A travelogue to Dooars, West Bengal: Jhalong-Bindu - Dooars - Beautiful Colours of West Bengal - Destination East

Friday 1 May 2015

Jhalong-Bindu - Dooars - Beautiful Colours of West Bengal - Destination East - Incredible India

Jhalong-Bindu

We have checked out from Resort Murti after a nice stay. We are now ready for todays journey. Hasanur has reached at the resort with his car. He is actually belongs to this locality. He has spent the night at his home. He is saying that he would invite us to visit his home but due to time shortage he had not done so.

We are now crossing the bridge on the river Murti. We are going to the direction from where we came yesterday. This path is going through the jungle and again the subject of our ongoing discussion is the wild elephants. Hasanur is providing his valuable input in the discussion. And we are thrilled as usual.

Road map from Murti to Jhalong and Bindu

( I have lost the scale )

This path goes to a place called Khuniya More and from there we are going to take a diversion from our yesterdays route. We will take the path towards the Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. We don't have plan for any more jungle safari so we will continue towards Jhalong.

The road from Murti towards Khuniya More

We are now moving towards Jhalong. We have left the plain land and now we have entered a hilly area. The path is slowly taking us uphill. There are different kinds of trees all around. We can see many jack-fruit trees along the road.

The road towards Jhalong

Hasanur has stopped the car at a place. We are taking a break. This place is having plenty of jack-fruit trees surrounding. It looks beautiful. On one side of the road there are long grasses. Hasanur is going somewhere and he is telling us to follow him. He wants to show us something. He is going inside the long grasses. We are following him. Wow! we have reached a view point. We can see the plain land below and a river passing through. Hasanur is saying it is the Jaldhaka river. When I was in school then I read about this river. This place was previously used as a view point. But now it is abandoned. Hasanur has also informed us that these long grasses all around this place are medicinal. These are citronella grasses. Citronella grass is used to make citronella oil. I was aware of the Citronella oil as it is sold in local trains and stations in suburban Kolkata. I have taken one grass leaf and have squeezed it between my thumb and fingers as suggested by Hasanur and I am now taking the smell of the leaf juice. Yes the smell looks familiar. Citronella oil is used in soaps, insect repellents, aromatherapy etc.

We are now moving ahead towards Jhalong. Before getting into our car we have done a photo-session. Soumya has given some heroic poses.

We have now reached Jhalong. We can see some other tourists are present at an eatery near a view point. We are spending few minutes here and taking some snaps.

A view from Jhalong

We are now moving towards Bindu. The road is moving along the river Jaldhaka keeping it always on the right side. This river is famous for its hydro electric project as it is one of the foremost in the country.

After driving for some more time, Hasanur has stopped the car at a place. This place looks very nice. We are feeling happy to get out of the car and enjoy the beauty of the nature. I am standing on the river side of the road. A railing is present for the safety of people standing here. The river seems very beautiful from here. The water looks very clean and clear so that we can see the river bed through it.