North Bengal: Raimatang & Phaskhowa
Location and How to reach: Phaskhowa is located to the east of the Jayanti/Buxa area and close to the Bhutan border. It can be reached in an hour's drive from Alipurduar and can be visited along with 'Bhutan ghat', which is yet another offbeat destination and used to be a picnic spot.
Where to stay? Any hotels in the Dooars/Alipurduar region can be considered for accommodation. The Phaskhowa Tea Bungalow is a heritage property and rented out to travelers for stay.
What to see? The road from Samuktala to Phaskhowa reflects typical North Bengal rural life. As one moves deeper, tea gardens take over. There is a also the Phaskhowa river bed - which is bone dry most of the year. Also, the blue hills of Bhutan are very near.
Location and How to reach: Raimatang is located North West of the Jayanti and Buxa area. It is 175 kms from Bagdogra and 35 kms from Alipurduar. To visit Raimatang, Alipurduar is recommended as the base location, from where it can be visited as a day trip. To reach it by road from Bagdogra take the NH17 via Sevoke - Bagrakote - Chalsa - Binnaguri. Then avail the NH317 which skirts through Jaldapara National Park to reach Hasimara. At Hasimara, leave the NH317 and join onto SH16. Cross Hamiltonganj and then reach Kalchini. Raimatang is 8 kms from Kalchini.
Where to stay? Raimatang can be 'clubbed' with the Buxa/Jayanti circuit. Hence, any hotels in the Dooars/Alipurduar region can be considered.
What to see? Tea gardens and tribal huts. The Dima riverbed stretches wide becomes a picnic spot during the winters. And with the Jayanti river bed now out of bounds for personal vehicles, the Dima riverbed is a good spot for mild offroading. The forested stretch from Kalchini to Buxa is singularly beautiful.
Comments