Dooars and the Terai · tour package Nº 87296
Dooars family weekend from Siliguri in 2 nights
Most Siliguri families do the Dooars as a weekend, and it works: Lataguri is only about 80 km and 2 hours away, and one good watchtower session can show you gaur, elephants and peacocks at close range. Families from Kolkata can join by taking the Kanchankanya Express from Sealdah on Friday night to New Mal Junction, about 10 km from Lataguri, and the same train back on Sunday night.
We keep it easy. One safari in the afternoon of day 1 or the morning of day 2, never both on the first day. Lunch where children can run around. A slow hour at the Murti river, where the water is shallow and clear in winter. Weekend safari slots go fast, especially from November to February, so book as early as booking opens. Gorumara closes from mid-June to mid-September; check current status before you travel.
Fare chart
Pick your class
The same route at three price levels. The difference is the room, the car and the meals, never the safety or the permits.
Indicative 2026 fares. Punch a ticket to choose a class; your written quote follows.
Day by day
The timetable
- Day1
Siliguri to Lataguri and a river afternoon
Leave Siliguri by 8 am, cross the Coronation Bridge at Sevoke and drive through the Mahananda forest and the tea gardens of Odlabari and Malbazar. Kolkata families arriving at New Mal on the Kanchankanya Express are met at the station. Check in at Lataguri and have lunch. In the afternoon drive 15 km to Murti, where the river runs shallow and clear over stones in winter and children can paddle at the edge under supervision. Stay off the banks after dark; elephants cross here. Back in Lataguri, many lodges arrange an evening folk-dance programme for a small fee.
- Day2
Gorumara safari and tea gardens
Take a morning watchtower safari: the jeep runs to Jatraprasad, Chukchuki or the Rhino Observation Point, where you sit above a salt lick for about an hour. Gaur, elephant, sambar and peacocks are common; rhinos come out less often. Each jeep holds six and costs about ₹2,500–3,500 with the watchtower, indicative 2026. Gorumara safaris are usually closed on Thursdays; check current status before you travel. After breakfast, drive to Chalsa for the tea gardens and the view over the Chapramari forest. Pluckers are at work from March to November. Late afternoon, a second safari or a rest by the lodge.
- Day3
Jalpesh temple and home
After breakfast drive about 30 minutes south to the Jalpesh temple near Maynaguri, a Shiva temple first built in 1524 under Bishwa Singha of the Koch dynasty and rebuilt later. It is the site of a large fair at Mahashivratri. Shoes come off at the gate; a small donation is customary. Then drive back to Siliguri through Jalpaiguri town or via Malbazar, about 2.5 hours. Kolkata families have the day free and take the evening Kanchankanya Express from New Mal; check the timetable, which changes. Siliguri families are home by mid-afternoon.
Included
- 2 nights in your chosen tier, twin sharing
- Breakfast and dinner
- Car from Siliguri, NJP, Bagdogra or New Mal and back
- One Gorumara safari on budget, two on comfort and premium
- Safari booking on the official forest department system
Not included
- Train tickets from Kolkata
- Lunches
- Evening dance programmes and temple donations
- Camera and guide fees at the park
- Personal expenses
Make it cheaper
- Go Sunday to Tuesday instead of Friday to Sunday; mid-week rooms and safaris are cheaper and easier to get.
- Use a bus or shared vehicle from Siliguri to Lataguri at ₹100–200 a seat, indicative 2026, and hire a car only for the safari day.
- Pick a watchtower slot instead of a long jeep circuit; it costs less and often shows more animals.
Good to know
- Gorumara is closed from mid-June to mid-September, and safaris are usually closed on Thursdays. Check current status before you travel.
- Carry the original photo ID used for safari booking for every adult; children may need age proof.
- Lataguri's main road carries highway traffic; hold small children's hands on evening walks.
- Mosquito repellent is useful all year, and essential from April to October.
- During Durga Puja and from 24 December to 1 January, weekend rates can double; book months ahead.
The route
Where you could sleep
Stays on this route
Questions people ask
About this package
Is two nights enough for the Dooars
Two nights is enough for Gorumara alone: one or two watchtower safaris, the Murti river, tea gardens and the Jalpesh temple. It is not enough for Jaldapara too, which is another 2.5 hours east. For both parks, take our 4-night wildlife trip. For a first family visit from Siliguri or Kolkata, a weekend at Lataguri is a good start.
How do we reach Lataguri from Kolkata
The simplest way is the overnight Kanchankanya Express from Sealdah to New Mal Junction, about 10 km from Lataguri, then a car or auto. Sleeper fares are about ₹400–550, indicative 2026. You can also take any overnight train to NJP and drive 2–2.5 hours, or fly to Bagdogra. Timetables change, so check current status before you travel.
What can children see on a Gorumara safari
From the watchtowers, children commonly see gaur, the large wild cattle, plus elephants, sambar and barking deer, peafowl and hornbills. Rhinos appear on some days. Sightings are never guaranteed. Children need to stay quiet for about an hour in the tower, so bring binoculars and a small notebook to keep them busy.
Is Murti river safe for children
In winter the Murti is shallow, clear and slow at the usual spots near the lodges, and children can paddle at the edge with an adult. Do not let them go into the current, and avoid the river after rain, when it rises fast. Leave the banks before dusk, because elephants cross the river in the evening.
How much does a Dooars weekend cost for a family of four
On our budget tier, about ₹24,000 for two adults and two children sharing one room, indicative 2026, including lodge, breakfast and dinner, a car from Siliguri and one safari. Comfort runs about ₹40,000–45,000. Children under 5 usually stay free; ask about extra beds. Train fares from Kolkata are extra.
Are there resorts with a pool near Gorumara
A few. Sinclairs Retreat Dooars at Chalsa, about 20 minutes from Lataguri, has a pool and is our premium pick for families. Some private resorts at Lataguri also have small pools. Government lodges and family-run hotels do not. Pools may be closed in winter for cleaning, so ask when you book.
Can we do the Dooars in the monsoon
The parks close from mid-June to mid-September, so there are no safaris. You can still stay at Lataguri, Murti or Samsing for the green tea gardens and rain-fed rivers, at much lower rates. Rivers rise quickly and some roads flood. For a family weekend with safaris, choose October to May. Check current status before you travel.
What food is available at Lataguri
Lodges serve Bengali home food: rice, dal, fish curry, chicken, egg curry and vegetables, with rotis. Local river fish, bamboo-shoot and leafy-green dishes appear when the cook is from the area; ask for them. Roadside dhabas sell thalis for ₹100–200, indicative 2026. Ask lodges for less spicy food for children; they are used to it.
Which day of the week is Gorumara closed
Gorumara safaris are usually closed on Thursdays, as we understand the current rule, and the park closes completely from mid-June to mid-September. If your weekend runs Thursday to Saturday, take the safari on Friday morning. Lodges, the Murti river and the tea gardens stay open. Check current status before you travel.
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