BY RAVINDER PALL SAINI,
INDIAN FOREST SERVICE (RETIRED)
MEMBER, BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
FOREST RESEARCH UNIVERSITY,
DEHRADUN.
DEHRADUN, 19 FEBRUARY 2024:
Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) lies in Alipurduar Sub Division of Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. Its Northern boundary runs 65 Km along the international border with Bhutan. The Sinchula hill range lies all along the Northern side of BTR and the Eastern boundary about 35Km touches that of the Assam State. National Highway No.31 C roughly runs along its Southern boundary.
It is the Eastern most extension of extreme Bio-diverse North-East India and represents highly endemic Indo-Malayan region flora and fauna. The fragile “Terai Eco-System” also constitutes a part of this Reserve. The Phipsu Wildlife Sanctuary of Bhutan is contiguous to North of BTR. Manas National Park lies on East of BTR.
It serves as an important corridor for Asiatic Elephant migration between India – Bhutan and neighbouring State of Assam. To the South-West, the Chilapata Forests form a wild life corridor to the Jaldapara National Park. The Reserve encompasses as many as ten forest types. The Head Quarter is located at Alipurduar. The Forest is divided into two Divisions, i.e. East and West.
Buxa Fort is an important landmark for this Reserve. This fort was captured by the British-India in 1865 after the Duars War from Bhutan. Later this fort was used as Detention Camp for the Indian Freedom fighters during the Indian Freedom Movement.
HOW TO REACH :
Nearest Airport: Bagdogra – 195 km away
Nearest Rail Station: Alipurduar Junction / New Alipurduar – 17 km
Nearest Town/ City: Alipurduar – 17 km
By Road: NH 31 is the main highway. One can hire a Jeep from Alipurduar.
A 5 Km Trek from Buxaduar Range Office. Apart from Natural Biodiverse Forest around there is a historical détente camp of British period and a Heritage Museum depicting history and old records.
History of Buxa: Fort and Detente Camp:
07th December, 1864: Britishers capture Buxa Fort after 2nd Indo-Bhutan War.
11th November, 1865: Sinchula Treaty between British Govt. & Bhutan Govt.
by virtue of which entire Dooars area annexed to India.
Year 1873 : Permanent Army Cantonment Established Posting of a Regiment of Native Infantry at Buxa with three fortified pickets in North-West Picket (2750 ft.), Magdala Picket (2700 ft.) and Conical Hill (2300 ft.) on three sides.
Year 1867 – 68 & Year 1874 – 76 : Buxa declared as Sub- Division.
Year 1930 – 37 & Year 1942 – 47 : Used as Detente Camp for Freedom Fighters.
Year 1948-51: Detente Camp for keeping members of Communist Party of India (declared as illegal).
Year 1959-69: Refugee Camp for Tibetan refugees.
Year 1970-71: Refugee Camp for Bangladeshi refugees.
Year 1976-77: PWD removes all barracks, fittings, CGI sheets, pipes etc.
11th May, 1981: Declared as ‘Historical Monument’ under West Bengal Preservation of Historical Monuments and Objects and Excavation of Archaeological Sites Act, 1957 (West Bengal Act XXI of 1957).
It is now being maintained by Buxa Tiger Reserve as an Ecotourism Spot.
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