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Garumara is in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal of India.

Understand

Gorumara Forest Road

History

It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1949 and a National Park in 1992.

Landscape

The area where Gorumara National Park is located in is known as the Dooars. It lies in the Himalayan foothills and has great natural beauty. The park is located on the bank of rivers Murti and Raidak and has vegetation of riverine grasslands interspersed with savannah woodlands. Much of the forest is moist deciduous and sal (shorea robusta) is the most common and valuable tree. Teak, simul, siris, khair are also found here.

Fauna

The park has recorded 50 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 20 species of reptiles, and 30 species of amphibians.

Mammals: The park is rich in large herbivores including Indian rhinoceros, gaur, Asian elephant, sloth bear, chital, and sambar deer. Small herbivores include barking deer, hog deer and wild boar. There is a comparative lack of large carnivores, with the only big cat being the Leopard. The park is not home to any resident population of Bengal tigers, Indian wild dogs or Indian wolf. tigers are, however, occasionally spotted here. It does have numerous small carnivores including various civets, mongooses and small cats. The park has a large resident population of wild boar, but the critically endangered pygmy hog has been reported from the park. It also has numerous rodents, including giant squirrels. The rare Hispid hare has also been reported from the park.

Birds: Gorumara National Park is famous for its bird population - which includes brilliant submontane forest birds like the scarlet minivet, sunbird, Asian paradise flycatcher, spangled drongo and great Indian hornbill. Numerous woodpeckers and pheasants inhabit the park. Peafowls are very common. The park is on the flyway of numerous migratory birds, including the rare Brahminy Duck.

Reptiles and amphibians: The park is home to a large number of snakes, venomous and non-venomous, including the Indian python, one of the largest snakes in the world, and the king cobra - the world's largest venomous snake.

Climate

Get in

  • By air - Bagdogra (13 km from Siliguri) is the nearest airport.
  • By rail - Nearest railway station is New Maynaguri, 20 km and New Mal 30 km from Lataguri Gorumara National Park. The park is accessible from the rail stations at Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar from where one can hire a jeep/car through National Highway 31 to Lataguri, the gateway to the park.
  • By road : National Highway 31 which connects Siliguri and Guwahati passes through

Lataguri (about 75 km from Siliguri), Chalsa and Nagrakata near the park. Gorumara National Park is 1 km from Lataguri, 10 km from Chalsa. It is recommended to hire vehicles from Chalsa or Lataguri to enter the National Park. Most hotels will arrange for the visit.

Fees and permits

Chalsa on north and Mainaguri on south are the nearest rail stations. Madarihat is the nearest rail station from Jaldapara Wildlife sanctuary. However, Mal Jn. is the nearest rail station where long distance mail/express trains stop, on north of Gorumara NP.

Gorumara Park fees around ₹40/- per person. Other fees to be paid are the guide and parking fees. The park is closed on Thursdays (May 2008)

Get around

Area landmarks

  • 1 India-Bhutan border. 
  • 2 Jaldhaka River. 
  • 3 Lataguri. 
  • 4 Murti River. 
  • 5 Raidak River. 
  • 6 Teesta River. 

See

The best way to watch wildlife at the park is to use powerful binoculars, with night vision facilities at night, from the numerous well-located watchtowers at the park. The watchtowers are:

  • Chandrachur Watch Tower (Near the Murti forest bungalow). 
  • Chukchuki Bird-watching Point. Good for birding 
  • Jatraprasad Watch Tower. Named after a legendary elephant 
  • Medla Watch Tower. 
  • Rhino Observation Point. Watch tower in front of the Gorumara forest bungalow 

There are no ranger-led or otherwise all-terrain vehicle or elephantback forays into the jungle. Hiking is permitted on metalled roads, but is slightly unsafe considering the population of elephants, gaur and rhinoceros present in the park. The park is closed in the monsoon season (normally June–September).

Do

Buy

Eat

Drink

  • The Salt Pit, Chawk Moulani, Lataguri, ☏ +91 973 3508600, +91 973 3538666. Bar and restaurant 
  • Jaldapara tourist lodge, Maddarihut. (updated May 2016)

Sleep

Caution Note: To avoid the unsavory, corrupt, and thoroughly untrustworthy booking services based in Kolkata, it is best to get a place to stay on arrival without advance reservation.

Lodging

Stay safe

  • Keep fire away. This is the most destructive of all forces. Please do not kindle fires, throw lighted matches, cigarettes, bidis, etc.
  • Keep the forest clean. Do not litter with plastic, paper, cellophane, etc.
  • Keep pets at home.
  • Do not carry firearms, explosives, etc. These are prohibited.
  • Keep sober. Do not consume alcoholic drinks within the sanctuary.
  • Entering inside the forest is prohibited. Follow the specific road or path only.
  • Picnics are not permitted inside the sanctuary.
  • Do not tease the wild animals. Watch and observe nature silently.
  • Drive slowly. Permissible speed is 20 km/h.
  • Disorderly conduct is not permitted.
  • No person shall hunt, destroy or remove or collect any forest produce or wildlife. Fishing prohibited.

Violations of any provisions as mentioned above or any rules shall be punishable under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and rules made thereunder and Indian Forest Act, 1927.

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