Dooars and Lava/Lolegaon.

achyut78ins

Hi guys,

I am absolutely new here.
I am going to visit Dooars and Lava/Lolegaon this January.
For Dooars I have already bookes Sinclairs Retreat at Chalsa.
Heard that is the best place to stay down there...any advices on the activities I can do there. I know about trips to Jaldapara and Gorumara. Anything else you guys can advice me on.

And can you suggest any good place to stay in Lava?
I have heard the WBFDC (Forest Dept.) tourist lodge is good...anything else you guys can suggest?
I have plans for three days in Lava...any idea on the things to be done?

Also any idea about how to avail the Teesta rafting experience?

abhijit.s

I had stayed there in Chalsa abour couple of years ago and found the place was good.The resort is in a hill top providing you a glimpse to the distant horozon.Dont leave the car as you will go to Murty river and the Garumara.But basically Chalsa is a place where you relax and enjoy the nature rather than engage in hectic activities.
Lava for 3 days may sound boring and rafting on Tista now should be ok even for the non swimmers as they have rafting facility for the non swimmers.You can shorten your stay at Lava, Lolegaon and proceed to Kalimpong.
But please check the situation and then leave.These GJM guys are always so unpredictable.

traveler08

Hi, am visiting chalsa and staying at sinclairs in march this year. how's the food at the resort? and are their restos nearby, or sinclairs is the only option?
Plus, we plan a day trip to gorumara, can we visit murti river as well?
how's holong forest bunglow at jaldapara? have a booking there too?

achyut78ins

Hi traveler,
I'm going to Sinclairs Retreat day after tomorrow. Will give you all the details as soon as I get back.
I.m not going to Holong...I've heard that you may be denied there even if you have booking if some govt. bigshot makes a surprise visit there. This happens pretty often in Holong. So I decided against it.
I'll be staying in Jaldhaka forest lodge instead after Sinclairs. From Jaldhaka I'll go to Lolegaon.

Sinclairs is basically a relaxing place. Not adventurous as I found out from some people...but sadly after I have booked.
If you are looking for a good jungle experience you will be better off with the various forest lodges in Dooars.

achyut78ins

Traveler,

I will suggest you to not stay in Sinclairs...the location is useless. Its a nice resort but you dont go to Dooars to stay in a resort. Everything is far from there...and there is no jungle anywhere around. I stayed there for 3 nights (package) and was bored out of my wits. Because of the bandh we could not go around much. In fact the resort is almost exclusively for corporate meetings and seminars. The food is only prepared for them and you will get that buffet only for 450/- per meal. There was no a la carte. There are no other eateries around so you will be struck there.
My whole trip was screwed due to bandhs. I stayed 3 nights in Sinclairs, then back to Siliguri, as no taxi driver was willing to take us to Jaldhaka where we had booked. Stayed there for one night then went to Kalingpong. That was quite good. Stay in Morgan House...nice place. Then we went to Lolegaon for 2 nights but had to cancel the second night because of another bandh.

So before you go to Dooars think twice...you never know when this bandhs and agitations start off. But if you go stay in the Forest department guest houses or in Nakshatra hotel. That will be much better than Sinclairs.

abhisheks

I think you people shold not hesitate to in staying at Sinclairs Dooars. Its really good.
I went for a holiday to Chalsa sometime back and had an amazing time. I am an avid nature lover and I inveterately keep on going to places where nature is found in all its richness. Chalsa is one such place. I saw pictures of the Sinclairs resort online and took a liking to it and booked my stay.
On reaching there, I found the sight exactly like the pictures and I was overjoyed as I saw the trees and flower beds around and the valley and hills in the distance. The room was spacious and there was a cool and comforting breeze blowing in through the verandah door. The hotel staff members were alert enough to offer any help or service that one could ask.
The resort’s location provided easy access to nature spots like Samsing, Lava and Phuntsholing which I enjoyed seeing.
The resort’s food and beverages were fresh and tasty.
I had a very nice stay at Sinclairs Chalsa and am keeping with me a good number of the nature photographs and would love to come back.
This was my experience, i think you should go and I'm sure you will like it there.

tirtha_147

hi,
i want to visit jaldapara-gorumara-lava-lolegaon-rishap-chalsa in 6 days. is it suitable? i already booked cottages in jaldapara & gorumara. plz suggest how to reach lava-lolegaon-rishap-chalsa from gorumara. how is the route & distance? i am a nature lover. where to stay in lava or lolegaon or rishap or chalsa? how to cover all the places? wish to visit also murti river.

achyut78ins

Hi Tirtha,

You will not have much to do in Chalsa, no point going to Chalsa unless you want to stay in Sinclair's. Please read the previous posts for my thoughts regarding Sinclairs.

In Lolegaon the best place to stay will be the Forest department cottages. It will be prudent to book that place in advance, since your location is Kolkata, I will suggest you to do the booking from Wheels (Travel agents) in Ekdalia Park.

The journey from Dooars to Lolegaon is breathtaking, if you are a nature lover, admist the thick pine trees.

achyut78ins

And if you can then stay in Jaldhaka forest bunglow for a couple of days...it is the best forest bunglow in the best location in my opinion....though smaller in size than the others.