Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary - Famous Sanctuary for Elephant and Indian Bisons.

 

Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its abundance of elephants and Indian bisons. Apart from them Cheetal, Samber, Barking Deer, Pangolin are also have home here. Reptiles and other macro faunas are also available in Chapramari forest. The Chapramari Sanctuary is located in Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal, India. Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary is essentially an extension of Gorumara National Park. Both are actually divided by the Murti river. Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary is bounded on its west by Murti river and on its east side by Jaldhaka river. The total coverage of the forest is 960 hectares. In 1895 it was first recognized as a forest reserve due to its diversity in flora & fauna. In 1939, the name Chapramari Wildlife Reserve came to be used, while the Government of India, in 1998, gave it the status of a national wildlife sanctuary.

 

 

A large variety of flora and fauna are found in the Chapramari forests. Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary is known for its elephant population. Gaur commonly known as Indian bison that are not uncommon in the Chapramari region. Rhinoceros, Deer, boars, and leopards are also found here. You can even see one-horned rhinos if you are lucky. However unlike Gorumara Royal Bengal Tigers are not found here. The place is popular with bird watchers with parakeets, mynas, scarlet minivets, green magpie, Indian treepie, thrush, adjutant stork, white breasted kingfisher and green pigeons found in abundance. Around the water bodies and along the river banks you can often see egrets, darters, large & little cormorants etc. In migratory category birds lover can see Brahmini ducks, teals etc. There are many flowering orchids that you can see in the forests at different times of the year. In 2009, a marauding leopard was captured in Dooars and released into Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary.

 

 

Jeep safaris are offered by the forest department to visit Chapramari Watchtower and experience the forest and its wildlife. Most of the area of Chapramari forest is covered by the trees like Sal, Teak, Shishu, Siris etc. Visitors need to get entry permit, pay for guide and the vehicle which is an open Maruti Gypsy to visit the Watchtower. Since the  lodge is run by the forest department, a big advantage here is they arrange the Jungle Safari for you including entry permit, guide and vehicle not just for Chapramari but Gorumara Safari & Watchtower as well. The Jeep have pick and drop facility for you from the lodge for safari. West Bengal Forest Development Corporation Limited also operates a Chapramari camp.

 

During summer April to May the animals try to remain under shades of the dense jungle particularly during the day time. Also note that during summer the weather could be uncomfortable due to heat and safaris may not be always enjoyable. November to March is the best time to visit Chapramari forest. This is the winter time, weather is very pleasant and possibility of animal sighting is high particularly early in the mornings and late afternoons. Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary remains closed between June 16 to September 15 because of the monsoon and this time being the animal breeding season.

 

Chapramari is located around two hours drive from Siliguri, the principal city in Northern Bengal. The closest railway station from Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary is in Chalsa. But visitors prefer to board a train for New Mal Junction (NMZ) or Malbazar to reach Chapramari due to its connectivity. Malbazar Rail Station is the rail hub. The distance between New Mal Junction to Chapramari being around 15km. Visitors can hire a private taxi from the respective junction to reach Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary.