Dooars is an easy-to-access location if you're looking for a cool getaway from the city. Noted for its luxuriant tea gardens, forests, wildlife sanctuaries, river streams, and serene villages, the Dooars region fascinates all its visitors.
The location picturesquely lies in Northern West Bengal in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. All year long, nature lovers, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, and adventure seekers find this place very close to their hearts. So, if you are planning, booking with an eco-friendly Dooars Lataguri resort will be an added charm to your trip.
Due to the area's excellent rail, road, and flight connections, traveling to Dooars is very simple for visitors from Kolkata. There are several ways you can get around, whether you'd rather take a short flight, a picturesque road trip, or a comfy train ride.
The Land of Dooars
The area of Dooars is alluvial floodplains in the Eastern Himalayan foothills, which is a sizable area. This includes parts of Assam and Northern West Bengal. "Dooars" refers to the entrances to Bhutan and means "doors”, and in North Bengal, it falls in two districts: Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts.
Among the key locations in Dooars are:
- Lataguri
- Gorumara National Park
- River Murti
- Jaldapara National Park
- Buxa Tiger Reserve
- Chilapata Forest
- Chalsa
- Samsing
- Suntalekhola
Most tourists from Kolkata first visit New Jalpaiguri (NJP), Alipurduar, or New Mal Junction before continuing their journey to other areas of Dooars. Depending on the places you choose, the distance between Dooars and Kolkata is between 550 and 700 km.
Traveling to Dooars from Kolkata by Train
The most common and very economical way to go to Dooars from Kolkata is by train.
Vital Dooars Railway Stations
The following train stops are where you can get off:
- NJP, or New Jalpaiguri Railway Station
- The New Mal Junction
- Alipurduar Junction
- Hasimara
Travelers can access various areas of the Dooars region through these stations.
Popular Trains from Kolkata
From Kolkata to North Bengal, several trains run every day or every week, and among the frequently used trains are:
- Padatik Express
- Darjeeling Mail
- Kanchankanya Express
- Uttar Banga Express
- Kamrup Express
Travel Duration
Based on the train and route, this Dooars trip from Kolkata typically takes 10 to 14 hours.
What to Do After Reaching
When you get to NJP or another station, you may have your breakfast and then hire:
- A private car
- A shared jeep
- Local taxi
For instance:
- Lataguri from NJP: roughly two hours
- Jaldapara from NJP: roughly four hours
- NJP to Buxa: roughly five hours
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The Benefits of a Train Journey
- Reasonably priced travel
- A pleasant overnight trip
- Regular availability of trains
For families and those on a tight budget, train travel from Kolkata to Dooars is therefore perfect.
Traveling to Dooars from Kolkata by Road
For those who like long drives and beautiful scenery, a road trip from Kolkata to Dooars will be incredible.
Route and Distance
Dooars is almost 650 kilometers away from Kolkata by road.
The most popular path is:
- Kolkata > Bardhaman > Durgapur > Asansol > Malda > Siliguri > Dooars
- The NH12 and NH27 highways are followed by this route
Duration Given
Based on traffic and road conditions, the trip (by road) from Kolkata to Dooars often takes 12 to 14 hours.
Options for Road Trips
You can get there by:
- Personal vehicle (Bike)
- Car rental
- Self-driving car
Many tourists from Kolkata choose to spend the night in Malda or Siliguri to break up the trip.
Benefits of Traveling by Car
- Adaptable travel plans
- Lush vistas of West Bengal
- The chance to visit roadside eateries and little towns
Long drives, however, can be exhausting, so schedule rest stops along the way if you plan for this.
Taking a Flight from Kolkata to Dooars
Flying is the best option if you want to go to Dooars from Kolkata as quickly as possible, and the closest airport is:
Bagdogra Airport, adjacent to Siliguri City, is the closest airport if you are looking for a Dooars trip by flight.
From Kolkata:
- There are daily flights available for this route (Bagdogra-Kolkata)
Travel Duration
- The flight lasted around one hour and fifteen minutes
- Driving from Bagdogra to Dooars takes two to four hours
Getting from Bagdogra to Dooars
You can hire the following from Bagdogra Airport to ensure a smooth journey to Dooars:
- A private taxi
- Shared taxi
- A bus
The approximate distances from Bagdogra are:
- Lataguri is nearly 70 km
- Jaldapara is about 140 km
- Buxa is some 180 km
Why Flight Travel is Ideal
- The quickest choice
- Suitable for quick travels
- Perfect for weekend getaways
However, as we all know, flights are more costly than trains.
Traveling to Dooars by Bus
Though bus travel is less popular than train or air travel for Kolkata-Dooars, it is a good choice.
Bus Routes
From Kolkata, you can avail either public or private buses travel to:
- Siliguri
- Alipurduar
- Cooch Behar
To get to Dooars locations, you can use local transportation from these towns in North Bengal.
Duration
Typically, for this route, the bus ride takes about 14 to 16 hours.
Bus Types
The available buses are:
- AC buses for sleepers
- Sleeper buses without air conditioning
- Volvo
Long-distance bus travel may be less comfortable even though it's relatively more affordable.
Explore the Best Times
Though Dooars is lovely to explore all year round, there are some best seasons you may enjoy.
Winter from October through February is the ideal time to visit Dooars from Kolkata or anyparts of India.
Weather conditions this time:
- Pleasant temperatures with clear skies
- Nice for jungle safaris in various locations in Dooars
Summertime runs from March to May, another good time because animals commonly visit water sources. And, summertime is also an ideal time to see wildlife in Dooars.
June to September is the monsoon season, which is not ideal for a Dooars wildlife visit. The location of Dooars experiences heavy raining during this time.
So, monsoon is not the ideal season for Dooars wildlife tourism because wildlife sanctuaries and national parks are still closed for safaris.
Suggested Dooars Travel Plan from Kolkata
This is a basic Dooars itinerary to give you insights.
Day 1
From Kolkata, take an overnight train to NJP or Hasimara.
Day 2
Arrive at NJP and proceed to Murti or Lataguri, or Jaldapara, and discover the villages that are close by. Overnight stay at a Dooars Lataguri resort or in Jaldapara.
Day 3
Take a jungle safari in the bush at Gorumara National Park or Jaldapara National Park.
Day 4
Go to Chilapata (near Buxa and Jaldapara) Forest or Chaparamari Forest (near Gorumara or Lataguri). You can explore the Murti River, Samsing, Rocky Island, or Buxa Fort, Jaigaon, etc.
Day 5
Go back to NJP and return to Kolkata by rail or flight.
You can see the highlights of Dooars with this itinerary and customize this plan.
Final Words
Dooars is a major tourist place in North Bengal, absolutely easy to reach from Kolkata, whether you choose a flight, train, private car, or bus. With its gorgeous forests, wildlife sanctuaries, rivers, and tea gardens, Dooars is an unmatched location.
Plan your travel tension-free from Kolkata, book your resort in Lataguri or Jaldapara. Your resort, such as The Firefly Resort, will manage all your sightseeing here.
