Discover one of North Bengal’s richest forests – Buxa Tiger Reserve, home to the Flycatchers, Minivets, Hornbills, butterflies, and rare orchids. Join me for 4 days of unforgettable birding, butterflies & nature walks!
• Dates: 29th Nov – 2nd Dec 2025
• Duration: 3 Nights / 4 Days
• Pick-up & Drop: New Alipurduar to New Alipurduar
Day 1 | Arrival & Birding and Butterflying in different trails
🚉 Morning pick-up from New Alipurduar
🏡 Check-in at homestay → Refresh and have Breakfast, introduction
🐦 Morning birding and 🦋 butterflying – Forest outskirts
🍽️ Return to homestay → Lunch
🌊 Afternoon birding and 🦋 butterflying – Jayanti riverbed
☕ Evening tea + group discussion + sightings review
🍲 Dinner & overnight stay
Day 2 | Jayanti Forest Safari & Mahakal Trails
🚙 Early morning → Jungle Safari at Buxa Tiger Reserve Forest Safari for bird watching – Jayanti forest
🏡 Return to homestay → Refresh and have Breakfast
🦋 Butterflying & riverside birding with Bhutan hills view
🍽️ Return to homestay → Lunch
⛰️ Afternoon walk to Mahakal caves
☕ Evening tea + sightings review
🍲 Dinner & overnight stay
Day 3 | Jayanti Forest & Mahakal Trails
🚙 Early morning Forest Safari for bird watching – Jayanti forest
🏡 Return to homestay → Refresh and have Breakfast
🦋 Butterflying & riverside birding with Bhutan hills view
🍽️ Return to homestay → Lunch
🌿 Afternoon walk to different trails
☕ Evening tea + sightings review
🍲 Dinner & overnight stay
Day 4 | Departure via Rajabhatkhawa
🐦 Early morning birding & 🦋 butterflying
🏡 Return to homestay → Refresh and have Breakfast
🦋 Butterflying & riverside birding with Bhutan hills view
🍽️ Return to homestay → Lunch
📝 Post Lunch → sightings review
🏛️ Visit to Nature Interpretation Centre, Rajabhatkhawa (if time permits)
🚗 Drive back to New Alipurduar (if required NJP / Bagdogra with additional cab fare)
🚆 Evening arrival → Tour ends
🏡 Accommodation (twin/triple sharing depending on team members size and requirement)
🍴 Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea & snacks
🚙 Transport (Sumo/Bolero, 5–6 pax per car)
🎟️ Guide & entry fees
✨ A perfect mix of birding, butterflies, forest walks & culture — this Buxa trip is designed for nature lovers of all levels.
If you are looking to trade city noise for the symphony of the forest, the Buxa Tiger Reserve in North Bengal is the ultimate sanctuary. Recently, a group of 23 nature enthusiasts embarked on a specialized birding and butterflying tour from November 29th to December 2nd, 2025, exploring the rich biodiversity of this region. Led by mentor Supratim Deb, the trip offered an intimate look at some of India’s most colorful avian and lepidopteran residents.
The adventure began with a morning pick-up from New Alipurduar station. After a scenic one-hour drive, the group arrived at their homestays located right beside the Jayanti riverbed, offering stunning views of the Bhutan hills. After a quick breakfast of local favorites like ruti and ghugni, the team headed out to the forest outskirts for their first birding and butterflying session. The day concluded with a peaceful walk along the riverbed and an evening discussion to review the day’s sightings.
Day two started early with a Jayanti Forest Safari. One of the major highlights was spotting the Great Hornbill, a vulnerable species often seen in this area. Along the trails, lucky visitors might also spot Barking Deer or find the pugmarks of leopards and paw prints of peacocks in the soft sand.
A fascinating highlight of the afternoon was witnessing “mud-puddling” near the river. This is a unique behavior where butterflies—mostly males—gather on moist soil or riverbanks to suck up essential minerals and salts required for their health and reproduction. Later, the group trekked toward the Mahakal caves, a journey through the rocky riverbed that requires special forest permits.
The third day focused on exploring different forest trails and the Rajabhatkhawa safari. Buxa is famous for its vertical migration, where birds from higher Himalayan altitudes descend to the plains during the winter to escape the cold.
• Birds: Green-billed Malkoha, Oriental Pied-Hornbill, Crested Kingfisher, and Red-billed Leiothrix.
• Butterflies: Bluebottles, Silverlines, Jezebels, Nawabs, and Peacocks.
• Animals: Elephants, Hog Deer, Sambar, and Gaur (Indian Bison).
Before heading back to the station, the group visited the Butterfly Garden at Rajabhatkhawa, managed in part by the NGO NatureMates. This educational center showcases the life cycle of butterflies, from larvae feeding on specific host plants to the emergence of beautiful species like the Common Rose and Common Mormon from their pupae. The trip ended with a visit to the Nature Interpretation Centre, which displays various aspects of the forest’s wildlife.
• Identification: Bringing a pair of binoculars and a camera is highly recommended for spotting and documenting smaller birds.
• Documentation: Always carry a photocopy of your Aadhar card, as it is required for various forest permits and check-posts.
• Best Time for Butterflies: While birds are best seen at dawn, butterflies are most active once the sun is up, typically between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
• Accommodation: Expect basic but comfortable homestays with essential amenities like geysers for the chilly winter mornings.
Buxa and Jayanti offer a perfect blend of adventure and serenity. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or someone simply looking to reconnect with nature, this hidden corner of North Bengal will leave you enchanted.
