BUXA TIGER RESERVE

Buxa Tiger Reserve (B.T.R.)

Buxa Tiger Reserve (B.T.R.) is situated in Alipurduar Sub-division of Jalpaiguri District, West Bengal. It comprises of the entire erstwhile Buxa Forest Division (702.44 km²), and a part of Cooch- Behar Forest Division (58.43 km²). The Reserve lies between latitudes 26^o30′  and 26^o55′ N and longitudes 89^o20′ and 89^o55′ E.

The Forest Department in the year 1866 took  over the forests of Buxa Tiger Reserve and prior to that these used to be an unoccupied wasteland. Those forests came under British rule in 1865 and the first reservations were made in 1879 according to the Indian Forest Act (Act VIII of 1878) and the process continued till 1940. Thus most of the forest areas of the Tiger Reserve enjoy the status of reserved forests under the provision of the Indian Forest Act (IFA), 1927 up to 1982. BTR was constituted in the Year 1983 in Jalpaiguri District vide Govt. of India’s notification No. J-11025/18/B/FRY (PT) dated, 16th February, 1983 and became the 15^th Tiger Reserve of the Country. Buxa Tiger Reserve was formed over an area of 758.78 Sq. Km of reserved forests vide Govt. of India’s notification No.J-11025/18/B/FRY (PT) dt.16-02-1983. District Magistrate, Jalpaiguri transferred 209.84 Ha resumed tea garden forest lands Vide memo no. 346(10)/LR-C dt.15.05.89 for inclusion in BTR. Thus, the total area of BTR is 760.87 km².

An area of 314.52 km² was declared as Buxa Wildlife Sanctuary vide Notification No.316-For/11B-1/86 dated. 24-01-1986 under section 18 of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Subsequently, Collector/ Jalpaiguri carried out proceedings for settlement of rights and concessions under section 19 to 25 of said Act and declared that no rights of anyone exists over an area of 331.60 km² of Buxa Wildlife Sanctuary  vide his memo No.346(10)/ LR-C  dt.15-05-1989. Thus an area of (331.60 – 314.52) or 17.08 Km² is yet to be Notified as Sanctuary by the Govt. of West Bengal. Field Director/BTR had communicated the matter vide his memo No.1260/28-42 dt. 18-09-91 to the Conservator of Forests, WL circle/ WB for taking necessary action from his end so that a corrected notification would come. In the year 1990, an additional area of 54.47 km²was added to the Sanctuary vide Notification No.7588-For/11B-24/90 dt. 06-10-90 and 12-For/11B-24/90 dt. 01-01-91 under section 18(1) of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 making the Sanctuary area of total 386.07 Sq. Km. Settlement proceedings by the District collector in respect of 54.47 km² are yet to be completed under section 19 to 25 of the said Act. In 1992 an area of 117.10 km² of the Sanctuary was preliminarily notified as National Park under section 35(2) of Indian Wildlife Protection Act,1972 vide notification no.85-For/11B-42/91 dt 06-01-92 and finally constituted as Buxa National Park vide Notification No.3403-For/11B-6/95 dt. 05-12-1997, under section 35(4) of the said Act.

BTR stretches over a length of 50 km. from west to east and 35 km. from north to south. The total area of the Reserve is 760.87 km². of which 386.07 km². has been constituted as Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park and the balance 374.80 km²area as Reserved Forests and Other Protected Forests.

The total core area of Buxa Tiger Reserve is of 390.581 sq. km.

Ecotourism

Core Area

The core area except the permissible small areas as mentioned below is kept out of the Tourism zone. However, three areas in the core area would be open for the tourists in a regulated manner for religious and educational purposes.

1. Mahakal cave:This ancient Lord Shiva’s pilgrimage site lies in Bhutan. Every year thousands of tourists visit this place. Considering its religious importance transit to this site is provided through the core area only through the Jainty River Bed which is usually dry during the pilgrimage months.
2. Narathali Beel:This is a natural wetland. Every year thousand of winter birds visit the area. Since it lies on Core-Buffer boundary this wetland would be opened for the tourists only during winters for two months up to watch tower. Tourist facility would be created at Beat Office compound.
3. Jayanti Pokhri:This small wetland on high altitude is home to several species of fish and turtles. The trek from Jainty to Pokhri passes through beautiful forest. This site lies close to the Core-Buffer boundary. Tashigaon Watch Tower on way would be allowed for the tourists to have an exposure about duty of staff within Core forests, maintenance of water holes and glades, creation of fodder plantations. This would be as part of Nature Study and generation of awareness about Wild Life of the area.

Buffer Area

Ecotourism is being carried out within a limited area of the Reserve for the present. The Department of Tourism, Govt. of West Bengal has included B.T.R. within the tourist circuit. Presently the main tourist attractions are places scattered all over the East and West Divisions, namely Jainty, Buxaduar, Bhutanghat, Rajabhatkhawa etc. Though, tourists visit this Reserve mainly for nature and adventure tourism and the main focus is on wildlife tourism, difficulty in sighting of wild animals due to dense vegetation and lack of grasslands means that there is a substantial faction of recreational and religious devotion based tourism which also takes place in the core of BTR. Commercialization of tourism within BTR is not compatible with its main objective of protecting bio-diversity of the area. But restricted tourism in the form of nature education tour and eco-tourism help to the people appreciates the need for preserving wilderness values. An enlightened nature tourist is an ally in the cause of bio-diversity conservation.

Along with the regular tourists, BTR also attracts considerable number of picnickers from nearby areas in Jainty, Hatipota, and Kumargram blocks. Day visitors are generally local people, with school children coming in groups. Most day visitors go up to Rajabhatkhawa, visit Nature Interpretation Centre (NIC) and Rescue Centre.

Tourism Zone in Buffer:

Jainty Bazaar – The Jainty River and its surrounding hills present a breath taking scenic beauty. The tourists visit Jainty both as day visitor and as halting camp.

Buxa Duar – The ruins of Buxa Fort is major tourist attraction. The fort is about 3 Kms from the nearest road head. The trekking to fort passes through hills and is full of scenic beauty.

Rajabhatkhawa – The place is popular among tourists. The Nature Interpretation centre, Rescue centre, Vulture Breeding Centre, Nature Trail, Forestry Training Centre is major attractions. A Butterfly Park is proposed here.

Poro North and South Eco Parks – The places are very popular centre for picnicking, family gathering, boating and enjoying the natural beauty of Forests. The spot is located on the bank of Poro River.

Trek to Jainty Pokhri – This small wetland on high altitude is home to several species of fish and turtles. It’s an ancient Holy wetland and revered by Buddhists and Tribals. The trek passes through beautiful forest.

Sikiajhora – The place is on bank of a perennial stream originating from Buxa Forests. Number birds visit the area every year. There is a watch Tower for bird watching which can be improved. The place is already a popular spot for pick nicking. Boating facility can be added.

Narathali Beel– There is a natural wetland. Every year thousand of winter birds visit the area.

Garam – Dima Nature Observation Tower – The watch tower on the bank of Dima River and vast overlooking Grassland along with a very good view of Buxa Forest, Buxa & Bhutan Hills makes this spot picturesque.

Near by Places of Tourist Attraction

Rajbari of Cooch-Behar – The old Palace of Cooch Behar rulers is a beautiful building.

Kholta Eco Park – This is small deer park, about 10 Kms from Alipurduar.  Toy train and an Eco park add to the attraction.

Baneswar Temple– This old temple is very popular among habitants of Alipurduar and Cooch Behar.

Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary – Its about 40 Kms from Damanpur.

Patlakhawa Wetlands – It’s about 25 Kms from Alipurduar and is a big attraction during winters due to advent of Himalayan Migratory Birds.

Flora & Fauna

The Flora :

BTR has a wide range of flora owing to a range of natural parameters like topography, climate, temperature and rainfall. It represents several elements of biodiversity of North-East India and Indo Malayan region, one of the most bio-diverse Indian regions. Around 60% of floral endemic species of NE India are encountered in BTR. It possesses around 1,000 floral species including over 100 species of medicinal plants.

Forest Type :

The Tiger Reserve has a spectacular range of faunal variety. It harbour over 1,000 faunal species including endemic Indo-Malayan species like Chinese Pangolin, Reticulated Python and some endemic species of North-East Indian zone like clouded leopard, Marble cat, Black Necked Crane.

The Fauna :

1) Mammals :
68 species of mammals are reported in BTR.

2) Reptiles, Amphibians & Fishes :

Near by Places of Tourist Attraction

Rajbari of Cooch-Behar – The old Palace of Cooch Behar rulers is a beautiful building.

Kholta Eco Park – This is small deer park, about 10 Kms from Alipurduar.  Toy train and an Eco park add to the attraction.

Baneswar Temple– This old temple is very popular among habitants of Alipurduar and Cooch Behar.

Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary – Its about 40 Kms from Damanpur.

Patlakhawa Wetlands – It’s about 25 Kms from Alipurduar and is a big attraction during winters due to advent of Himalayan Migratory Birds.

Communication :-

The Head quarter of Buxa Tiger Reserve is located at Alipurduar Town. The nearest Broad-gauge railway station (New Alipurduar) is located at the out skirts of the town. Alipurduar is linked by train to Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati. The town is on the broad gauge line of the North -East Frontier Railway connecting Siliguri and Guwahati. The Reserve can be approached by road (30 Km.) from Cooch Behar. The nearest airport is at Bagdogra near Siliguri (175 Km. away). Bagdogra is connected to Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati by air. From Siliguri, Alipurduar can be approached by train (broad-gauge) or by road. Alipurduar is 720 Km away from Kolkata by train. There are a number of direct trains from Kolkata and Delhi to Alipurduar.

For Best rate & Booking contact to deysholidays@gmail.com or sales.deysholidays@gmail.com