The Riverwood Forest Retreat

Surrounded by lush tea gardens, verdant forests, beautiful blue hills, and a placid lake, the Riverwood Forest Retreat Dooars by Waxpol Hotels and Resorts promises tranquil environs and an unparalleled tryst with nature. Located on the fringes of the Gorumara National Park at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in the northern region of West Bengal, the retreat offers an opportunity to experience the vast open grasslands, riverine forests, swamps, and streams that make up the terrain of the region.

The Dooars or Duars are alluvial floodplains located at the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in North East India. Dooar literally means ‘door’ and the region forms the gateway to Bhutan. There are 18 gateways between the hills in Bhutan and the plains, divided into Western (Bengal) and Eastern (Assam) Dooars. The Riverwood Retreat is nestled in the midst of an extraordinary landscape.  The breathtaking beauty of the region is discovered in its tea gardens and dense jungles, home to many wildlife sanctuaries, and national parks which is home to rare species like the one-horned Indian Rhino, the Red Panda, the Asiatic Black bear, elephants, and leopards. The retreat makes for a great base for safaris and treks into Gorumara, Jaldapara, and Neora parks.

There is just so much on the offer here: game drives and birding tours in the forest, guided nature walks and treks, cultural experiences on village walks, and watchtower hopping in the hope of chance sightings of elephants and Rhinoceros. There are also trails that lead to the sight of the Murti River and (on a clear day) Kanchenjunga, safaris, treks in national parks, anthropological tours with interaction with the local tribes, bush cooking, and savoring local dishes influenced by the Bhutanese, Nepali, Adibasi, Gorkha, and Assamese people.

Location

Situated on the periphery of the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in Northern West Bengal on the banks of the Murti river, the Riverwood Forest Retreat is located only 12km from Gorumara National Park. The River Murti is renowned for its Indian One Horned Rhinoceros, Elephant, Indian Gaur (Bison), Muntjac and Leopard population along with other wild animals.

Things to know

  • The nearest airport is Bagdogra (80 km/2.5 hours). Chalsa is the nearest railway station, just 10 Km away from the retreat. Other driving/rail link options are Mainaguri Station (1 hour), Siliguri (2 hours), Darjeeling (3 hours), and New Jalpaiguri (2 hours).
  • The retreat is suitable for the differently abled (with assistance)
  • The park is closed during monsoons from 15th June to 15th September.
  • It is mandatory for all foreign nationals to carry their original passport and all Indian nationals (including children) need to carry a valid government-approved Photo Identity card.
  • Some of the activities may not be available on a 24-hour basis or without advance request, it is best to book in advance. Fees for certain activities may apply.

Rooms & Suites

The accommodation is spread across 12 rooms on two levels. The rooms feature ethically crafted décor made with locally sourced materials. All rooms have air-conditioned the rooms on the level above the ground look out to the vast expanses of the verdant forests, paddy fields, and the garden around.

Restaurants & Bars

The multi-cuisine restaurant with outdoor and indoor seating overlooks the lake and serves dishes inspired by the communities that inhabit the Dooars region as well as the popular dishes from the region. The restaurant also serves International cuisine on request. The Hornbill bar is a warm and cozy place to relax with a sundowner in the evenings.

Spa & Wellness

The retreat houses a small gym for those who don’t want to miss their daily workout. They also have an outdoor pool, Jacuzzi and a large garden area.

Experiences

The retreat is happy to organise curated experiences for guests to witness the flora and fauna thriving in the national parks in the Dooars region. Rhino and elephant safaris are conducted in 4X4 jeeps in the Gorumara National Park while tiger safaris are conducted in the Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary which is also home to the One-horned Indian Rhinoceros. Nature treks can be arranged in the Neora Valley National Park, home to the endangered Red Panda and the Asiatic Black Bear. There are a host of tours such as motorcycle tours, photography tours, anthropological tours, birdwatching tours, and tea plantation tours. The retreat also offers unique culinary experiences that showcases the local regional cuisine made using indigenous produce.

 

Sustainability and Responsible Tourism

The retreat enthralls you with its eco-friendly ethos, a pioneer in the Dooars region. While great care and effort are taken to ensure responsible consumption of water and energy at the retreat, community development initiatives by the retreat have created awareness about sustainable tourism and conservation amongst the local community.  The retreat has implemented bio-composting for organic waste and plastic and metal waste is recycled. Rainwater harvesting processes fulfill the retreat’s water requirements. The retreat uses building materials that were locally sourced. Local cultural shows are organized in the camp to showcase local culture and the majority of the staff employed are locals.

 

 

 

 

 

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