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Located in the beautiful hilly area of Dooars, Lataguri is a perfect place to spend some time amidst the amazing beauty of Mother Nature and explore some of the famous wildlife spots in West Bengal. Be it elephants, bisons, tigers or cheetahs, Lataguri has an amazing collection of all types of wild animals and birds making it a paradise of all nature lovers. Visitors can also enjoy the local culture and traditions such as Chor Chunni, Dham Gaan and several other local festivals. In addition to all these, the beautiful tea gardens serve as the biggest attractions for the tourists. Let us have a look at the 10 best places located in and around Lataguri in Dooars.
Best Time To Visit Lataguri
Tourists should avoid visiting Lataguri during monsoon as the wildlife sanctuary remains closed from 15th June to 15th September. The best time to visit Lataguri is during the winter season between December and February as the weather remains quite pleasant at that time with less humidity.
Gorumara National Park:
Credit: TheSomdeep
Gorumara National Park, which is around 15 km from Lataguri, is situated on the banks of Jaldhaka river and Murti river in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. In 1949, Gorumara National Park was declared as a wildlife sanctuary and it is spread across over 80 km. However, later in 1992, it was declared as a national park. This place attracts thousands of tourists throughout the year.
Gorumara National Park has a huge collection of flora and fauna. Be it reptiles, insects, birds and mammals, it houses all of these making it a suitable place for all wildlife enthusiasts. It is said that if visitors are lucky, they may also come across a royal Bengal tiger, huge Asian elephants or a rare great Indian hornbill during the jungle safari trips.
Timings: During summer, the Gorumara National Park remains open from 6 am to 6 pm, while in winter, the national park opens at 6.30 am and closes at 5 pm.
Distance from Lataguri: 6.3 km
Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary:
Credit: DEBJANIDASGHOSH
The Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary is another major tourist attraction in Lataguri. This wildlife sanctuary is located at a distance of 20 km from the Gorumara National Park in the foothills of the Himalayas. In addition to the wide variety of flora and fauna, visitors can also enjoy the view of the Eastern Himalayas and the famous Kanchenjunga mountain.
Timings: The Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary opens at 6 am and closes at 6 pm during the summer season, while during the wintertime, it opens at 6.30 am and closes at 5 pm. The wildlife sanctuary remains closed from June to September due to the monsoon season.
Distance from Lataguri: 25.8 km
Jayanti Mahakal Caves:
Credit: Abhijit Kar Gupta
Jayanti Mahakal Caves are situated along the banks of the river Jayanti and are quite popular as a trekking destination in West Bengal. These caves share the border with the magnificent Sinchula hills and are known for the ancient ruins. Visitors can stay in one of the forest bungalows near the cave and cherish the beautiful environment around.
Distance from Lataguri: 132 km
Buxa Tiger Reserve:
Credit: Tiyasakolkata2016
If you are willing to drive for around 2 hours, then this Buxa Tiger Reserve is worth a visit. As the name says, this reserve forest shelters tigers as well as a few other rare wild animals such as leopards, cheetahs, sambar, elephants, bisons, chital deer and many more. Travelling to Buxa Tiger Reserve may take the entire day, but you won't regret the journey after experiencing the reserve forest.
Distance from Lataguri: 120.2 km
Buxa Fort:
Credit: Koustav
Located on the Buxa Hill, this fort is considered to be a shelter of the refugee monks, who shifted to India during the Tibet crisis after the Chinese invasion. According to history, Buxa Fort was the primary reason of argument between the king of Bhutan and the Cooch kings. However, later in the 18th century, the British captured the fort, made of bamboo wood, and converted the structure into a stone building. The British used this fort to imprison revolutionaries during that era.
Distance from Lataguri: 134 km
Rovers Point:
Credit: Tridibchoudhury
Rovers Point is located quite close to the Buxa Fort and is known as the land of rare birds. Visitors can enjoy a breathtaking hilltop view from Rovers Point as it gives a complete aerial shot of the dense green forests spreading across acres of lands. Some people also refer to this place as one where you can get a bird's-eye view of Buxa Tiger Reserve.
Distance from Lataguri: 82 km
Jaldhaka:
Credit: Samyabrato dey
The Jaldhaka River Valley is one of the most prospective and popular tourist spots in West Bengal. The Jaldhaka river which originates from Kupup Lake in East Sikkim Zuluk flows partly through Bengal and partly in Bhutan. The river valley, which is surrounded by hills, consists of a number of villages and gives an excellent insight about the rich cultural heritage of the tribal people.
Distance from Lataguri: 46.9 km
Murti:
Credit: Mridusmita Mondal
The Murti river flows down from the Kalimpong hills and is placed in-between Gorumara National Park and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. This place is known for its serene beauty, where one can feel the state of being tranquil and peacefully listen to the flowing river. Visitors can stay at the nearby forest bungalow and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere at Murti.
Distance from Lataguri: 17.5 km
Bindu:
Credit: T. R. Shankar Raman
Located on the Indo-Bhutan border, Bindu is a small village in North Bengal and is quite popular for its cardamom plantation. In recent years, Bindu has become one of the popular tourist attractions for its picturesque landscape and plantation. The Jaldhaka Dam is located in this village and it is said to be one of the oldest hydroelectric projects between India and Bhutan.
Distance from Lataguri: 56.9 km
Jhalong:
Credit: AbhishekGhosh441
Jhalong is situated very close to Bindu village and is an offbeat tourist attraction in West Bengal. People visiting Jhalong also pay a visit to Paren, a small forest in Dooars. The forest consists of fir and pine and is a perfect place for trekking. People who are interested in birdwatching can also visit Jhalong as well as Paren to catch a glimpse of rare birds.
Distance from Lataguri: 48.1 km
