Dooars- A Know How!

Dooars or Duars are located on the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in North- East India around Bhutan. The place is characterized for its eclectic diversities of alluring flora and fauna. The name ‘Dooars’ has been adopted from many Indian languages meaning ‘door’. Its natural and mystic allure calls for international tourists from different corners of the globe all throughout the year. The place is also regarded to form a gateway to Bhutan from India. There are 18 passages through which the people living in Bhutan can communicate with people living in this part of the plains.

Geographical Variations:

The region is divided by the Sankosh River into the Western and Eastern Dooars, comprising an area of 8,800 square Kilometer or 3, 400 square miles. The Western part is known as the Bengal Dooars whereas the Eastern part is known as the Assam Dooars. The place is synonyms with the term Terai, used in Nepal and Northern India and form the only nitrate soil in India.

Climate:

The region receives an average rainfall of 3,500 mm. Monsoon generally starts from the middle of May and continues till the end of September. The winters are cold with foggy mornings and nights. Summer constitutes a very small part of the years and is usually mild.

Flora and Fauna:

This part of Indian sub- continent is not only known for its serene row of tea gardens but also for the dense forests that make up the countryside. Many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks like Jaldapara National Park, Buxa National Park, Gorumara National Park, Chapramari Wildlife Reserve, Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal and Manas National Park in Assam are located in this region.

The forest of the region also holds home to some of the endangered species of animals like tiger, rhinoceros and elephant. Other kinds of animals that constitute the habitat of the forest are deer, bison, birds and reptiles.

Transport:

The prime mode of transport that connects the region form its adjacent places is roadways. National Highway 31 (NH31) serves as the principal highway of the area. Regular bus services are also provided by the Government of West Bengal and the Government of Assam. Shared jeeps and maxi- taxis are also quite popular in the area.

The place can also be reached via airways. Flight services are available from different airports of the country to Baghdogra and Guwahati airports. The air ticket booking agents in Kolkata help a great deal in this regard.

Dooars are accessible via railways too. Some of the important railway stations of the area include New Jalpaiguri, New Cooch Bihar, Alipur Duar and New Bongaon etc. Most of the Dooars is connected by an important railway route between Alipurduar Junction and New Jalpaiguri via Malbazar.