Buxa Trekking - Dooars - Beautiful Colours of West Bengal - Destination East - Incredible India

Destination Buxa Fort

We are going to Buxa Fort. We have taken our breakfast-cum-lunch (after which Argha revisited the cottage that we checked out) at Jayanti and then started our journey. We are riding the same Tata Sumo that we hired for the morning trip. We have now crossed the river Bala. The road is very dusty. Our car is leaving dust cloud behind. I am wearing a red woolen cap to protect my hair from the dust. I bought this cap couple of years back near the Ghum monastery in Darjeeling.

We have reached a three point crossing and we are taking right turn. We are going towards Santrabari from where we will start trekking. This path is not that much dusty. It is a nice and comfortable journey through this part of the Buxa forest. On this way we have seen some agricultural lands and few human habitats. There are some kind of watch towers present inside these agricultural lands. Probably they are built to watch the crops from animals.

On the way to Santrabari

We have reached Santrabari. Its a small village. There are few shops selling tea, momo (a type of steamed bun without or with veg or non-veg  filling.) and noodles. We are leaving the car here to start trekking. It is a 5 km trek uphill. After visiting the Buxa Fort, we will return here on the same way. We have already walked a lot in the morning at Jayanti. But we are not afraid to walk another 10 km now.

We are hiring a guide. We are informed that its mandatory to take a guide here to support the local economy. From the conversations between the driver and the guide of the morning tour at Jayanti, we have come to know that no Bengali guide is allowed for the Buxa Fort trekking. Tourists have to take guide from Nepali origin. Anyway we are not digging into the socio political issues. We are only some innocent and stupid tourists after all.

We are walking uphill. The path is earthy and rocky mixed. The jungle is all around. In our school days we have read about the Buxa Tiger Project in our textbook. We have now got the opportunity to walk inside the Buxa Reserve Forest. Tiger is now rare here but leopards are very common. We are thrilled. 

Route map from Jayanti to Buxa

( Please don't judge by scale ;) )

The guide is a simple man. He is entertaining us well (some credit goes to the person who invented liquor).

A boy has joined us in the journey. He is returning from school. He lives at the village near the Buxa Fort. He has to walk nearly 10 km everyday to study in a school. He was waiting at Santrabari  to get some company for the journey. After all it is a jungle.

We are going to the Buxa Fort

We have crossed half of the distance. There is a resting place made for the trekkers. Let us take a break here. 

We are walking again after taking rest for some time. After ten minutes walk our guide brought us to a viewing point. From here we can see a part of the Buxa forest from the top. We can see the Bala river that we crossed by car in our way. The Jayanti river also can be seen from here. I am feeling happy seeing both the rivers from here.

The river Jayanti (left) and the river Bala (right)

We are walking again. This path is easier. Kind of maintaining same altitude with little variations. After walking for some time we found a tree got uprooted and has fallen on the road.

A tree got uprooted and has fallen on the road

Next part:   Buxa Part-2

Let me know your comments (all sort of) in the comments section ;)
 

Next part:   Buxa Part-2

Previous part:  Good Morning Jayanti

Jayanti Part-3 - Weekend Destination - Dooars - Beautiful Colours of West Bengal - Destination East - Incredible India

Good Morning Jayanti

Its a fine winter morning. Last night we sat on the porch for long till midnight. It was a memorable night. But we have arisen early today. We are getting fresh one by one. Today we are going to start for a trekking as soon as we all get ready. Before starting trekking we will cover some distance by car. Last evening we have hired a Tata Sumo which will be our vehicle for today. The car is waiting for us on the road in front of our cottage. Its an old white colored Tata Sumo. The caretaker of our cottage will be our guide today. We are going to visit Chhoto Mahakal. This is as far I know (having less knowledge is an opportunity to enjoy more!).

We all are in the car. Argha is sitting at the front seat beside the driver. The sun has just come up glowing from behind the mountains (thats why the sun is white). The driver has started the engine and finally we are moving. The car has embarked on the riverbed. The riverbed and surround are quite shining in this clear morning. We are going upstream along the river. We are criss-crossing the river many times and we are enjoying it very much. Its an unique experience for us.

The river Jayanti in the morning

A guard-wall is made by big rocks and iron nets. This is to protect the village Jayanti when the river Jayanti becomes furious in the rainy season. Our car is running on the riverbed. Pebbles and car tyres are making an unique sound. We all are swinging inside. Tree trunks which are brought by flash floods are scattered everywhere. The riverbed looks like a vast stretch of flat land full with pebbles. The water is not much visible as it is flowing beneath the stones.

 Water flowing beneath the rocks

As we are moving upstream, the riverbed is getting narrower. Pebbles are turning to bigger stones. Now our car is stopping at a higher ground. The car can not go further as the terrain now has become rocky. We are going to start our trek from here.

 Trek to Mahakal

We are walking along the river. Our guide is guiding our way to keep our feet dry. We are going through a place full of tall grasses. Our guide is informing us that this place is a favorite hideout for leopards. We are thrilled. We have reached a place where we need to cross a stretch of river stream. We are crossing it by jumping. Soumya has captured the moment in camera when Argha was jumping. After walking for few minutes we are having a photo sessions. Soumendu is capturing me and Argha together in his lens. Argha specially wants his red shoes to be inside the frame. Our guide and Soumya has gone ahead in the way and now they are waiting for us to catch up with them.

 Soumya and our guide are waiting for us

The river got more narrower and the water is flowing in a single stream. We have reached near the destination - "Chhoto Mahakal".

We have reached near the destination

Now we have to cross the river to go to the other side. We are removing our shoes and folding our trousers. The water is icy cold. We are crossing the river holding the shoes in our hand. The river is knee deep here and we can feel the current very much.

We all have crossed the river. Now we have to climb to a higher place. There is a makeshift ladder to climb up. 

We have climbed up two ladders one by one and now we have reached our destination. We are taking snaps of the place.

Chhoto Mahakal

After spending some time at the Chhoto Mahakal, we are returning to the place where our car is parked. Now we have taken a little bit different route as the water level in the river got increased.

We have returned to the Jayanti village. We have packed our belongings and checked out from the cottage. Now we are taking our breakfast-cum-lunch at Jayanti railway platform. Yaah, its an eatery that is built up on the abandoned railway platform. This abandoned railway station is the market place of the Jayanti village. After finishing the meal, we will start for our next destination - Buxa fort.  
Next part:  Destination Buxa Fort

Let me know your comments (all sort of) in the comments section ;)

Youtube video link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNzjNy8mJCI 

Next part:  Destination Buxa Fort

Previous part:  Jayanti Part-2