• Alipurduar district, West Bengal, India
  • 26.5679° N, 89.5313° E
  • 4-21 °C Nov-Feb, 15-28 °C Mar-Apr and 16-32 °C May-Oct
  • mid-May to mid-Oct and average annual rainfall is 382 cm.
  • INR
  • Bengali, Hindi, Nepali

General Information About Chilapata

Although Chilapata is a renowned and dense forest, still it is yet to get any honour for National Park or Reserve Forest. Chilapata forest comes under Jalpaiguri district in eastern Dooars and closes to Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary. Enriched with flora and fauna Chilapata forest forms an elephant corridor between Jaldapara National Park and Buxa Tiger Reserve. The ecological boundary of Chilapata spreads along the banks of Bania river in the east and river Torsha in the west. Both rivers bring fresh monsoon alluvial to support and protect the grassland ecosystem of the forest.

Chilapata in Dooars is a dense forest and offers the genuine flavour of wild-life in the wilderness. Going through the forest is really thrilling to feel like cutting a green wall. Once famous for its terror of bandits, the forest has become one of the major visiting places for the visitors travelling in Dooars. Chilapata forest features the wonders of wildlife in the real colour of nature.

Chilapata is a hub of wild animals. It used to have a large number of one-horned rhinos. But the ruthless killing by the King of Coochbehar during the last leg of the 19th century brought to dwindling of the population of rhinos. Apart from one-horned rhinos, a large number of elephants, bison, deer, leopard, lesser cats, cheetal, sambar, barking deer, wild boar etc. are available in the forest.

Reptiles like python, krait, cobra, water monitor and freshwater turtles enrich the wildlife of Chilapata forest make it one of the most precious treasures in Dooars.

Chilapata is also one of the favourite destinations for bird watchers in Dooars. The forest boasts about its colourful and beautiful birds like a fishing eagle, shikara, crested eagle, jungle fowl, peaceful partridge, Bengal florican, paradise flycatchers, racket tailed drongo, pied hornbill etc. Chilapata also is known for its butterfly species of diversity.

Best time to visit
Many of North Bengal areas remains in beautiful atmospheric condition from the month of September to the month of February. Therefore, this time is the most suitable to visit Chilapata.