A dark and silent night in a resort, some wild animals roaming around the resort compound, various unnatural sounds coming through the silent night and the moonlight falling on the top of the jungle. All of a sudden shape runs through the surrounding of the compound, it could be a wild squirrel or even a leopard.
Yes, it is Chilapata forest for ……. you. Welcome to the most dense and dangerous ‘Chilapata Forest’ in Dooars, near Jaldapara Avaironno in Alipurduar District. It covers total 17 km drive road, the forest is the home of elephants, one-horned Rhinos, Bison, Leopard and wild Pig. Now, it is a safe and popular wildlife destination for travellers. Thanks to the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation for setting up the tight security system for the safety of the local and tourists.
Closure of Waiting
Last Sunday, we, the team of Cyber Help India started our refreshing journey towards the Chilapata forest at 10:30am in the morning. We reached the Chilapata Forest from Jaldapara via Gajoldoba, Lataguri, Murti and Binnaguri.
Refreshing Breakfast at Binnaguri
At Binnaguri we had our breakfast which had Puri, Sabji, Rasgulla and Nolen Gurer Rasgulla. Gradually the cities of bricks, wood and concrete were left behind and we were melted in the lap of the nature.
A Delicious Lunch with Lush Green
After we crossed Binnaguri we drove through Birpara and after a while we reached Jaldapara where we stopped at Aranya Hotel and Restaurant. The restaurant was surrounded by lush green forest and had a park nearby which had swing, slides, and seesaws, which we enjoyed like anything while we waited for our lunch to be cooked.
When our lunch was finally ready an executive of the restaurant call us and we had had Rice, Green Salad, Alu and Fulkopir Dalna (Potato and cauliflower’s vegetable), Fish and potato French. The restaurant was quite clean, tranquil and had excellent service and must say that the food was delicious
Concrete Left Behind, Lap of Chilapata
Now finally our destination was arriving, we left Jaldapara. Within half an hour we took a right turn and the roads took us inside the most dense and dangerous Jungle the ‘Chilapata Forest’.
We stopped to play the music and stayed silent inside the car so that no animals were harmed, not only that, our driver drove the car at the speed of 40 km/hrs for respecting the wildlife. We were lost in the beauty and vastness of the mighty Chilapata Forest when suddenly one of our friends, Krishna shouted “Mour Mour” (“peacock peacock” in English). Our driver stopped the car; we got off from the car, and got some real nice shots of the beautiful creature, without disturbing it.
After 5-10 minutes our another friend, Vivek, clamoured “Hati dekho Hati”. Everybody turned to the direction he was pointing at. We saw, some elephants grazing in the forest but unfortunately the 1st car had gone too far to be a part of this majestic view, so we too didn’t halt for too long there.
Both sides of the road had dense forest, the tall tree’s tops and branches appeared like a roof as our car drove smoothly under its engulfing beauty and it made the trip even pleasant and thrilling as well. After a while, we stopped at a bridge, where a small zigzag stream separated the ‘Chilapata’ forest.
Here we took a small rest and catch the framed of the special natural beauty here we enjoyed a lot by driving the Hover board on the Chilapata’s road which was the best experience of our trip. We took a small walk under clicked some photos and our touch the freeze water of the stream. Our Anita Mam firstly did not want to go but when saw the enjoyment then she came and joined us.
At the Resort
We then headed towards our next destination, Chilapata Jungle Camp. When we crossed the Chilapata forest’s main range, our car took a big left turn then within 1-3 minutes we were at Chilapata Jungle Camp. The first thing we did there was that we indulged ourselves in Ginger tea, which we just enjoyed like anything. Then we went out for a small stimulating walk at the front road. It was a lovely pleasant evening. The sight of the sun setting and moon rising added to that, the sweet and soothing sounds of peacock and various insects was just breath taking. Somewhere from the forest came the roaring sounds, rendering an exhilarating feeling.
Blend of Fire, Nature and Food
In the evening the bon fire, lighting up the dark night. We all sat around the warm fire, enjoying some music, some dance, and some discussions and yes of course, the delicious chicken barbecue.
We enjoyed a lot, we didn’t even realise when it was 8:30 PM. Before we retired for the bed we gathered up and our Gautam Sir declared the Jungle Safari on the next day, we would set off in the morning by 8:00 AM.
Unprecedented Feeling to Night Ride in Chilapata
We were having the time of our lives riding through one of the scariest jungles,” at night” not scared of anything or anyone we were feeling like a super heroes, brave n mighty. It was the idea of our CEO Mr. Gautam Ghosh. He said we would go for a ride and then dinner at a dhaba called ” Muskan Dhaba” and so we started off, on our adventurous ride.
On the entrance of the Chilapata forest, we were stopped by the guide to complete the formalities. All the required formalities were taken care of by our Sir and that was really appreciable. It is really necessary for tourists to abide by the rules and regulations for the safety purpose. W now accessed inside the Jungle’s main road, it was an amazing feeling and experience which we are surely going to cherish and treasure for the rest of our lives. It was a 1 hour ride and the level of satisfaction we had at the end of our ride was overwhelming.
Mouth-watering Dinner with Best Companions
Now we headed towards Muskan Dhaba at Sonapur. It was just 15 minutes away from Chilapata forest. The restaurant was clean; staffs were very soft-spoken and friendly. They arranged the table for us so all of us could fit at the same table. We had our dinner at Chilapata forest, we had Tandoor Roti, Dal Fry, Butter Chicken Masala and Green salad but our friend Avijit and Managing Director Mrs Anita Ghosh took Chowmin as their dinner. The dinner at Muskan Dhaba was superb. It had a great open lounge just at the back of the building. Good food and food sight, it was overall an awesome feeling. That night we stayed at the resort in Chilapata Jungle.
Razzle-Dazzle in Chilapata on Monday
The time was 6:15 a.m. when someone knocked at our door. Saikat, one of our friends, opened the door; it is Indra, another friend. He woke everybody up for the Jungle Safari, which was to start at 8:00 am, we were offered our morning Ginger Tea, and then we went for a morning walk.
In the middle of our walk we got to watch a group of peacocks coming out from the jungle may have been in search for their breakfast.
When we clamoured for the photo of the peacock the peacock was amazingly flying inside the woodland and sat on a tall tree which was the best view we ever see.
Unparallel Jungle Safari
We all were ten people in total; we all reached the DFO office in the morning for the jungle safari. Once again we had to go through a list of formalities like every safari van could take a maximum of six persons and many more. We had to hire two more Safari vans. When the vans were arranged we finally took off to the long awaited jungle safari.
Wreckage of “Nal Raj”
The vans entered the first range of Chilapata Forest. We luckily that saw a deer crossing the jungle first, then a Bison, we stopped there for a while so we could take some photos. We accessed furtherer and deeper parts of the forest. The ambience had totally embraced us and we were completely blending in when the guide suddenly clamoured “a dekhi a hai Nolraja ka ghar ka wall” (as we all know the history of the Nolraja whose empire was there for a long time).Going further into the depths of the jungle the van took a small right turn where the guide attracted our attraction to the bleeding Tree (local name: Ram Supari Tree).
For some reason, people believed that the tree bled the Human blood as the fluid. Then we came to the centre of attraction the “Nol Raja Garh” or the “Fort of the Nol Raja”, built in the Gupta period in the 15th century, but now it is just ruins. Just then our attention was caught by a Bison which was just standing beside us. Wow! it was just speech less feeling.
Melt with Nature and Wildlife
Now, we headed towards the Mendabari Forest range. We saw some deer’s, peacocks, wild squirrels and numerous little and lovely birds. “Sunlight was taking permission to the trees before touching the forest floors” murmured Avijit, and of course sunlight should do it because the trees are the owners of the forest that their home. The leaves rustled sound, sweet birds clamoured and the various sounds of insects filled up the forest, specially the clamour of peacock with the love, respect and natural beauty. Suddenly Saikat, another friend said “the prettiest place on earth”.
The van now climbed up the main road then after a while took left turn which was the way to the CC Land, we saw an elephant crossing the road there and it seemed like he was crossing the road with his happy and relaxed heart. We then took a small right turn and climbed up on a watch tower to see One-horned Rhinos. Rhinos and other animals came there to quench their thirst in Torsa River. From the top of the watch tower a small part of Jaldapara wildlife Sanctuary could be seen. Actually, one side is the Chilapata Forest Range and the other side is the Jaldapara forest range. It is one of the loveliest views of the Dooars.
Lovely Breakfast with lovely Friends
Back in the resort awaited a delicious breakfast with Roti and Sabji beside a water lagoon. Nothing would have been more relaxing, great natural sight of the farming field in nearby village and nearby resorts.
Way to Sikiajhora
Now we were on the NH31, the route of Bengal – Assam highway. Soon we were in a tiny village, from there we reached the Sikiajhora picnic spot. The spot is run by a group of women. We stopped there, parked our cars and took the entry ticket which was Rs.10/person and Rs.50/person for boating. We enjoyed a lot there, we did boating all the way into the jungle while.
Frightening Boating
We all had a great time boating through the jungle in the tiny zigzag jungle stream. It was very terrifying since the wild animals came there to drink water. Then finally the journey back to spot started.
Time to Say Good Bye
We enjoyed refreshing sugar cane juice and started our journey back to Siliguri. We packed our bags and set off towards Siliguri.
On the way we took our lunch at Nimti, in a road side Dhaba. We had Rice, Mutton, Sajbi and Dal etc. Journey back home was also fulfilled as we sang, danced and razzle-dazzled in the. Took a small tea break at Malbazar then a nonstop driving through the Gajoldoba, Ambari and then Siliguri at 9:00 pm when reached Siliguri.
