Jalpaiguri
Jalpaiguri is also a district of West Bengal, neighbour of the Coochbehar district and more famous for its Tea Gardens and as the doorstep to the northern state of Sikkim and the country of Bhutan . The district has dense forests and extensive tea gardens. Jute pressing, saw-milling and match manufacturing are the major industries.

The Buxa Duar Fort
Popularly known as the Gateway to the Kingdom of Bhutan , the Buxa Duar Fort stands at a height of 867 meter on top of a hill on the India-Bhutan border. About 50 km from Coochbehar, this is a good overnight excursion. Though the Fort is almost destroyed now, it has strong historical associations. It fell in the hands of the British in 1864 by ousting its Bhutanese occupants. In 1930 the Fort was restructured in parts and was converted into a prison house. Many freedom fighters were kept confined here. Later the Fort also gave shelter to the Tibetan refugees who had fled Tibet with the Dalai Lama in 1959.

Today some renovation is on with a project to set up a museum within the Fort complex being undertaken. The Buxa Tiger Reserve has been set up around the Buxa Duar Fort. A part of the Chilapata Forests, it covers an area of 765 sq. km. The core area, however, occupies 304 sq. km. The Reserve is home to 67 species of mammals, including 23 endangered ones. According to the census, there are tigers, leopards, elephants, and a large number of wild boars, bison and many other animals. About 230 species of birds and innumerable butterflies add colour to the forest.

The Reserve serves as a vital linking corridor for elephants migrating between the forests of Bhutan in the north and the Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam in the east. To the east of Kalimpong and bordering Bhutan are vast stretches of virgin forests and lush green countryside known as the Duars or The Gateway. Here, the turbulent Tista River and its tributaries flow through the foothills of the Himalayas . Home to several endangered species, the Duars terrain is filled with wildlife, nature and adventure. A must visit place to enjoy the nature's bliss.

The Jaldapara Wildlfe Sanctuary
The Jaldapara Wildlfe Sanctuary with an area of 216.51 sq km is a mosaic of woods, grassland, swamps and streams with great diversity of fauna and flora. It is located in the eastern part of Jalpaiguri district not far away from Coochbehar. The River Torsha runs through the Sanctuary. The forest is mainly savannah covered with tall elephant grasses.

The Jaldapara Sanctuary is home for the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros. Herds of elephants can frequently be found using it as feeding grounds. Hog deer, spotted deer, barking deer and sambar are found, as are the Indian Bison. Tigers and leopards can be spotted too. There is also a leopard-breeding centre at Jaldapara. The Sanctuary is home for some rare species like the hispid hare, hog badger, wild boar and sloth bears are found here. A rich and varied avifauna is found here as well like the Crested Eagle, Pallas's Fishing Eagle and Shikra. Jungle fowl, peafowl, partridges, the Bengal Florican and Pied Hornbill with Python, monitor lizards, cobras, geckos and about 8 species of fresh water turtles add to the beauty. Besides wildlife viewing, there is scope for unusual holiday activities like elephant riding and leisurely strolls through the towering grass.

Another major town is Siliguri. A crucial junction which is the doorway to North Bengal, Sikkim and Bhutan , it is also a major intersection in the road transportation network to north-east India. Rapidly emerging as a new commercial hub, Siliguri owes its prosperity to the tea and orange trades. More than anything else, the major attraction of Siliguri in recent years remains its Hong Kong Market, a virtual Pandora''s Box for foreign goods of all kinds.