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At last I managed three days leave at the end of the year ohhh!!! It was pre decided if everything would work fine I could visit Dooars
at least we can save the journey time. On 17th Dec we reached Sealdah station 30 minutes before the actual departure of Kanchanjunga in evening. This time we chose an offbeat trail of dooars; Samsing Suntalekhola, Chalsa, Murti, Jhalong, Bindu;
I had the wish to explore this region since long ago; but this zone was always skipped by me; I had been to Suntalekhola before but never stayed at Samsing I heard about the bio-diversity of flaura and fauna along the road connecting samsing to suntalekhola many birder said a lot of this zone which is actually part of the Neora Valley National Park mentioned about many hidden treasures. |
Anyway when we arrived at New Mal Jn it was already 10.00 in morning; We hired a cab from the station for Samsing which charged us 500 bucks. The driver was very gentleman as he got we are birders he also shared some of his experience in birding we were really pleased to have this person with us. After crossing chalsa (10km from Mal), we took a narrow road via Metali (10km from Chalsa) towards samsing (18km from Chalsa). The nose straight way bifurcating Tea estates was really dazzling. The greeneries all around us enthralled for a moment; Around 110 we reached at Samsing - a pristine small village on the hill. Our accommodation was arranged at Trishna Lodge Tribhuban the caretaker cum owner took us in 2nd floor and opened the room for us .the veranda was really fantastic having a wide view of landscape we got a glimpse of river murti too from there.
After having a hefty lunch we decided to do some birding at Suntalekhola; when we reached there the light was dim though we spotted white capped water redstart, plumbeous water redstart only. The next morning we did birding through the way to Suntalekhola. After crossing the WBTDC cottage, Samsing, we saw 4 peacocks; we moved further and we saw a colorful flock of scarlet minivets - nearly 20+ minivets were in the flock - it was just unbelievable event....we stopped our car and started walking. Sooner we reached at suntalekhola - we were welcome by the sighting of slaty backed forktail and white capped water redstart. This is the first time we saw forktail - in the excitement - we missed to take good shots;
We walked through the left side of entrance (the hanging bridge) and found two Lesser racket tailed drongo and numerous rufous sibia and few grey treepie and a plumbeous water redstart. We walked little on the way to Mouchuki and found grey headed canary flycatcher, grey bushchat...After having a breakfast there with Momo and coffee we left for Jhalong Bindu.......Nothing much we saw on the way. Evening we did forest safari to Chapramari.
Rest 2 days we spent our nights at Chalsa and did birding inside the resort and nearby. But the experience of birding at Samsing Suntalekhola is just unforgettable - and my feelings is - visiting the place again and again may reveal many odd/ interesting sighting of lifers....
Here are other informations-
Distance Chart
| New Mal | Chalsa | 10 km |
| Chalsa | Samsing | 18 km |
| Chalsa | Gorumara | 10 km |
| Chalsa | Chapramari | 16 km |
| Chalsa | Jhalong | 45 km |
| Jhalong | Bindu | 12 km |
Accomodation
Accomodation can be made either at Samsing or Suntalekhola depending on the availibility of the rooms at WBFDC Cottage. For more information visit the website.
There is no such private accomodation available at Suntalekhola. At Samsing - Trishna Lodge is only one private hotel.
To visit Gorumara, Chapramari - you can base either at Chalsa or Lataguri. There are lot of private hotels at both the places.
To know other mundanes - you can email me at amitkrghosh@gmail.com or bengalbirds.amit@gmail.com
Best time to visit
November-December or Februaray end - March.
| Hill Myna | Indian Peafowl |
| White capped water redstart | Plumbeous water redstart |
| Slaty backed forktail | Lesser racket tailed drongo |
| Scarlet minivet | Spangled drongo |
| Grey treepie | Rufous sibia |
| Black redstart | Rock thrush |
| Blue whistling thrush | Siberian stonechat |
| Pied bushchat | Grey bushchat |
| White wagtail | Yellow wagtail |
| Crested serpent eagle | Rose ringed parakeet |
| Red breasted parakeet | Green imperian piegon |
| Yellow footed green piegon | Little pied flycatcher |
| Red throated flycatcher | Brown shrike |
| Common hoppoe | Indian roller |
| UnId pipit | Collared falconet |
| Eurasian collared dove | Bank Myna |
| Red w lapwing | Emerald dove |
| Grey headed canary flycatcher | Alexandrine Parakeet |
| Eurasian wryneck | Blue throated barbet |
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| Butterfly | Hilly Fruit | Butterfly |
* The photos are contributed by Mrs. Debapriya Ghosh. Copyright reserved. |
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