Bengal Safari : The most visited safari in Siliguri
Introduction.
What is a safari? A Safari is an overland journey into the woods and bushes to observe or hunt animals like tiger, Common Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, Himalayan Black Bear, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Sambar, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer, Hog Deer, Wild Boar, Rhesus Monkey, Common Languor and different types of small Cats and Civets, Crocodile, Gharial, Jungle Fowls and a large number of Birds & Medicinal Plants.
Do you know the difference between A Safari and A Zoo? Most people have a rough idea but this is for those who have no clue about the difference. In a Zoo the animals are kept in a small allotted area where they can hardly move, whereas in a Safari they’re allotted the whole of the forest where they can live freely.
Do you think Safari’s have boundaries? Yes, the huge forest Safari does have boundaries so that the wild animals do not enter the town premises.
Well… Did you know? The State of West Bengal, having a vast forest area, is rich in wildlife. Siliguri remains the second most popular city after Kolkata and is situated at the entrance of North Bengal, surrounded by hills and dense forest, which makes Siliguri one of the most attractive tourist places in North Bengal.
In such a place where most of the land area falls under forest, Govt. of West Bengal had decided to build an animal reserve to save the rich wildlife of north Bengal and have built The Bengal Safari.
Here are some of the detailed information about the Bengal safari given below:-
Bengal safari
The scenic beauty of Bengal Safari:
For those who are in love with Mother Nature, a trip to the Bengal safari is a chance for you to see wild animals in their natural habitat. The incredible beauty of the Bengal Safari, its luxuriant jungle’s intensely deep and bright shades of colors, and the diverse wildlife of The Bengal Safari.
The fascinated scenarios of mother nature define the actual meaning of beauty. The greenery around the safari can be defined as “peace to the eyes of the viewer”. The refreshing cold breeze and the soothing smell of nature and the feeling of excitement are indescribable.
Location
It is located in 5th mile, Sevoke road, Salugara, Siliguri, West Bengal.
Entrance procedure
We first have to buy a ticket at the ticket counter or you can just advance book your ticket online. The safari cost depends on what package you want to buy like- Rs 50/- per head for Tiger safari adult or child above 5 years, Combo-I safari that includes herbivore and tiger safari for Rs 100/- per head adult and children above 5 years, Grand Safari that includes Herbivore, Tiger, Black Bear, and Leopard Safari that costs Rs Rs. 200/- for adult and child over 5 years, Elephant Riding that charges Rs 300/- including the entry fee.
Do’s and Don’t in the Bengal Safari, Siliguri
Do’s
- Buy a ticket before entering the park and stay there until return.
- Park your vehicle only in the parking lot.
- Maintain silence and discipline inside the park.
- Use a dustbin instead of littering garbage all over the park.
- Behave politely with the other fellow visitor and cooperate with them.
- Report suspicious activities if any.
- Move only in the visitors allotted areas.
- If you booked your ticket online then bring a photo id proof along with you.
- Save nature and water
Don’t
- Do not feed animals in the park.
- Do not tease or play around the animals in the park.
- Do not enter with food inside the park.
- Do not carry plastic bottles or plastic carry bags.
- Avoid using your phone inside.
- Do not play any audio such as music, football, cricket, news, musical instruments, etc inside the park.
- Do not carry your pet animals like cats, dogs, etc along with you in the park.
- Do not carry inflammable objects with you like firearms, lighter, firecrackers, etc inside the park.
- Avoid littering garbage in the park inorder to keep the park clean.
- Do not open safari vehicle glasses inside the park while you are still in the vehicle.
- Do not enter or try to enter any animal enclosure areas.
- Do not argue, abuse, fight, or interfere with the staff on duty.
- Do not enter the park intoxicated.
- Do not consume alcohol inside the park as alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited.
Timings for the rides are as follows:
The safari is open from 9:15 am to 5:00 pm. You can visit during the afternoon as you can see many animals during that time.
- Tiger Safari – 20 mins
Adult/Child (above 5 years)
*Including Entry
- Combo-I Safari – 45 mins
(Herbivore & Tiger)
Adult/Child (above 5 years)
*Including Entry
- Grand Safari
(Herbivore, Tiger, Black Bear & Leopard) – 1 hr
Adult/Child (above 5 years)
Including Entry
Elephant Riding – 20 mins
* Including Entry
(Herbivore, Tiger, Black Bear & Leopard)
Ticket- Rs 200/-
Time- 1 hr
Timings – 9:15, 9:30, 10:00, 10:45, 11:00, 11:30, 12:15 12:30, 1:00, 1:45, 2:00, 2:30, 3:15, 3:30, 3:45
(Herbivore & Tiger)
Ticket- Rs 100/-
Time- 45 mins
Timings – 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:00
Tiger Safari
Ticket- Rs 50/-
Time- 20 mins
Timings – 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30
HERBIVORE
Ticket- Rs 300/-
Time- 30 mins
Timings – 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 3:30, 4:00
Best time to visit.
The best time to visit in Bengal safari is during May, June, and August. As the weather stays good and stable inside the park. It is also known as the peak tourist spot.
Attraction to explore near Bengal safari.
Salugara Monastery.
The place is located in Salugara and can be seen easily from the main road. It was built brilliantly. Perfect place to find some solace. Best place to meditate. Though there are 2 to 3 monasteries located nearby so that one can get easily confused by the fact. The google map which shows the actual location of the Salugara monastery is a bit confusing and not realistic, rather one has to go a little bit far walk from the location.
Immaculate energy and a great place for practice and great stupa. H.E Kalu rinpoche main site of sangpa tradition. Buddha arts at the wall side. Situated just beside the main road yet the inside atmosphere is just the opposite of the outside chaos. The place is very peaceful & well maintained. Established by Tibetan Buddhist Monks and followers of the Dalai Lama, the monastery is famous for the 100 feet stupa founded by the Tibetan Lama, Kalu Rinpoche. This monastery is also known as The Great International Tashi Gomang Stupa and is situated just 6 km away from the main town.
This monastery also contains five kinds of Buddhist relics. The paintings are very beautiful. An oasis of peace. If you are looking for the three gems of Buddha this is the place to seek. Please do visit not as a casual tourist but as a seeker. If you get time do visit the monastery for utter peace. Historical art is of course one of the major attractions apart from the religious front. Location – Ward 42 Salugara, Siliguri, West Bengal.
ISKCON Siliguri.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness, more popularly known as ISKCON Temple, is one of the prominent places of interest in Siliguri. Sited at Gital Para, ISKCON Temple Road, the temple is characterized by purity, serenity, and sublime beauty. Also known as Hare Krishna Movement, the ISKCON temple in the city is the biggest Krishna center in the whole of Northeast India.
Completely dedicated to Lord Krishna, the temple attracts thousands of devotees from all over the country. Find your inner peace with the outstanding work of art and sculptures and paintings. Thrills your soul when you enter the path of “hell and the understanding of punishment for the sin”.The rath of Krishna in the lovely garden with amazing blossoms is an added apple of the eye.
Iskcon temple is one of the major attractions in Siliguri. Tourists do visit the temple. It’s large and very peaceful inside. A place where you can spend your time with family and friends. There are various things for the recreation of kids. A park for children, a movie theater, a shopping complex, a food junction, and many more. Location- ISKCON rd, ward 41, Gitalpara, Siliguri, West Bengal.
Coronation Bridge.
It’s the most beautiful and amazing bridge in this region. You can come here at any moment of your life and enjoy the beauty of this bridge. If you climb higher there is a point from where you can see the whole bridge. From there it looks amazing. If you want to visit here with your family or your loved ones kindly visit this amazing place everyone can enjoy the moment there.
The Bridge was built to mark the coronation of King George V in 1937 and the work was started by J. Anderson, is referred to as an architectural wonder. The wide view of Teesta and lower Himalayas in one frame is marvelous from the middle of the bridge. If you happen to halt for a quick photoshoot, beware of the monkeys roaming around. The bridge was built on the Reinforced Concrete system. Since it was not possible to obtain support from the Teesta river bed due to the depth and current of water, the entire bridge was supported by a fixed arch, which had its two ends fixed on rock layers on either side of the river. Location- coronation bridge, Sevoke, West Bengal.
Morgan House.
Morgan House is known as “Bhoot Bungalow” is a historical place in Kalimpong. At this moment this place is only for booked visitors. No outsider is allowed due to the covid pandemic. This time we miss it. I told many haunted stories to my son relating to this haunted house. The character of this house matches this story. It was an awesome experience. Heritage buildings are just awesome. The whole campus is very beautiful. One can enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of nature from a room window.
Appropriate for visits with family and kids. Cottages are also beautiful and suitable for couples. One can’t stop appreciating everything about this place like the sheer architectural marvel, beauty of the flora and fauna in this place, strategically located on top of a hill with an army golf course by the side of it, the magnanimity of the stone building, chimneys and sloping roofs, ferns abutting the stone walls, sprawling lawn and many more. It has its lawn and garden. Just come out of Morgan’s house, the green golf course will soothe your eyes. We’ve stayed both in the colonial bungalow as well as the Old cottage at the edge of the property. That time new cottages were shaping up and that’s looking nice in the garden. Would like to spend one night in one of those new cottages next time. The surrounding is beautiful and there is calmness and serenity in that place.
Stayed there all alone during June 2021 along with the security guard at Morgan House during the night and didn’t feel scary at all rather felt calm and peaceful while staying there. Hospitality is really good and the staff working there are polite and well behaved with a smile on their face and food is also delicious. The cutting-edge accommodation, standard food quality, history, and location will blow your mind. It’s a visual treat in British style. But apart from its spooky stories, this govt accommodation is one of the best. If you are in Kalimpong then please try to stay over there. The view and the accommodation itself will make you feel so nice that it will prove a lifetime sweet and special memory. Location- chandraloke, Kalimpong.
Army gulf course.
This golf course is maintained by the Indian army. You can play golf here. The golf course remains closed on national holidays. It is a very neat and clean and well-maintained golf course. The environment around the golf course is just amazing. You can spend hours watching that scenic beauty. You can see the whole golf course from the Green Gale cafe. This is located a few steps ahead of the Morgan House. It’s only allowed for army officials. No civilians are allowed inside.
The areas are kept clean and can enjoy the view from the roadside and can find only one canteen near to it. But it’s a little more expensive. The place is located about 15 mins from the main town. This is an Army Golf Course and no civilians are allowed inside, though you can take pictures from the outside. There is an army canteen just on the left side of the road near the course where you can have tea, coffee or south Indian dishes at reasonable prices. From there, there is this wonderful view of the mountains and the view of the entire golf course. It’s fully maintained by the Indian army. Location- Chandraloke, Kalimpong.
Conclusion.
If you are a nature-loving person and love the natural view of these eyes capturing places then you must visit the places suggested above. It not only gives you a blissful environment but also a pleasant natural view, you will also get a sensation of relaxation of mind and body. If you love nature then nature will love you. Here are the places are given in the following article where you can spend some of your quality of time and also detail you with some nearby places in Bengal safari and Siliguri.
