Chilapata is a wildlife sanctuary with lush greenery located in the region of Dooars of West Bengal, near Alipurduar and Hasimara, about 20 km distance from Jaldapara National Park and only 200 ft. elevation above the sea-level. In this post, let mapunseen guide you to make the most out of your Chilapata trip!
- Tourists can go for a forest safari through the dense forest trails. The animals which you may see here are Elephants, Indian Bison, One horned rhinoceros. Spotted deer, etc.
- The forest consists of the ruins of the Nalraja Garh, an ancient fort which is believed to date back to the Gupta period. It is one of the prime tourist attractions as it is the ruins of Nal King’s fort.
- You can see migratory birds and go for riverside picnics.
- The nearest railway station to this place is Hasimara (12 km) or Alipurduar (20 km), and the nearest airport is Bagdogra (approximately 140 km). The best road connection is via NH 31.
- The best time to visit here is between October and March for better wildlife sightings and pleasant weather. Avoid the monsoon due to heavy rains, i.e. between July and September.
There are many eco-tourism lodges or homestays that offer unique jungle experiences, making your North Bengal tourism worth it.
| PLACE NAME | KNOWN FOR | BEST TIME TO VISIT | NEAREST TOWN/CITY | DISTANCE |
| Mirik | · Rameetay Dara Viewpoint · Bokar Monastery | During the spring and summer (March to June). | Darjeeling | 49 km |
| Kurseong | · Eagle’s Crag Viewpoint · Lush green tea estates like Ambootia and Castleton | Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). | Darjeeling | 30 km |
| Ghoom | · Oldest Tibetan Buddhist Monastery · DHR Museum, consisting Baby Siok steam engine. | March to May and also during autumn, i.e. between October – December. | Darjeeling | 6 km |
| Lepcha Jagat | · Hawaghar Viewpoint · Ghoom Rock viewpoint | October to May for clear views and skies. | Darjeeling | 19 km |
| Lamahatta | · 3 km hike to Gari Danda · Lamahatta Eco Park | During Spring, i.e. between March to May and during Autumn, between October to December | Tinchuley | 6 km |
| Tinchuley | · Grumph Dara Viewpoint · Tinchuley monastery | Between September/October – February/ March | Darjeeling | 32 km |
| Takdah | · Dechhen Pema Tshoiling Monastery · Famous tea gardens here are Teesta Valley Tea Estate, Gielle Tea Estate | Peak blooming season is between February and April. | Darjeeling | 28 km |
| Mungpoo | · Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Museum · Dinchhen Sherap Chhoeling Gompa Monastery | The best time to visit is between March to June and October to December. | Darjeeling | 33 km |
| Latpanchar | · Sarsari Dara Viewpoint · This place lies within the Buxa Tiger Reserve, a dense forest | The spring season and between October to May are the best times to visit here. | Siliguri | 41 km |
| Bijanbari | · Rammam Hydel Power Plant · Rangeet River bank | The best time to visit here is between Spring – Summer (March – June) and during Autumn (September –November) | Darjeeling | 32 km |
| Phalut | · Phalut offers the best view of the iconic “Sleeping Buddha” · The trails of nature through rhododendrons and a magnolia forest | During the autumn months (October-November) and spring (March-April) | Sandakphu | 21 km |
| Manebhanjan | · A peaceful Buddhist monastery · Nearby tea garden-Sukhiapokhri | The best time to visit is from October to December (Autumn) and March to May (Spring) | Darjeeling | 25 – 28 km |
| Sittong | · Namthing Lake · Ahal Dara Viewpoint | The best time to visit here is between October to January and from March to May | Kurseong | 24 km |
| Chatakpur | · Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary · A well-maintained watchtower that provides 360° panoramic views of Kanchenjunga and other views of the Eastern Himalayas | October to May is the best time to visit | Sonada | 7 km |
| Dawaipani | · Places like Glenburn and Lamahatta are great for strolling through tea estates and tea tasting. | The Best time to visit here is Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November) | Darjeeling | 16 – 20 km |
| Ahaldara | · The Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary · Namthing Pokhari | The ideal season to visit here is from October to February | Latpanchar | 5 km |
| Tabakoshi | · Gopaldhara Tea Garden · Tabakoshi waterfalls | The Best time to visit here is between October to March for ideal sightseeing. April to June for witnessing lush greenery | Mirik | 5.5 km |
| Lebong | · Nearby tea estates like Badamtam, Ging and Phoobshering · The Gorkha Stadium | The best time to visit here is between March to June (Summer), October to November (Autumn) and December to February (Winter) | Darjeeling | 8 km |
| Dhotrey | · The 7-8 km trek to Tonglu · Ramiteydunga Viewpoint | The Best time to visit here for trekking is between March to May and October to December. | Manebhanjan | 11 km |
| Bara Mangwa | · Teesta-Rangeet confluence · the tea gardens like Poomong, Rungli, Namring, etc. | The ideal season to visit here is from October to February | Kalimpong | 22 km |
| Peshok | · The Lover’s Meet Viewpoint or Triveni Sangam · Gumbadara Viewpoint | The ideal season to enjoy this place is October to December and March to June | Siliguri and Bagdogra | 65 km (approx.) |
| Srikhola | · A hanging wooden bridge over the swift Srikhola River | The best time to visit here is between October to May and between November to February | Rimbik | 4 km |
| Paren | · Jungle trails connect to nearby spots like Gairibas, Dalgaon and Rongo · Stroll along the Jaldhaka river banks | People can visit here only during the harvesting season between October and February. | Jhalong | 10 km |
| Rangaroon | · Rangaroon Tea Estate · Mata Singha Temple | The Spring and Autumn are ideal seasons. | Darjeeling | 12 km |
| Chhota Mangwa | · Century-old Phunchok Choeling Monastery (100 years old) of Takling Village · Lopchu is a tourist attraction famous for a small orange-juice factory | The Ideal season to visit here is between October to February | Darjeeling | 35 km |
| Sandakphu | · Trekking route is from Manebhanjan to Tumling to Kalipokhri to Sandakphu · The view of the ‘Sleeping Buddha’ is a major attraction for tourists | The best time to visit here is during springtime (April-May) and also during autumn (October-November) | Manebhanjan | 27 km |
| Lava | · Lava Monastery · Tiffin Dara Viewpoint | The ideal season to visit is between October to March | Kalimpong | 30 km |
| Kolakham | · Changey Falls · Kolakham Waterfalls | October to April is the best time to visit here | Lava | 10 km |
| Lolegaon | · Kafer Village and Charkhol | The perfect time to visit here is between October to December and February to May | Lava | 24 km |
| Rishikhola | · The Reshi River here is the main attraction · East Silk Route for extended trips like Lampokhari Lake, Aritar, Zuluk roads, Nathang Valley, Kupup Lake and Jelep La Pass | Spring to Summer (March to June) and post-monsoon to early winter (September to December) | Kalimpong | 36 km |
| Rishop | · Lava Jamgyong Kongtrul Monastery · Shiva Buddha Temple | The best time to visit here is during Spring (March-May) and Autumn (October-November) | Lava | 11 km |
| Yelbong | · Discover Rainbow waterfall and the three-step waterfall · Experience the flow of the Canyon River along with the Rumti River | The ideal season to visit is between October to March | Bagrakote | 7 km |
| Ramdhura | · Damsang Fort · An ideal spot for stargazing | The ideal time to visit here is between March-June, October-December, December-February | Kalimpong | 15 km |
| Jhandi | · Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary · Nearby attractions include Sambaing Organic Tea Gardens | The ideal season to visit here is between March to May and October to November | Lava | 12 km |
| Jogighat | · A hidden waterfall known as Lepcha Falls · Long steel bridge in Jogighat over the Riyang river, replacing an old wooden hanging bridge | October to April is the ideal time to enjoy the clear skies, pleasant weather, and winter bathing by the river | Sittong | 25.5 km |
| Rongo | · Rongo Monastery · Cinchona Plantations | The ideal time to enjoy the tourism here is between October to March, including April and November to January | Todey | 28 km |
| Munsong | · Burmaik Mahadev Dham · The main attraction of this place is panoramic vistas of the snow-covered Kanchenjunga | Can only be visited during winter (November – February) | Kalimpong | 20 km |
| Kaffergaon | · Witness unique views of remote villages and the Eastern Bhutan Hills glowing during sunset. The colour of the sky turns pink and gold in the afternoon | October to April is the peak season for clear skies | Lava | 20 km |
| Daragaon | · Heritage of this place is a 300-year-old Lepcha Cave with a Buddha shrine and ancient Tibetan clay · The main attraction of this place is Jalsa Bungalow | Throughout the year, the winter season and October to May are the ideal times to visit here | Lava | 22 km |
| Jhalong | · Jaldhaka Hydel Project · Famous for cardamom plantations | The best time to visit is here is between October to May | Bindu | 10 km |
| Pabong | · Nearby tea gardens are Fagu, Syle, Chel and Kumai · Renowned for Vibrant Himalayan bird species in forests and orange orchards | The ideal season to come here is from October to April, and December to February | Kalimpong | 35 km |
| Suntalekhola | · Mouchiki is a popular picnic · Suntalekhola is the entry point of Neora Valley National Park | Best time to visit here – October to April | Samsing | 3-4 km |
| Bindu | · Bindu Dam serves as a bridge into Bhutan · The environment is covered with terraced orange and cardamom orchards, along with shimmering rivers | The best time to visit here is between October to March, and the Winter season | Jhalong | 16 km |
| Ichhe Gaon | · Silent Valley offers a peaceful retreat · Short treks lead to nearby villages like Ramdhura and Sillery Gaon | The best time to visit here is during Summer (March to May) and Winter (October to December) | Kalimpong | 15 km |
| Samthar | · Samthar Plateau Viewpoint · Witness Nathula Pass and Jelepa Pass | The best season to visit here is between October to May | Kalimpong | 42 km |
| Lungchu | . Nearby attractions include Mulkhara Lake, especially famous for its wish-fulfilment beliefs . Aritar Lake, known as Ghati-Tso, beautiful place surrounded by a river and mountains | The ideal time to visit here is during autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) | Lava | 17 km |
| Rocky Island | . Clean riverside location for campfires, outdoor games and stargazing . Trekking routes like Mo or Mouchuki, Suntalekhola, Tree Fern Point or Neora Valley forest base | The perfect time to visit this place is between October to April | Samsing | 3 km |
| Samsing | . Cardamom plantations and orange orchards make it a perfect place for a weekend getaway. . Famous for the lush green tea garden estates like Fagu and Chalsa. | The ideal time to visit here is between October to March | Matiali | 7.7 km |
| Chilapata | . The forest consists of the ruins of the Nalraja Garh, an ancient fort which is believed to date back to the Gupta period. . Tourists can go for a forest safari through the dense forest trails. | The best time to visit here is between October and March | Hasimara | 15 km |
| Lepchakha | . Former British detention centre, the Buxa Fort. . Nearby attractions are Mahakal Cave, Buxa forest area and Jayanti Riverbed – 14 km distance. | During mid-October to December (winter months), and April are the best times to visit Lepchakha | Alipurduar | 20 km |
Chilapata and What to Experience There
Chilapata is where history and wilderness meet. The dense forests echo with the calls of elephants and bison, while the ruins of Nalraja Garh whisper tales from the Gupta era. It’s a sanctuary that offers more than just safaris—it’s a journey into nature’s raw beauty and India’s ancient heritage. Whether you’re spotting migratory birds by the riverside or staying in an eco-lodge under the canopy of stars, Chilapata ensures that every moment feels like a rare discovery in the heart of the Dooars.
FAQs
- What animals can be seen in Chilapata?
- Elephants, Indian Bison, one-horned rhinoceros, spotted deer, and migratory birds are commonly spotted.
- What is the historical attraction here?
- The ruins of Nalraja Garh, believed to date back to the Gupta period, are a prime highlight.
- How can one reach Chilapata?
- Hasimara railway station is 12 km away, Alipurduar is 20 km away, and Bagdogra airport is about 140 km away.
- When is the best time to visit?
- October to March is ideal for safaris and pleasant weather; avoid the monsoon months due to heavy rains.
