Buxa Tiger Reserve

Buxa Tiger Reserve is a protected forest area in Alipurduar district, West Bengal, with its main entry at Rajabhatkhawa. Covering about 760 sq km in the Eastern Dooars at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, it encompasses dense forests, grasslands and riverine habitats. Notable for its biodiversity including tigers, elephants and diverse birdlife, it also contains the historic Buxa Fort and offers jungle safaris, trekking and nature interpretation facilities for visitors.

Visitors can expect dense moist deciduous and evergreen forests, grasslands and riverbeds in the Dooars foothills. The reserve offers open-jeep jungle safaris, guided nature walks and treks to Buxa Fort (2600 ft) and Jayanti. Wildlife sightings may include elephants, leopards, deer, and over 300 bird species. Facilities are centered at Rajabhatkhawa with a Nature Interpretation Centre, watchtowers, forest rest houses and designated safari routes.

Buxa Tiger Reserve was established in 1983 as the 15th tiger reserve in India, with core area notified as Buxa National Park in 1992. The reserve includes Buxa Fort, built by the King of Bhutan and later occupied by the British, who used it as a detention camp for freedom fighters in the 1930s. The forest has a history of scientific management since 1877-78.

The reserve lies in the Dooars region inhabited by Rajbanshi, Rabha, Mech and other forest communities. Buxa Fort is culturally significant as a historic landmark and trekking destination, while Jayanti village reflects local forest-dependent culture and eco-tourism initiatives promoted by the West Bengal Forest Department.