• Alipurduar District, West Bengal, India
  • 26.62°N 89.53°E
  • 5-21 °C Nov-Feb, 16-29 °C Mar-Apr and 18-35 °C May-Oct
  • mid-May to mid-Oct and average annual rainfall is 382 cm.
  • INR
  • Bengali, Hindi, English, Nepali

General Information About Rajabhatkhawa

Rajabhatkhawa in Dooars is the gateway to Buxa Tiger Reserve. Surrounded by dense forests Rajabhatkhawa is a pictorial forest village located adjacent to Buxa Tiger Reserve. It is an ideal place to visit for the wilderness lovers in Dooars. Within the premises of Rajabhatkhawa, there is a watchtower. The watchtower is enclosed by dense forest which gives the best opportunity to the visitors to spot elephant, bison and even tiger. There is a story behind the name of the village. It is said that in 1800, the king of Cooch Behar vowed to never eat rice if he did not manage to dethrone the ruler of Bhutan from the area where the village thrives now. After some time, the monarch of Bhutan himself agreed to leave and as a gesture of amity, the kings met and had a feast of rice in the dense forest. That gave the village its name. The Nature Interpretation Center at Rajabhatkhawa is a major attraction. This centre provides the visitor with an insight into what the Buxa Tiger Reserve has to offer in terms of flora, fauna, and ecological diversity.

The small, sweltering border town of Phuentsholing sits opposite the much The Animal Rescue Centre of Rajabhatkhawa is another popular tourist attraction of this place. The Animal Rescue Centre is where the injured leopards and tigers are treated until they are normal before they are released back in the forests. Here visitors may watch Tiger, Leopard, Bison and some other animals. The Orchidarium of Rajabhatkhawa is another tourist destination of this serene forest village. This Orchidarium houses more than 1500 species of delicate orchids. Rajabhatkhawa is also a must-visit destination for the avid bird watchers. There are a number of bird species along with migratory species are seen here. Forktails, Goosanders, Ibis Bill are few among them. Wildlife safaris, bird watching and trekking are the prime attractions for tourists visiting Rajabhatkhawa. According to officials of the forest department, 32 types of creepers and herbs, 112 breeds of orchids and more than 150 species of trees are found in the emerald greenwoods enclosing this quaint hamlet. Places of attraction nearby include Chilapata, Jayanti and the Buxa fort. Winter is the best time to visit Rajabhatkhawa. It is better to avoid the monsoon if visitors want to indulge in activities like trekking. The forests remain closed from June 15 to September 15 every year.

Best Time To Visit Rajabhatkhawa

Visiting the place is best done in winters between the months of October and March. The temperatures are lower and make it easier for you to travel in the sun. Also, the Buxa Tiger Reserve is closed between June and September for tourists. So going in monsoons becomes pointless.