West Bengal To Get Its First Ever Shikara Ride

  Not many have heard of Gajoldoba village which is situated in the Jalpaiguri district in the northern part of Bengal. It is a small village situated near the Teesta river around 10 km away from Siliguri. Situated in the south of the Himalayan foothills, surrounded by towering mountains and beautiful valleys, it is a gem unknown to tourists.  Gajoldoba is popular only as a local tourist spot, but all that is now going to change as tourism minister Babul Supriyo recently announced that the first ever shikara ride of West Bengal will be launched in Gajoldoba. The West Bengal government intends to upgrade Gajoldoba and make it a popular tourism destination. This extensive project will include the shikara rides. According to Babul Supriyo, the shikara rides in West Bengal will be more enjoyable and beautiful than those in Dal Lake, and they are intended to give visitors an unforgettable experience. This far-out tourist destination is well-known due to the first reservoir constructed in the Teesta basin for irrigation purposes. It is also renowned for being a birder's paradise.  The Baikunthapur forest, which surrounds Gajoldoba, attracts a variety of migratory birds from Ladakh and other parts of Central Asia, including the Little Grebe, Bar-headed Goose, Greylag Goose, Lesser Whistling Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, and Tufted Duck among many others. With all these measures in place, Gajoldoba is bound to be one of the most popular tourist destination in the state.