Nestled in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas, on the banks of the Kajlani River, is the getaway to Bhutan and the Northeast, better known as Alipurduar. Alipurduar is located in the Dooars region of West Bengal and historically, was a part of the famed silk route, traces of which can still be seen in some parts of this stunning little town.
Surrounded by looming mountains, lush greenery and gushing rivers, Alipurduar is a nature lover’s haven. Sitting smack in the middle of some of the biggest national reserves of the country, it is fast gaining popularity as a tourist destination. The town was named in honor of Colonel Hedayat Ali whose service during the Indo-Bhutan war was much appreciated and thus credited. Earlier, the town was called Alipur; however, to distinguish it from the similarly named area in Kolkata, and because it was part of the Dooar’s regions (Dooars meaning gateway) the suffix of ‘duar’ was added. During British rule, Alipurduar went from being an important military base to a significant communications and administrations sector.
Spectacular views, rare flora and fauna and a pleasant climate—there’s no way you can go wrong with a trip to Alipurduar.
The Buxa Tiger Reserve is probably the biggest reason why people come flocking to this little town. One of the state’s biggest national parks, Buxa is known for its thick forest cover being home to myriad rare species of animals and plant life, including the much-revered Bengal Tiger. It also serves as an elephant corridor between two other eco-tourist forest areas, Chilapata and Jaldapara.
If you’re an adventure junkie, you can opt to go for a trek up the Buxa hill and visit the Buxa Fort, along with the other high points in the area, including Rovers Point and Rupam Valley. The Jayanti Mahakal trek is another popular one, especially with Hindu pilgrims, as there is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva along with stalactite caves near the Bhutan border.
Chota Sinchula, Rajbhatkhawa and Raimantang are a few other wildlife areas and scenic spots you can visit during your trip.
Shared auto-rickshaws and local buses are common modes of transport within Alipurduar. You can hire private auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws as well. But to visit the wildlife reserves, it would be best to hire a private jeep or taxi from a local rental.
On a daily basis there are approximately 17 flights that operate at Rupsi India Airport.IndiGo and Air India are the most popular airline brands that fly frequently to this airport.
Besides flying you can also reach Alipurduar through train.Alipur Duar Jn, Alipur Duarare some of the most popular train stations in Alipurduar.On an average about 41 trains pass through Alipurduar on a daily basis.Siliguri to Alipurduar, Guwahati to Alipurduarare some of the most popular routes to Alipurduar with 30, 26 trains weekly respectively.
By road Alipurduar is surrounded by Koch Bihar, Dhupguri, Dhubri which are 12.44 km, 33.0 km, 42.74 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.