Gorumara National Park

Gorumara National Park is a National Park in northern West Bengal, India. Located in the Terai region of the Himalayan foothills, it is a medium-sized park with grasslands and forests. It is primarily known for its population of Indian rhinoceros. The park has been declared as the best among the protected areas in India by the Ministry of Environment and Forests for the year 2009.Gorumara was a reserve forest since 1895. The park was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1949, on account of its breeding population of Indian rhinoceros. It was declared an Indian National Park on January 31, 1994. Originally as small as 7 km,Gorumara has grown by incorporating neighbouring lands to about 80 km.

The park is located in the Malbazar subdivision of Jalpaiguri district, in the state of West Bengal in India.

Gorumara is located in the Eastern Himalayas' submontane Terai belt. This region has rolling forests and riverine grasslands, and is known as the Dooars in West Bengal. The park is located on the flood plains of the Murti River and Raidak River. The major river of the park is the Jaldhaka river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra river system. In this regard, Gorumara is a significant watershed area between the Ganges and Brahmaputra river systems. The park is very close to Jaldapara National Park and Chapramari Wildlife Reserve.The park is 79.99 km (49.70 mi) in area.

The temperature ranges from 10 to 21 °C (50 to 70 °F) from November to February, 24 to 27 °C (75 to 81 °F) from March to April and 27 to 37 °C (81 to 99 °F) from May to October. Rainfall mostly occurs between mid-May to mid-October and average annual rainfall is 382 cm (150 in).

There is no history of human habitation in the park. The park forest bungalow dates back to the British Raj era, and contains a well-maintained log book from its inception, which makes for interesting reading. However Gorumara is encircled by many ethnic villages. More than 10,000 resident forest villagers derive their income from sources including employment in forest department activities, eco-tourism, etc. Some of the villages are Sarswati, Budhuram, Bichabhanga, Chatua, Kailipur and Murti Forest Village.

Jaldapara National Park

 

Jaldapara National Park

Jaldapara National Park

Jaldapara National Park is a national park situated at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in Alipurduar district in West Bengal and on the bank of the Torsa River. Jaldapara is situated at an elevation of 61 m and is spread across 216.51 km (83.59 sq mi) of vast grassland with patches of riverine forests. It was declared a sanctuary in 1941 for protection of its great variety flora and fauna. Today, it has the largest population of the Indian one horned rhinoceros in the state, an animal threatened with extinction, and is a Habitat management area (Category IV). The nearby Chilapata Forests is an elephant corridor between Jaldapara and the Buxa Tiger Reserve  Near by is the Gorumara National Park, known for its population of Indian rhinoceros.

Toto tribes used to stay in this area before 1800. At that time this place was known as “Totapara”. Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1941 for the purpose of protecting the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. In May 2012 it was declared a national park.

The forest is mainly savannah covered with tall elephant grasses. The main fascination of the park is the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. The park holds the largest rhino population in India after Kaziranga National Park in Assam. Other animals in the park include bison,leopard,sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, wild pigs, hog deer, and elephants.

Jaldapara is a Olympus for bird watchers. It is one of the very few places in India, where the Bengal florican is sighted. The other birds to be found here are the partridge, crested eagle, jungle fowl, shikra, Pallas's fish eagle, Finn's weaver, peafowl (peacock), and geckos,lesser pied hornbill. monitor lizards,Pythons, cobras, kraits, and about eight species of fresh water tortoise can also be found here.Many of the animals in the park are jeopard, like the Indian one-horned rhino and elephants.

Jaldapara National Park

Lovely Shankarpur

Shankarpur Sea Beach

 Shankarpur is a beach village in East Medinipur district of West Bengal. It is about 185 km from Kolkata and is touted to have the best beach In Eastern India. Shankarpur, a virgin beach as yet, is a recent discovery. It is a twin beach of Digha, around 14 km from Digha, along the Digha-Contai Road. Shankarpur has to its credit all the advantages of Digha, minus the crowd. Casuarina groves by the side of a gentle sea and good climate round the year make it a popular beach destination. Apart from the long, tree-lined beach, the main attraction is the Shankarpur Fishing Harbour Project.This beach is mostly empty except on weekends. The mornings are cool, when fishermen can be seen hauling their huge nets out of the sea. The morning sun reflecting on the sea waves in the east, and the local fish-boats on the coast offer excellent photographic opportunities.

Shankarpur itself is something of a surprise package, known to locals but largely hidden from the world. A secluded beach, it’s fringed by casuarinas and eucalyptus trees.The beach here does not draw the madding crowds like nearby Digha. You can walk on the beach chasing the sunset, up to a point where the delta of two small rivers stops you from going ahead. Friendly villagers sell you beautiful shells of varied shapes and hues, each coming at a princely sum of two rupees.

          Bus Service

         There is frequent bus service to Digha from Dharmatala bus stand of Kolkata and many                         other parts of West Bengal. It is almost a 5 hour journey from Kolkata. Bus service is also                   available from towns across West Bengal such as Midnapore, Bankura, Asansol, Bardhaman, Howrah, and, also from Orissa via Balasore (Baleswar). To go to Shankarpur you can get down at "14 Mile" or at "Ramnagar". From both of the places tracker service or van service is available.

Train Service

• 2857 Tamralipta express Howrah Dep time 6:40AM Digha flag station 10 AM
• 8001 Kandari express Howrah Dep time 7:50AM Digha flag station 12 PM
• 5722 Paharia express Howrah Dep time 2:15PM Digha flag station 5:50 PM
• 12847 Duronto Express Howrah Dep time 11:15AM Digha flag station 2.15 PM

Natural Beauty

Beautiful Mandarmani

Mandarmoni Sea Beach

 Mandarmani is a new sea beach resort village in the state of West Bengal, India,It is lies in East Midnapore district and at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal. Mandarmani is one of the large and fast developing seaside resort village of West Bengal. It is almost 180 km from Kolkata Airport on the Kolkata - Digha route. red crabs on all fours around the 13 km long beach is a special attraction of Mandarmani. Mandarmani is a small virgin beach on Bay of Bengal, only a 14 km from Digha-Contai Road from Chulkhola Bus Stop. It is considered to be the longest driveable beach in India. It is also a small fishing harbour and a fast developing tourist resort.

Geographically, Mandarmani area is relatively low waves than nearer tourist beach of Digha. However still this beach is statement with structure of neo dunes in several areas specially around Dadanpatrabar.

Sunset

Red Crabs