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Tiger Reserve | Eastern Himalayan Foothills

Buxa National Park

Terai Forests Below Bhutan

West Bengal

Image: Sandipoutsider / CC BY-SA 4.0
Permit-based Access
Forest entry, trekking routes, and stays should be confirmed through Buxa or West Bengal forest offices before travel.
Monsoon and River Conditions
Heavy rain can affect roads, trails, and river crossings in the Dooars.

Plan Your Visit

Welcome to Buxa National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.

Reservations

Arrange forest entry, route permissions, and forest lodge stays through West Bengal forest channels or local Buxa offices before travel.

Lodging

Rajabhatkhawa/Jayanti/Alipurduar
Forest-adjacent lodges, homestays, and town hotels provide the main visitor bases.
Forest Lodging
West Bengal forest-linked accommodation should be booked or confirmed through official channels.

Book your stay

Browse stays in Alipurduar Booking.com

This link opens Booking.com, a third-party site.

Visitor Centers

Buxa Tiger Reserve / Rajabhatkhawa Information Point
Rajabhatkhawa area • Office hours
Forest permits, interpretation, and current route guidance.

Rules & Regulations

  • Use authorized routes and guides
  • Do not enter closed forest areas
  • Avoid plastic and loud noise
  • Do not disturb elephants or other wildlife
  • Respect village and border-area instructions

Accessibility

Alipurduar and Rajabhatkhawa are reachable by road and rail, but forest trails and hill routes can be steep, slippery, and uneven.

Basic Information

About This Park

Buxa National Park forms the core of Buxa Tiger Reserve in northern West Bengal's Dooars. The landscape runs from riverine plains and Terai forest to lower Himalayan hills below Bhutan, creating habitat for elephants, leopards, gaur, hornbills, orchids, butterflies, and many forest birds.

Operating Hours & Seasons

SeasonMorning SafariEvening Safari
Visitor Season (Oct - Apr)Daylight visits by permitReturn before evening

Route access varies between Jayanti, Rajabhatkhawa, Buxa Fort, and other forest points. Confirm current rules locally.

Closure PeriodMonsoon restrictions and forest closures may apply from June to September.

Fees & Passes

CategoryAmount
Entry/Permit FeeAs notified by West Bengal Forest Department
Guide/VehicleVaries by route and activity

Fees differ for entry points, guides, vehicles, cameras, and forest rest house arrangements.

Weather

☀️ Summer
March - May
20°C - 34°C
Warm and humid with active birdlife and pre-monsoon showers.
🌧️ Monsoon
June - September
24°C - 32°C
Heavy rain, swollen streams, and lush forest; access may be restricted.
❄️ Winter
November - February
8°C - 26°C
Cooler, clearer, and best for trails, birding, and river landscapes.

Contact Information

Authority
Wildlife Wing, Directorate of Forests, Government of West Bengal

Directions & Transportation

Physical Address

Buxa Tiger Reserve, Alipurduar district, West Bengal

26.6500° N, 89.5800° E

✈️

By Air

Bagdogra Airport is the main air gateway for the Dooars region.

🚂

By Train

Alipurduar Junction and New Alipurduar are practical railheads; Rajabhatkhawa is closer for some access points.

🚗

By Road

Road approaches run through Alipurduar, Rajabhatkhawa, Jayanti, and nearby Dooars towns.

🚐

Local Transport

Use local taxis, authorized guides, and forest-approved routes for Buxa Fort, Jayanti, and forest entry points.

Things to Do

🥾
Forest Trails
Walk approved routes toward Buxa Fort, Jayanti, and forest villages with local guidance.
🐦
Bird Watching
Search for hornbills, drongos, raptors, and riverine birds.
🌊
River and Hill Views
Visit Jayanti river landscapes and Bhutan foothill views where access is open.
🏰
Buxa Fort Visit
Learn about the historic fort and freedom movement associations on permitted routes.

Nature & Wildlife

Key Wildlife

Asian ElephantGaurLeopardClouded LeopardSambar DeerHornbillsButterfliesOrchids

Flora

Moist deciduous forest, semi-evergreen patches, riverine vegetation, bamboo, cane, orchids, and foothill forest types of the Indo-Malayan transition zone.

Fauna

Buxa is known for elephants, gaur, leopards, smaller cats, deer, reptiles, butterflies, and diverse birds; tiger presence is low and sightings are rare.

Learn About the Park

History

Buxa Tiger Reserve was created in 1983, the sanctuary was expanded in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and the national park was notified in the 1990s. Buxa Fort adds political and cultural history to the forest landscape.

Quick Facts

Established
1992
Area
760 sq km tiger reserve
State
West Bengal
Designation
Tiger Reserve

References

  1. Buxa National Park official visitor information Wildlife Wing, Directorate of Forests, Government of West Bengal
  2. Buxa Tiger Reserve overview Wikipedia
  3. Book West Bengal forest lodges near Buxa and the Dooars West Bengal Forest Development Corporation
  4. Buxa National Park location map OpenStreetMap contributors
  5. Buxa National Park thumbnail image source Wikimedia Commons