Kunjanagar: On A Jungle Trail

Located 7 kilometres from Falakata in the Alipurduar district, Kunjanagar is an important part of any Dooars tour package. It is a wonderful place to arrange a picnic and often enlisted for educational excursions. The place is home to an amusement park called the Kunjanagar Eco Park. Tourists can spot elephants, deer, and sometimes leopards here as well. The park also has facilities for boating. Other than that, Kunjanagar has a suspension bridge, a centre for wild animal rescue operations, and a watchtower. It is believed that the town of Kunjanagar was once a shelter to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who had stayed in the Soulmari Ashram here.

How To Reach Kunjanagar

• The nearest railway station is Falakata. Kunjanagar is 12 kilometres from this station.
• Falakata is 85 kilometres from New Jalpaiguri.
• Another station is Madarihat from where Kunjanagar is 20 kilometres.
• The distance from Bagdogra airport in Siliguri is 108 kilometres and from Paro is 205 kilometres.
• You can avail hired cars to Kunjanagar.

Do You Need A Permit?

Because you’ll be entering a forest reserve, you need to carry a proof of photo identity. It can be anything, including your Voter Card, Aadhaar Card, PAN card, Passport, Driving License, or any other photo identity approved by the Government of India. You might have to show this during check-in at your accommodation.

Things To Do And See In Kunjanagar

• Spot Wildlife: Kunjanagar is all about dark, dense forests and cornfields. Do not forget to pay a visit to the popular suspension bridge here. When you stand on it, on one side you’ll have Kunjanagar and on the other side, you’ll have the Jaldapara National Park, which was once a Wildlife Sanctuary. Between the two flows River Torsa. A watchtower accompanies the suspension bridge from where you can spot wild animals in the area. You can also enjoy wildlife at the Kunjanagar Eco Park.
• Enjoy A Jungle Safari: Ask your tour operator to arrange for a jungle safari here. You can travel to Jaldapara National Park, which is located 32 kilometres away from Kunjanagar.
• Visit The Cooch Behar Palace: Also known as the Victor Jubilee Palace, this construction is a landmark in the city of Cooch Behar in West Bengal. It bears the architectural style of Buckingham Palace in London and was built in the year 1887 under the rule of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan.
• Visit Buxa: The door to Buxa is called Buxa-Duar, from where you can enter Bhutan. It is also the location of the famous Buxa Tiger Reserve. Spanning an area of almost 759 kilometres, the reserve ends at the Rasikbill Lake. Nearby, there’s the Phipsu Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan separated from Buxa by River Jayanti. The place is also home to the Buxa Fort, which is situated at a height of 867 metres on the Sinchula Range.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Kunjanagar?

Kunjanagar is pleasant during the period of January to April. Temperatures range between 36C° and 13C°. Rainfall does not usually happen during this period. Hence, it is considered the best time to visit the place. The period from May to October witnesses heavy rainfall and is not recommended for visits. November and December can be cold. However, this period is devoid of rainfall and hence, is a good time to plan your visit to Kunjanagar.