State launches ‘Dooars Darshan’ bicycle tourism at Buxa Tiger Reserve

MP | 16 July 2023 | Alipurduar: Want to explore the pristine jungles on a bicycle- Buxa Tiger Reserve in the Alipurduar district is the right place to visit. The district administration launched bicycle tourism “Dooars Darshan,” at the Reserve on Sunday. 

The charges are nominal too and will not pinch the pocket- Rs 50 for a two-hour-long ride in the forest. Alipurduar District Magistrate, Surendra Kumar Meena, inaugurated this adventure tourism project on Sunday morning. 

Praveen Kaswan, the Deputy Field Director of Buxa Tiger Project West, along with other government officials, were present at the inauguration. For the time being, the cycle tourism will run on the route from Damanpur Range Office of Buxa Tiger Reserve to Rajabhatkhawa, Rajabhatkhawa to Dima Bridge, and Majherdabri Tea Garden. 

The Alipurduar district administration has handed over five all-terrain bicycles to a women’s self-help group in Rajabhatkhawa, at a total cost of seventy thousand rupees. Soon, this bicycle tourism will also be introduced in Chilapata under the Jaldapara National Park. 

The district administration is hopeful that the cycle tourism will become an instant hit. They claim that the government has created the first such opportunity for forest travel in the state. 

The money collected from the cycle trips will be distributed among the members of the women’s self-help groups under the Joint Forest Management Scheme. The members of the self-help group can increase the number of bicycles if necessary with the dividend money. District Magistrate Surendra Kumar Meena said: “Alipurduar district is a goldmine of forests and tourism.
This bicycle adventure tourism started with a little thought development. Hope this bicycle tourism will become very popular very soon. 

With the feedback of the people, this ‘Dooars Darshan’ cycle project will be introduced in other tourist centres of the district as well. We will also introduce special bus services to travel around different tourist spots of Dooars, soon.” 

Safety will be given priority. It has been made mandatory for riders to wear helmets during bicycle tours. Kabita Subba, a member of the women’s self-help group, said: “We hope we will benefit from this bicycle tourism. 

We are anticipating heavy demand once the word spreads about bicycle adventure tourism. We have got five bicycles as of now and plan to buy more depending on the demand.”

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/state-launches-dooars-darshan-bicycle-tourism-at-buxa-tiger-reserve-525819