Monsoon short trips near West Bengal

Where is the planning to stay.Could you please also update me about the other details as well.Thanks in advance :-)

AshisDa,

I am back in IM after a break of 3 months and was looking for destinations to go in the ongoing monsoon around july/august. Spotted your suggestion on Manoharpur. Cna you share some more details about this place. I guess this can be covered over a weekend? what are the places to see over there? Are you going there soon? If yes, where are you staying?

Last week, I talked with Abhijit Ganguly the proprietor of Santoor Resort in Monoharpur. He said it is not advisable to travel to Monoharpur presently because of Maoist problems.
He asked me to call him during Durga Puja to know the latest security position.

@ funny_in

Thanks for the latest input.

@ Tirupati

Abhijit (as mentioned in the post of funny_in above) is a hotelier and more so, a local guy belonging to Monoharpur. We all should abide by his advise as far as Monoharpur is concerned. It is a pity, but then no one can overlook the reality!!

Hi,

We are planning for Dooars (Murti & Suntalekhola)in the last week of July. Will start from Sealdah by Kanchankanya Express and get down at New Malbazar. Can anyone please suggest the distance of Murti and Suntalekhola Forest Bungalow from New Malbazar station. And how much a small car (like Indica) will chagre to take us from the station to Murti/Suntalekhola.

We are 3 in our team.

Thanks in advance.
Man2010

1. New Mal Jn. to Murti Forest Bungalow - Appox. 9-10 KM

2. New Mal Jn. to Sunthalekhola Forest Bungalow - Appox. 25 KM

I'm not aware of the current rates for cabs, but it should not be more than 250/- and 400/- respectively. For Murti you can even travel by Auto.

Thanks Asish da for the information...

thnks.the website is giving me all the setails

It's really a wonderful site, RGT

You can try this route :

Kolkata - Alipurduar - Jayanti - Buxa - Alipurduar - Kolkata

You can stay in Abakash at Buxa Reserve forest

There are numerous trains connecting kolkata to Alipurduar

Buxa and Jayanti is worth the 2 days you get to spend. The environment and scenic beauty is a treasure of a lifetime.

Sorry, "ABAKASH" at Jayanti is not a HOTEL, it is a private property leased to Calcutta Electric Supply Company (CESC). CESC had converted this leased property as the Holiday Home for their employees. Sometimes, they used to allow outsiders also provided there was any vacancy and for which one would have to approach their Kolkata Office only and the procedure was fairly cumbersome! So, it is not at all possible for a tourist to land at Jayanti and get accommodation at "ABAKASH" without valid authorization from their Headquarters at Kolkata. Secondly, as far my knowledge goes, as of now "ABAKASH" is CLOSED for the time being presumably due to some disputes.

dear IMers, i need a small help. this puja i wish to stay away from madness & crowd of kolkata city. so planning to visit kiriburu & nearby places. can you please suggest where to stay? i contacted SAIL iron ore mines authorities, but their response is negative. is there any hotel, guest house, homestay available?
alternatively can someone suggest any other place during puja days 20 to 24th october.i have not made any travel booking, and looking for some budget place since i am returning from another trip of kedar badri on 15th oct.
i just want to stay away from puja rush and crowd this time. any suitable suggestion is welcome.

My info would be a bit obsolete.

I was a regular visitor to KIriburu-Meghateburu-Monoharpur circuit. I had a few relatives residing over there. Subsequently, the relatives of mine left that place, but I continued to visit that circuit once in while. But since the area came under extremists' activities zone, I stopped going there.

As far as I know, Meghateburu Iron Ore Mines is under Bhilai Steel Plant (SAIL) and they have two places of stay, one is the Guest House and the other is Hostel. While one needs pre booking for the Guest House, the booking at Hostel is available on the spot. At least that was the situation a few years back.

I am not aware of any public Hotel at Meghateburu, but I have seen some very basic staying arrangement under the control of Officers' Club near Meghateburu Market. These facilities have been given on lease to some local private party by the Club, who runs this as a sort of Hotel. I am not aware whether this is still in existence or not and even if it exists as of now, I do not have their address and/or contact number. I just shared whatever little info that I have got. Hope, this helps to some extent.

dear asish-da, actually one of my colleague referred me this place. immediately i searched IM and found this discussion thread. i googled for the accomodations at kiriburu & meghatuburu, but couldnt find any except sail township facilities. these iron ore mines come under raw materials division (rmd) of sail. i got some contact numbers of rmd office and called them up this morning. local engineers were quite cordial, as usual site posted employees are very helpful. they suggested to contact their management. but response from kolkata rmd division was very negative. you know, the irony is i got my first job offer from sail, dsp, and i didnt join, and now i am searching for some contacts in management.
anyways, i am also a fan of bibhutibhushan, nillohit, budhhadeb guha writings, wish to visit these places of jharkhand & orissa. i can imagine these places like bangriposhi, koyel river, latehar etc. if i close my eyes and think about the stories, their characters, surroundings, probably can sense the fragrance of forest, smell of earth just after a rain.
since getting a train ticket for barbil is easier, probably i'l directly go there and request the management for a roomstay. problem is only the maoists and their landmines. if i visit that place, definitely i'l provide the details.
thanks again to you sir for the help.

Also for the benefit of other members like me, please mention the condition of the road surface and the maoist issues. Thanks.