SD : Rajabhat Khaoa, West Bangal

Raja Bhatkhawa Forest Tourist Places list

Site Name: Raja Bhatkhawa.

Site Type: Forest.

Location: Rajabhatkhawa is a small town situated just outside the Buxa Tiger Reserve in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India. located at 26.62°N 89.53°E. It has an average elevation of 221 m (725 ft).

Nearest Railway Station: Alipurduar junction.

Nearest Airport: Kolkata.

Rajabhatkhawa Forest Elephant

How to Reach: Taxis and cars are available from New Jalpaiguri to Rajabhatkhawa. You can also take a train from NJP to the Siliguri-Hansimara section and get down at Rajabhatkhawa. You can also get down at the Alipurduar junction and reach Rajabhatkhawa by road via Damanpur. National Highway 31C passes through Rajabhat Khawa. Rajabhatkhawa also has a railway station which is situated on the New Jalpaiguri-Alipurduar-Samuktala Road Line. Located just 15 kms from Alipurduar, Rajabhatkhawa is the gateway to

the famous Buxa Tiger Reserve. Surrounded by emerald green forest and hills this scenic hamlet is an idyllic spot for experiencing green darkness. Serving as an entry point to nearby forests, this little town is bounded by rivers like Raidak and Jayanti. Numerous nature trails originate from Rajabhatkhawa and pass through dense forested areas in and around Buxa Tiger reserve. Bird watching, jungle safari, trekking and wildlife watching are the main activities here. Rajabhatkhawa and its surrounding areas are also home to various migratory birds. The Nature Interpretation Centre at Rajabhatkhawa with its museum of wildlife related exhibits is very impressive too.

Rajabhatkhawa-Jainti line is a new project sanctioned in 2012-13.

Time stands still in Rajabhatkhawa. That’s what I felt when I reached this quaint village surrounded by the Buxa Tiger Reserve in Jalpaiguri district.

Miles of deep forest, swift brooks and hills dotting the horizon greet you with a quietude that seems almost otherworldly.

There is an anecdote behind the name of the village. It is said that in 1800, the king of Cooch Behar vowed

Buxa Jungle Lodge

to never eat rice if he did not manage to oust the ruler of Bhutan from the area where the village thrives now.

After some time, the monarch of Bhutan himself agreed to leave and as a gesture of amity, the kings met and had a feast of rice in the dense forest. That gave the village its name.

Located about 15km from Alipurduar, Rajabhatkhawa serves as the entry point to the tiger reserve. Entry permits to the reserve are available at the village.

It is a haven for wildlife lovers. There is an orchidorium and a leopard rescue centre with a museum. Don’t forget to stop at the nature interpretation centre.

Migratory birds like goosanders, ibis bill and fork-tails and local ones like pheasants, cuckoos, minivets, mynahs, parakeets and partridges are easy to spot in the area, even for amateurs.

The 1997 census recorded as many as 32 tigers, 100 leopards, 125 elephants, 360 bison and 234 species of birds in the Buxa area.

Wildlife safaris, bird watching and trekking are the prime attractions for tourists.

According to officials of the forest department, 32 types of creepers and herbs, 112 breeds of orchids and more than 150 species of trees are found in the emerald green woods.

Rajabhatkhawa at night is a unique experience. An eerie silence broken only by the hoots of owls and calls of animal from the depths of the forest casts a spell that lingers till the first rays of the sun kiss the foliage as

Buxa Jungle

you sip a steaming cup of tea by the window of your guest house.

Places of attraction nearby include Chilapata, Jayanti and the Buxa fort.

Winter is the best time to visit Rajabhatkhawa. Try to avoid the monsoon. The forests remain closed from June 15 to September 15 every year.

Hotel: There are many hotels and lodges at Rajabhatkhawa. Leo House, Tiger Lodge and the Buxa Tiger Reserve guest house are the best bets.

Places to see in Rajabhatkhawa: Rajabhatkhawa is a great place for enjoying a relaxed vacation. The nearest sightseeing destination is the famous Buxa Tiger Reserve, which is famous for its ruined Fort, wild elephants, leopards, tigers, bisons and a host of wild animals. All required entry permits to this Buxa Tiger
Reserve are issued from Rajabhatkhawa Nature Interpretation Centre. There are a number of trekking trails through the Buxa forest, which offer hikers the chance to savor a glimpse of animals in their natural habitat. Spanning an area of 759 sq km, the Buxa Tiger Reserve is admired with hilly landscape crisscrossed by several rivers and their tributaries. The Buxa Fort is located at an altitude of 867 meters on the Sinchula Range in the middle of the reserve forest.

Rajabhatkhawa Chita Bagh Udhar Kandro

Nearby attractions of Rajabhatkhawa: In order to reach Buxa Fort, you have to trek around 5 kms from Santrabari. The Buxa Fort located at an altitude of 2600 ft has a huge historical importance because it as used by the British to confine freedom fighters – even Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is said to have spent some days here. The sacred temple of Mahakal is also located nearby. The riverbed of Jayanti and the dense forests of Chilapata is also located nearby. The beautiful forested area of Jayanti with the meandering Jayanti River and its endless white pebble laden banks is a grand site. You can also visit the nearby Chilapata Forest or the famous Pokhri, which is visited by thousands of devotees. You can also visit nearby Cooch Behar town for a visit to the Cooch Behar Palace.

Things to do in Rajabhatkhawa: Rahabhatkhawa is enriched with plenty of sight seeing destinations. Surrounded by thick forest, the place is a storehouse of flora and fauna. Wildlife safaris, bird watching and

Rajabhatkhawa R S

trekking are the prime activities of the tourists visiting the destination. The region is admired with a number of beautiful trekking trails, most of which pass through the Buxa Forest. The most popular trek initiates from Santlabari (914 ft) to Buxadar, which is a 5 km trek through the dense forested area lead to the Buxadar Forest Bungalow. The bungalow provides accommodation facility to the trekkers. If you trek for another 4 km through the forest trail, you will reach the Rover’s Point – famous as a birdwatching destination.

Another 12 km trek from this point will take you to the picturesque Rupam Valley in Bhutan. The journey through this trekking trail is quite adventurous and full of excitement. Nearby Jayanti is a beautiful place where tourists can relax and rejuvenate enjoying the cool breeze by the riverside. Buxadar to Jayanti trek is another very popular trekking trail of the region. This 13 km trail passes through the thick forest of Buxa Tiger Reserve. This journey will lead you at an ancient stalactite cave of Jayanti, popularly known as the

Rajabhatkhawa Forest Map

Mahakal Cave. You can also make trips to the neighboring places of Rajabhatkhawa like Chilapata, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri.

How to reach Rajabhatkhawa: Rajabhatkhawa is 115 km from New Jalpaiguri. Taxis and private vehicles are available from New Jalpaiguri to Rajabhatkhawa. However, the nearest major railhead to Rajabhatkhawa is Alipurduar just 15 kms away. You would get rented taxis from Alipurduar to Rajabhatkhawa. Buses are also available but they are not much regular.

Best time to visit Rajabhatkhawa: Winter is the most important time to travel to Rajabhatkhawa. It is better to avoid the monsoon months as the region experiences high rainfall along with increase in humidity

Rajabhatkhawa Forest

level. Moreover, the forests remain closed from 15th June to 15th September ever year.

Lodging and dining facilities in Rajabhatkhawa: Our hotel in Rajabhatkhawa is surrounded by greenery. It offers all standard facilities in its nicely spread out Double Bedrooms with attached bathrooms. The staff also helps the guests in arranging the entry permits to the forests and cars. The hotel also serves excellent Bengali cuisine to its guests.

This article was published on 19th June, 2005 in The Telegraph

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