Duars or the gateway to the hills of Nepal and Bhutan and northeast India is the area where Gorumara National Park and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary is located in West Bengal. The area lying in the Himalayan foothills has great natural beauty and is home to some of the most varied flora and fauna. While the Gorumara National Park located on the bank of rivers Murti and Raidak has vegetation of riverine grasslands interspersed with savannah woodlands, Chapramari is more of woodland with very tall trees and thick canopy cover.
Besides the One-horned Rhinoceros, the fauna of the area include Asian Elephant, Gaur, Leopard, and different species of deer. Lowland bird species dominate and you are likely to see Black Stork, Common Merganser, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Dollarbird, Green-billed Malkoha, Asian Barred Owlet, Barred Cuckoo Dove, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Black Baza, Collared Falconet, Black Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Long-tailed Broadbill, Maroon Oriole, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Greater Racket Tailed Drongo, Blue Rock Thrush, Rufous-bellied Niltava, White-rumped Shama, Northern Hill Myna, Sultan Tit, Black-crested Bulbul, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Streaked Spiderhunter in the area.
Nearest Railhead: New Jalpaiguri for Eastern Duars (Garumara National Park and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary) and Alipurduar/Coachbehar for Western Duars (Buxa Tiger Reserve). The Central Duars (Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary) can be accessed equally conveniently both from Alipuduar Junction and New Jalpaiguri.For Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary New Jalpaiguri or Alipurduar/Coachbehar is the nearest entry-point.
Nearest Airport: Bagdogra
Approx travelling time:
Garumara National Park & Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary: Two hours drive from New Jalpaiguri and two and half hours from Bagdogra.
Buxa Tiger Reserve & Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary: One and one and half-hour from Alipurduar and Coochbehar respectively. It takes three hours to reach Jaldapara from New Jalpaiguri/Bagodogra.
Garumara National Park & Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary: Our own Garumara Jungle Camp at Mangalbari, Chalsa. There are few small and basic hotels in Lataguri, which is approx 20 kms from the park. Sinclairs Resort at Chalsa hilltop is the only luxury hotel.
Buxa Tiger Reserve: Gracy Lips tourist lodge at Rajabhatkhawa is a clean, basic family-run hotel.
Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary: Hollong Forest Lodge, inside the park or Government Tourist Lodge at Madarihat about four km from the park.
Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary: Day birding is also possible from Siliguri, which is 8km from Siliguri.
