivision of the Jalpaiguri district in the state of West Bengal, India. It has become famous because it is the hometown of Biswadeb Das. He is famous for making and eating Rosogullas in Odlabari.
Aryaman Tea Estate is a tea garden, located in the Madarihat-Birpara CD block in the Alipurduar subdivision of the Alipurduar district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Kranti is a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Malbazar subdivision of the Jalpaiguri district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Chilapata travel guide from Wikivoyage| External videos | |
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 Holiday at Chilapata |
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