Forest Treks

                                                 NATURE TRAIL AT 
                                                                   DOGACHI FOREST

Dogachi,  one of the best and the biggest forest of Dakshin Dinajpur is at about six k.m. away from Balurghat town. It is well connected by both road and railway. The nearest railway station is about 3 km away from Dogachi. It offers a vast scenic and pristine sites of tourist interest. It is one of the pride owner of the most unique ecosystem with rich biodiversity in flora and avian species in Dakshin Dinajpur. This forest can be divided into 5 parts or 5 different spots.  The plan and proposal aims at launching a focused programme of organized ecotourism activities around the 5 spots.

MAP OF DOGACHI FOREST

 

SPOT NO.1 : As per the map spot no 1 is an unidentified virgin spot where a parallel picnic spot can be developed to lower the burden of spot no. 2. Because spot no. 2 has to tolerate huge rushes of visitors during the winter season.

SPOT NO.2 : The total area of this spot can be utilized for picnic so that the picnic parties should not have to be confined to a small place of this big spot. More sitting arrangements can be made like the present arrangements. 

SPOT NO. 3:It is basically an island in the forest surrounded by the Kashiya creek.It is isolated from the main land.  To protect and save the environment of the forest, picnics should not be allowed in this region.  There are huge varieties of birds both resident and migratory  found  in this area. A project for setting up a deer park in this area had once been started. If this project starts functioning, it will be a great place of tourist attraction. So immediate programmes should be taken up to materialize the project.

SPOT NO.4 :.. This is another spot which has led to Kashipur forest and it is dense enough compared to other spots. This is totally a virgin spot.  The ecotourism activities will be projected in this particular spot.

SPOT NO.5 :This is also a part of the forest and can be utilized for hiking and adventure tourism. 

VISITOR ACTIVITIES INSIDE THE FOREST

   1.   Trekking and forest walks

   2.   Boat ride

   3.   Village visits

   4.   Accommodation in tents

     5.   Cultural evenings

     6.   Jungle camp fire

     7.   Botanical tours

     8.   Different varieties of fauna watching

     9.   Nature photography 

      10.  Deer park visit

      11.  Watch tower visit

   12.  Adventure tourism

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF FACILITIES FOR THE TOURISTS

     1.           Hiking , trekking and walking in the forest is a major tourist activity which if carried out carefully and responsibly is not destructive to environment and provides educational and recreational value to the tourists. These will be aligned to pass through places of scenic beauty or ecological uniqueness.

Along the trails at certain spots, view points or resting places are to be built out of bamboos with thatched roofs.

   2.                  Boat rides in Kashiya creek throughout the forest can be  major attractions for the tourists. For this, boats are to be introduced here. And the most important thing is to hold the water of the creek because the creek remains dry throughout the year except the rainy season. Small dams can be made at  both the ends of the creek.

  3.          Adjacent to the forest, there are two villages on both sides of the forest.   The tourist can visit the village and can interact with the villagers and can share experiences. Also they can visit a local market (locally known as haat)held on every Sunday at Dogachi.

  4.                       There will be tented accommodation inside the forest with attached toilet and water supply. These tents must be set up at identified sites which are of tourist interests.

  5.       The tourists can enjoy cultural evenings while staying in the camps. Folk artists can be recruited for the purpose to entertain the tourists with their folk songs and dances.

  6.                     Camp fire on demand can be arranged for the tourists at night on open field on their stay in the tents.

          

     7.                 As the forest is rich in different types of plants, herbs , shrubs, trees, so different botanical tours can be arranged in the forest for tourists, interested in this field. Also educational tours can be arranged for the students.

          8.               Dogachi is a heaven for bird lovers. Different types of birds, both resident and migratory can be found here.  Some rare birds can also be found here. Also different types of butterflies, and insects are also found here. So it is an important place for birding. Moreover birding camps can be arranged in the forest for the bird lovers.

      9.             Photographers of different segments like the nature photographers, bird photographers, butterfly photographers both amateur and professional will be attracted towards the pristine beauty of the forest. So photography tours  can be arranged in the forest. 

 

   10.                    Couple of years ago construction of a deer park was started. But due to some unavoidable circumstances it was not completed. Majority of the work has been completed.  If once it gets started in full fledge, many tourists will be attracted.

   11.                          A watch tower must be built at any spot in the forest from where the tourists can enjoy wide ranging panoramic views of the landscape and also can spot birds.

    12.         The tourists coming to DOGACHI can also enjoy adventure tourism. Along with forest hiking, this will include river crossing on rope where the tourists have to harness themselves to a loop and cross the creek on a rope suspended between trees on either side. Also there will remain canopy walking for enthusiastic tourists along the forest for a short distance. Provision of staying in tree houses will also be there.

  13.                The tourists coming to Dogachi forest can also visit an ancient mosque some 300 metres away form the forest. The monument deserves the status of a heritage site to be declared by the state heritage commission. 

So to utilize the potentiality of the forest of DOGACHI and to materialize the project, basic infrastructure development is required.  Moreover tourists coming to DOGACHI can enjoy visiting not only the nearby tourist spots of Dakshin Dinajpur but also can enjoy the history and heritages of neighbouring districts like Maldah and Uttar Dinajpur.

                                                   ON BEHALF OF DISHARI SANKOLPO
                                                                               PLAN AND PROPOSAL PREPARED BY 
                                                                                                     SUMAN GHOSH
                                                                                      E-MAIL : ghoshsuman90@yahoo.in