There’s good news! Pretty soon, you won’t have to go all the way to Kashmir to enjoy a picturesque shikara ride. Reason? West Bengal is set to get its first ever shikara ride, as informed by Tourism Minister Babul Supriyo.
Speaking to reporters, Babul Supriyo revealed that the Gajoldoba tourist complex in Jalpaiguri district will soon host the launch of shikara rides. For the uninitiated, Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal is situated in the northern part of Bengal, which is synonymous with mountains and tourism. Situated in the western south of the Himalayan foothills, Gajoldoba is a small village lying on the west of Teesta River, 10kms from Siliguri.
West Bengal Set To Get Shikara Rides Soon
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Still an unpopular destination, Gajoldoba is a local tourist spot that mostly finds itself included in itineraries of Dooars trips when tourists visit this part of the state.
But the West Bengal government has plans to amp up Gajoldoba and turn it into a major tourist spot. The shikara rides are going to be a part of this massive project. Babul Supriyo revealed that the West Bengal shikara rides are going to be better and prettier than the ones at Dal Lake and are aiming to provide an unforgettable experience to tourists.
This offbeat tourist spot is famous because of the first reservoir built in the Teesta basin for irrigation purposes. But, did you know it is also famous for being a birder’s paradise? Gajoldoba is surrounded by the Baikunthapur forest, which lures many migratory birds from Ladakh and regions in Central Asia, like the Little Grebe, Bar-headed Goose, Greylag Goose, Lesser Whistling Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Indian Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Indian Pond Heron, Grey and Purple Heron, Northern and River Lapwing, Grey-headed Lapwing, and many more.
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Sailing in the river to these birds is going to be a beautiful experience.
All Images: Courtesy Shutterstock
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