The state forest department has decided to introduce adventure sports like cycling and mountain biking on the fringes of Neora Valley National Park — located on the border of Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong districts — to draw more tourists and adventure enthusiasts in the region.
Dwijapratim Sen, the divisional forest officer of Gorumara wildlife division, said a survey was conducted to identify probable routes where such adventure sports would be introduced.
“We will launch the facility during winter season this year. The idea is to promote adventure sports and provide facilities to tourists to enjoy stretches of pristine forests, mountains and tea gardens,” he said.
The department, he said, has identified locations like Samsing, Suntalekhola, Kumai and Mandalgaon — located in Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong districts.
“The routes have been identified in such a manner so that cyclists or bikers do not move into wildlife habitats. Forest guards will be there on the routes to extend help. Initially, we will start the facility between Samsing and Suntalekhola,” the DFO added.
In north Bengal, adventure sports like mountain biking are getting popular these days. Also, bikers in groups are visiting the region to take a trip to Sikkim and Bhutan. In Darjeeling, rock climbing is already popular among tourists while paragliding and white water rafting in the Teesta has come up as another popular adventure sport in Kalimpong district.
“However, in Dooars, other than some trekking routes like Santalabari to Buxa Fort, adventure tourism or sports is not so popular. There are many options to introduce such sports in this part of north Bengal,” said Bhaskar Das, a member of the governing council of Indian Mountaineering Federation.
“We appreciate the initiative but the charges should be rational. Exorbitant rates
will not encourage people to turn up in these areas,” said Das.
He mentioned that around 15 years back, a trial run was conducted by the state forest department in some of these routes to introduce the sports.
“However, no further initiative was taken and the plan failed. This time, it seems that the plan will work out,” Das added.
