We spent a night on 24th-25th December,2011 at Lankapara. It was a chilling night.The distant sound of drums and tune of songs of tribal people in local language in a wintry night charmed us. The shadowy light of Jaigaon-Phuentsolling lurked us in that evening. We enjoyed those rustic incidents and experience lot.As it was a family trip and kids were with us , there were little scope of daring jungle safari.Yet, we made a short trip in the dusk.But our driver Moslem Mian was fearing from tuskers and we had to retreat.We found negligible wild animals there yet it was fantastic trip to spend time together in tranquility in the midst of forest.It was the first night I spent a whole night in jungle-bungalow.
Better to avoid rainy season as rain in the hills cut the way from civilized world.Nearest town/important place is Madarihat which is well connected through Roads & Rails. Hashimara Air-base is near to it.
Lankapara is a remote village of Alipurduar District(formerly Jalpaiguri District) at the foothills of Himalaya bordering to Bhutan.It is a magnificent heaven for travellers who wish to spend time in tranquility amidst lush green forest of Dooars. The place is disconnected from the outer world. The only way to reach there is through the temporary roads built on the river bed during winter and spring.No food or car is available there.Drinking water is available from nearby streams and tubewells.Better to carry packaged water.The travellers should arrange car and dry food or ready to cook food of their own.The care taker cum cook is good in Indian dishes. The elephants,leopard,wild cats,civet,python and various birds are found frequently.There are are two rooms in Lankapara Eco-Cottage which can be booked in the office of DFO,Cooch Behar/Alipurduar/Jalpaiguri.The care taker cum cook and forest guard in charge of Lankapar as well as the Range Officer of Lankapara Range are well behaved and they help to visit local itineraries in the deep forest.Better to avoid walking alone in the jungle as venomous snakes are frequently found.
