Lataguri used to be the Timber country! Locally, lattha means timber wood and guri means log. Lataguri is located on the fringes of Gorumara National Park on National Highway No. 31. It is the gateway to the Gorumara Forest and all permits to enter Gorumara and Chapramari are issued from the Nature Interpretation Center located here.
It was once an export hub of timber with innumerable timber mills. But today that has taken a backseat due to rampant felling and this place has emerged as an eco-tourism hotspot.
Before the independence of India, the Lataguri Railway Junction was a hot bed of timber trade. Train tracks from Rongpur, Parbatipur through the stations of Chyangrabandha, Bhotpatti, Moynaguri and Domohoni branched deep into the woodlands, as far as Ramsai. Here one could see large logs of timber wood being loaded and offloaded all day onto trains.
While timber ruled trade here, the tiger was the king of the jungle with the elephant giving it a close fight for territory. Like the timber, the tiger is also now an endangered species here.
Things to do at Lataguri
Jungle Safari is the primary activity out here. Only day jeep safaris are available from Forest department authorities. The route starts from the Forest Department’s Territorial Range Office covering the Chhaoaphuli jungle, Borodighi forest and tea garden, Lataguri Reserve Forest, Neora river, Kalakhaoa watch-tower, and the Gorumara National Park. The elephant, rhino, bison, peacocks, wild boars, langurs wild fowls are the most common sightings of this safari. If you are lucky you may also see the leopards.
The tour to Gorumara National Park is very popular with the tourists and covers visits to River Murti, Jaldhaka and Ingdong that flow in and around this park. This park is the haunt of a great variety of flora and fauna.
Lataguri Sightseeing
There is no end to places to see here:
Kalamati: Take a car and an expert guide to this place to catch a glimpse of elephants, leopards and bisons.
Khagrijan Mayuribon: These are a network of abandoned railway routes at Bichadanga, Lataguri. It is the haunt of peacocks and so, the name Mayuribon that means ‘the forest (bon) of peacocks (mayur)’. The Forest Department offers a trolley ride along these tracks. The track runs through a line of local trees like aamloki, shishu, khayer, boyera, chalta, dandakolosh and kalmegh. If you are lucky you can catch the peacock dancing among the trees. You can also see other birds like the wild jungle-fowl and animals like deers and squirrels.
From here you can proceed to visit more places such as Borodighi tea garden, Chhaoaphuli jungle (also an abode peacocks), Kalakhaoa watch-tower, Neora river, Chel river, Dhorola river, South Kantadighi village, Neora tea garden, Chikanmati Aviary, Hajaar Chaushotti (which means Thousand and sixty-four in Bengali) village, and Sursatipur forest village.
On the way you can enjoy the beauty of the yellow fields full of the local bhaat-flower and rustic roads lined with mango, jackfrttit, arecanut and bamboo trees. Fields of paddy and jute will also come by.
Other things to see around include Chekendar Bhandari village, Kranri bazaar, the Bhandari Baba temple, Nishandoba canal, and the Gorumara Nature Interpretation Centre.
You can also visit the weekly haat (market) on Thursdays at Mangalbari. Here you can see how trade happens between the local farmers, small traders and the rural consumers and get hold of some local products too.
How to reach Lataguri
The Nearest railway station is around 20 kms away and takes around 40 mins. However, nearest railway station to Lataguri is New Jalpaiguri, which is around 50 kms away. The nearest Airport is Bagdogra, which is 67 kms away.
Best time to visit Lataguri
You can visit Lataguri anytime of the year. However, the jungles are mostly closed to tourists from around mid-June to mid-September when there is very heavy rainfall.
Accommodation at Lataguri
LOCATION: Beside Gorumara forest within tea garden
FACILITIES: Lawn, Parking, Gazebo, Landscaped garden, Generator, Campfire arrangement, Driver’s accommodation, Attached western bathroom, Geyser, TV in room, Dining hall.
ROOM TYPES: AC Double Bed room, AC Double Bed Cottage.
LOCATION: Beside Gorumara forest
FACILITIES: Lawn, Parking, Gazebo, Generator, Campfire arrangement, Driver’s accommodation, Attached western bathroom, Geyser, TV in room, Dining hall.
ROOM TYPES: Non AC Double Bed, Non AC Triple Bed, Non AC Four Bed.
To drop an enquiry click here