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Samsing

Samsing is another beautiful tourist spot in Dooars. But it is not famous only for the hill station with green tea gardens, hills, and forests; it is also famous for flying beauties which is increasingly becoming a popular tourist destination. It is a paradise for the bird watchers and nature lovers. Samsing is a small hamlet situated in Gorubathan block of Kalimpong district with an altitude of 910 m (3000 ft) and 80-kilometer road distance from Siliguri, via Chalsa. Samsing is divided into two sections – Samsing Basti and Samsing tea garden. Samsing Basti area is the main inhabitant settlement in Samsing with a population of 2,500 lives in Sundar basti, Khash mahal and Fari basti which is under the administration of Kalimpong district. But Samsing Tea Estate is mostly located in the Jalpaiguri district administration.

When you drive to Samsing by road, which is passed through the evergreen tea garden with floating clouds in the sky and a mountaineer canvas stays with a distance forever with you – it’s an amassing experience for every tourist. This scenario you can imagine only in your dream or in Bollywood film, but it is the reality on the way to Samsing. On the way to Samsing you will also crossed the famous Coronation Bridge (Bag Pool) on Teesta River at Sevoke, which is famous for its architecture and also for the Sevokeswari Kali Bari, just 22 kilometres away from Siliguri.

Attractions at Samsing

Samsing is fully amassing to tourist. The landscape is a very good hill station which is covered with surrounded evergreen tea garden and forests. Samsing is also an entry point to the famous Neora Valley National Park; it is just 18-kilometer driving distance. It has lots of beautiful picnic spots and tourist places. Some of them are Lali Guras, Rocky Island, and Suntaley Khola. But the place is famous for its large numbers of flying beauties, mainly birds; maximum of them may be unknown to you. Some of the major species are found here include pond heron, black eagle, hill partridge, ashy wood pigeon, Grey Nightjar, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Maroon Oriole, Grey-chinned and Short-billed Minivets, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, lesser racket-tailed drongo, bronzed drongo, Slaty-backed Forktail, Sultan Tit, Ashy Bulbul, red-vented bulbul, Yellow-vented, Golden-spectacled and Chestnut-crowned Warblers, Greater Necklaced Laughing thrush, Long-tailed Sibia, rufous sibia, White-napped and Black-chinned Yuhinas.

Local Sightseeing

Suntalekhola
Suntalekhola or Suntaley Khola is a popular and offbeat tourist destination in Dooars, situated on the fringe of the Neora Valley National Park, adjacent to Samsing. This small hamlet of the Himalayan foothills is famous for its glistering green and blue sky with a touch of everlasting beauty. A 4 km trekking route between Samsing and Suntalekhola bring you closer to nature. A mountaineer stream Suntale Khola (`Suntaley` = Orange and `Khola` = Stream) passes by the destination and the name of this location derives from the stream. The altitude of the place ranges from 650 to 950 m. A WBFDC cottage and a bicameral bungalow are available for the tourists to stay overnight here.

Faribasti
Next to Suntalekhola is the small picturesque village of Faribasti. The village has about 50 households and is very well maintained. Flower gardens are common in almost all households. Some of the households have started homestay for tourists. You can walk through the village and its paddy land.

Rocky Island
Nowadays the spot is known as Rocky Island, but initially, it was a small eco-resort on the bank of river Murti, owned by a true nature lover, he promotes and commercialized this beautiful place and hence it is known by the name of this nature resort. Rocky Island has located about 2 km from Samsing, which gives you a view of river Murti and surrounding forests is just amazing. The eco-resort offers you an accommodation in small Tent for night stay. Even you may visit this pleasant pictorial destination without booked an accommodation.

River Murti
It is one of the most beautiful rivers of Dooars. The small river flows down from Neora Valley National Park and passes through Samsing and eventually meets Jaldhaka river near Gorumara National Park. The river is small enough to crossed on foot during most of the year except the Monsoon months. At Samsing you can approach River Murti either at Rocky Island or near the old forest Bungalow.

How to Reach Samsing

By Road: Siliguri, the gateway to north Bengal and most important town in this region is 81 km away from Samsing and it takes around 2-hour driving via Chalsa to reach Samsing. Siliguri is well connected with other parts of the state as well as all over India by road, rail, and air. From Siliguri, you will drive through the NH 10 till you reach Sevoke. Take a right turn and cross the Coronation Bridge to enter the Dooars, then drive through NH 17 via Malbazar to reach Chalsa. Take a left turn at Chalsa and drive through Chalsa- Hatkhola- Matelli Road/ Matelli - Samsing Road for 8 km and take a right turn at Matelli and continue to drive for another 7 km on the same road to reach Samsing. The last few kilometers drive is a feast for the eyes as you pass through some of the best tea gardens of Dooars, set amongst undulating countryside including the Chalsa Tea Garden, Zurantee Tea Garden, and Samsing Tea Garden.

By Rail: New Jalpaiguri Jn. (NJP) is the main railway hub in North Bengal, which is 12 km road distance from the Siliguri Junction and easily accessible by share jeep, auto rickshaw, taxi or others way. You may hire a car from New Jalpaiguri and follow the same road described above to reach Samsing. New Mal Jn (NMZ) at Malbazar is another nearby railway station about 25 km distance from Samsing. Kanchankanya Express has a stoppage at New Mal Jn and most preferable transportation for the tourist to Dooars.

By Air: Bagdogra Airport (IXB), is an international airport located about 9 km west of the city of Siliguri.