Chilapata Travel Guide
Are you a travel enthusiast who likes forest and wildlife? If the answer is yes, then Chilapata forest should be high on your destination list.
Chilapata is a dense forest which gives you a chance to enjoy the thrill of seeing wild lives in their natural habitat. Chilapata forest is a relatively new destination for tourists. It is located in Dooars region of West Bengal.
This guide will provide all the required information that you need to plan your visit to Chilapata forest.
Ready for that?
For creating a good plan that suits your travel style and personal preferences, you need to understand –
– Chilapata overview
– How to reach Chilapata forest
– Chilapata weather and temperature
– What to see
– What to do
Overview
Chilapata Forest is a dense natural forest. It is an elephant corridor between Jaldapara National Park and Buxa Tiger Reserve. Chilapata is located in Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal. It is about 38 km away from New Alipurduar and very close to Hasimara town. This place is also very close to the more famous Jaldapara National Park.
Chilapata is a dense forest. A drive through the forests is an enthralling experience. As river Torsa flows down from the hills, it travels through the plains of Dooars and divides the continuous stretch of forest into Jaldapara and Chilapata.
Jaldapara has traditionally been more popular destination for tourists for its population of one horned rhino and elephant. On the other hand, Chilapata has gained popularity only in the recent past. Until recently, the area was known for dacoity, but it is now safe for tourists.
It is said that this area was under the Cooch Kings. The place has derived its name from the name of the great solder CHILA RAY who was the army-chief of Cooch kingdom.
The Chilapata forest is very rich in wildlife. New species continue to be found here. In addition to one horned Rhinoceros, Elephants and Leopards are also found in good numbers. Chilapata Forest is also a hub of other wild animals like Indian Bison, Sambar, Hog-deer, Barking-deer Wild Pig Hispid hare and Bison.
Chilapata is also a world of colorful and beautiful birds like Fishing-eagle, Shikra, Crested Eagle, Jungle-fowl Peafowl, Partridge, Bengal florican, Paradise Flycatcher, Racket-tailed Drongo and Pied Horn-bill. The forest is never at ease due to the continuous fluttering of birds.
Reptiles like Python, Krait, Cobra, Water monitor and freshwater turtles enrich the wildlife of the Chilapata forest.
It is hoped that eco-tourism will provide a new source of income for the indigenous Rabha people, who depends on the forest for their lives and livelihood.
How To Reach Chilapata Forest
Nearest airport for Chilapata is Bagdogra and nearest major railway station is New Jalpaiguri. From Bagdogra, distance of Chilapata is 165 km and from New Jalpaiguri, it is 150 km by road.
Bagdogra and New Jalpaiguri is well connected via air and rail from most of the major cities of India. Once you reach either of these two transport hubs, you will proceed further towards Chilapata.
Another option to reduce the road journey from New Jalpaiguri is to reach New Alipurduar or Hasimara directly by train. New Alipurduar is at a distance of 38 km and Hasimara 13 km from Chilapata forest.
Though there are local buses available, having a car for this route will be most convenient for the tourists. Depending on no of people in the group, one may hire a car that will comfortably accommodate all the people. A SUV type car or a jeep is preferred in this route. If you are planning on a limited budget, look for point to point share jeeps.
From Bagdogra or New Jalpaiguri, most common route for Chilapata is via Fulbari – Oodlabari – Malbazar – Hasimara. It takes around 4 to 5 hrs including tea breaks to reach Chilapata via this route.
Distance Chart
From | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
Kolkata | 720 |
Bagdogra | 165 |
New Jalpaiguri | 150 |
Hasimara | 13 |
New Alipurduar | 38 |
Jaldapara National Park | 20 |
Buxa Tiger Reserve | 30 |
Cooch Behar | 40 |
Chilapata Forest Weather
Chilapata Forest Temperature
Max temperature (C) | Min Temperature (c) | Average Rainfall (mM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
Jan | 22.0 | 9.5 | 23 |
Feb | 23.5 | 11.0 | 24 |
Mar | 28.5 | 15.6 | 34 |
Apr | 31.5 | 18.3 | 76 |
May | 34.0 | 22.1 | 249 |
Jun | 29.5 | 24.0 | 640 |
Jul | 29.1 | 24.6 | 820 |
Aug | 29.6 | 24.6 | 560 |
Sep | 29.2 | 23.2 | 403 |
Oct | 28.5 | 18.7 | 121 |
Nov | 26.3 | 14.2 | 10 |
Dec | 23.4 | 10.0 | 11 |
Best Time To Visit Chilapata Forest
October – February (Winter)
Winter is the best time to visit Chilapata Forest. This is because – i) Very less chances of shower and the sky remains clear. It is easy to go for Jungle Safari and see the wild animals. ii) Temperature is perfect for exploring the surrounding places.
March – May (Summer)
During summer months, Chilapata experiences high temperature going up to mid thirties. Along with the heat, higher humidity level adds up to the discomfort factor. People gets exhausted very easily. On the other hand, chances of seeing wild animals are more in the hot summer months. In general, summer is a low season for tourism.
June – September (Monsoon) Like other forests, Chilapata remains closed for tourists from 16-Jun to 15-Sep. The rain starts in June and continues till September, sometimes till mid of October. Heavy and regular rainfall makes movement very difficult. There are also increased risk of snakes and other insects. Jungle Safari remains suspended during this period.
What To See In Chilapata Forest
There are forest safaris available inside forest which you can avail. The safari would take you inside the forest and wild life sighting is most common. There are forest villages inside such as Kodalbasty where forest cover is thinner and Elephant sighting is regular.
The CC Line is located close to Torsa river bed. The wide river bed offers view of a stretch of several km and sighting of Gaur (Indian Bison), Elephant and Rhino is common apart from smaller animals such as Deer, Birds of wide variety and others. You can also visit Mendabari village where there is a watchtower for animal sighting.
Another major attraction at Chilapata is the “Nalrajar Garh” or the fort of the Nal kings. The fort was built during the Gupta period in the fifth century, although the fort itself is in ruins now, it has tremendous archaeological importance and reminds one of the golden age in the history of India. The site is not maintained very well at present and wildlife sighting at this place is not unusual.
Chilapata Travel Itinerary
From a short visit to a lengthy leisure one – plan your travel that suits you best. Explore various options provided below to chose the best one for you !
These are some of the most popular itineraries suggested by IndiaTravelPage. Chose our recommended plan to explore, or make your own way with a custom travel plan
Explore In 1 Day
Day 1:
If you are not staying at Chilapata forest and visiting in a day sightseeing trip from Jaldapara, you need to start early in the morning. First go for the guided jeep safari covering Mendabari tower and Kodal Basti forest. You may see one horned rhinoceros near the CC line area.
After the jeep safari, visit the “Nalraja Garh”. It was the fort of the Nal Kings and built in fifth century. This is one of the main attraction of Chilapata.
Explore In 2 Day (Recommended)
Day 1:
Reach Chilapata and check in to your accommodation. After that go for the guided jeep safari covering Mendabari tower and Kodal Basti forest. You may see one horned rhinoceros near the CC line area.
Day 2:
Visit the “Nalraja Garh”. It was the fort of the Nal Kings and built in fifth century. This is one of the main attraction of Chilapata. After that, you can get an wonderful experience of the dense forest by going for a 24 km drive from Sonapur Chowpathi to Hasimara Gurudwara.
Chilapata Forest Tour Plans
What To Do In Chilapata Forest
- Jeep safari in the forest will give you a chance to see the one horned rhinos and other wild animals.
- Take a car ride from Sonapur Chowpathi to Hasimara Gurudwara. You will feel the forest and experience the sounds of a dense forest.
- Enjoy the evening with a camp fire and Bar-B-Q.
Where to Eat In Chilapata
- Number of restaurants are scanty in Chilapata. However, the resorts do have their in house restaurants which are more or less clean, hygienic and well equipped. They serve Bengali cuisine like Chicken Curry, Egg Curry, Rice, Dal, Finger Chips etc.
What To Buy In Chilapata
It is a remote place surrounded by dense forest. Naturally, the place is not for the shopaholics and there is nothing special that you can buy from here.
How To Get Around Chilapata
To get around the place and visit other places of interests adjacent to it, better option for tourists is a vehicle on rental. You can ask the resort manager to arrange a vehicle for a drop to another place. For a day trip and sightseeing you may hire a vehicle on a full day basis
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Best Resorts to Stay at Chilapata Forest?
Chilapata has very limited staying options for tourists. There are only a couple of resorts and forest rest houses which offer basic but dependable service.
Chilapata Jungle Camp
Chilapata Jungle Camp is a resort that has been setup maintaining the local culture and heritage. The resort has been setup within a natural surrounding.
There are options of double bed (Bamboo) and triple bed (Elephant) cottages. A couple of three bedded cottages have air conditioner option also. The cottages are priced between Rs.1650 to Rs.2500.
The resort has a good thatched roof side open restaurant. They serve mostly local and bengali dishes. Food packages including breakfast, lunch and dinner are available for approximately Rs.600 per head per day. You may also opt for a la carte option and order as per your choice.
Online booking can be done at – http://www.chilapatajunglecamp.com/index.html
Mendabari Jungle Lodge
Mendabari Jungle Lodge is managed by the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation (WBFDC). It is located near the Kodal Basti area. Built in the lap of the nature, from the resort, you will hear the chirping of birds during the day and the mysterious sounds of wild life at night.
They have super deluxe AC rooms which costs around Rs.2500 per day. There is a in house restaurant that offers authentic local and Bengali cuisine.
Booking can be done online at – https://wbfdc.net/booking
What are the places to visit around Chilapata Forest?
Chilapata forest is an elephant corridor between the Buxa Tiger Reserve and Jaldapara National Park. So the places that you can visit while staying at here are – Jaldapara, Buxa and Jayanti.
A good option is to plan your trip covering Jaldapara, Chilapata, Buxa and Jayanti. You can stay at any one of these places based own you personal choice and cover the others as a day visit.
Another good option to include in your tour plan is to include a day trip to the Bhutanese town of Phuentsholing. Phuentsholing is located at a distance of 33 km from Chilapata forest.
How far is Buxa from Chilapata Forest?
Buxa Tiger Reserve is at a distance of 47 km from Chilapata forest. By car it takes between 1 hr to 1.5 hr to reach Buxa.
How far is Jaldapara National Park from Chilapata Forest?
Madarihat, which is the entry point Jaldapara National Park is just 15 km from Chilapata. By car it takes around 30 mins to reach Jaldapara.
Top Destinations - West Bengal
– Bakkhali
– Bindu
– Bishnupur
– Buxa Tiger Reserve
– Chapramari
– Chilapata Forest
– Darjeeling
– Digha
– Jhalong
– Lataguri
– Jairambati
– Jaldapara
– Jayanti
– Kalimpong
– Kamarpukur
– Lava
– Lolegaon
– Mandarmani
– Murti
– Murshidabad
– Rishop
– Samsing-Suntalekhola
– Santiniketan
– Sundarbans
– Tajpur
– Tarapith
Popular Tour Plans - West Bengal
1-3 Days
1. Murshidabad (2N/3D)
2. Digha (2N/3D)
3. Tajpur (2N/3D)
4. Bakkhali (2N/3D)
5. Sundarbans (2N/3D)
6. Kamarpukur-Jairambati-Bishnupur (3N/4D)
4-6 Days
1. Bakreshwar-Tarapith-Santiniketan (4N/5D)
2. Mandarmani-Digha (4N/5D)
3. Jaldapara-Chilapata-Buxa Tiger Reserve-Jayanti (5N/6D)
4. Lava-Lolegaon-Rishop (6N/7D)
5. Darjeeling-Gangtok (6N/7D)
7-10 Days
1. Jaldapara-Lataguri-Murti-Chapramari-Jhalong-Bindu-Suntanekhola (8N/9D)
2. Darjeeling-Kalimpong-Pelling-Gangtok (9N/10D)
3. Darjeeling-Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung (9N/10D)
4. Darjeeling-Pelling-Gangtok (8N/9D)
>10 Days
1. Darjeeling-Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung-Pelling (11N/12D)