Some people hate the Durga Puja madness in cities. And for them, there’s nothing better than days and nights of exploring forests and wildlife, listening to the chirp of birds in the mornings and the buzzing of crickets all day.
The Chilapata-Jaldapara forest in Alipurduar has opened recently for tourists and it turns out that it is one of the most sought after places for people in Kolkata who are keen on spending some quiet days away from the maddening crowd of the city.
Tourists have started flocking in large numbers to various home stays and lodges in Jaldapara and Chilapata forests, a process that started 24 hours before the forests were to open. The Chilapata Eco Tourism Society, which is an association of lodge, home stay and car safari owners arranged for Mahakal puja and elephant worship after the forests opened recently.
According to an official of the state forest department, the owners of hotels, home stays, guides and the government authorities expect to have more tourists in the coming days.
The Chilapata car safari route covers a distance of 38 km. The journey starts from the historic fort of King Nal, moving on through Shikariline watch-tower, Pataijhora, Pal Road, Bichhanbari, Mantharam Bit and Mendabari watch-tower before returning to the fort.
King Nal’s fort was built by the maharajas of Cooch Behar, and has been a huge attraction of Chilapata ever since it has come to be projected as a tourist spot. Whether it is the fabled cobra living among the fort ruins or a tree said to be as old as the kings (famously called the blood-tree), Chilapata forest is a mesmerising place for the forest lovers.
