IT's ACTION time in the forests again. The dense jungles
of the Dooars are under the spotlight, tthanks to the wanderings of
Tabu in Abar Aranye and the photogenic romance of Rahul Bose and Konkona
Sen Sharma in Mr. and Mrs. Iyer.
Tourists are now looking for a 'nature'
holiday, set in the frames of Goutam Ghose and Aparna Sen. The tranquil
and haunting silence of the Dooars could soon turn tourism in North
Bengal around.The state tourism information counter has been flooded
with queries on Dooars and advance bookings have soared. Even the
three-month off-season period from June to September, when the Jaldapara
Wildlife Sanctuary on the banks of Torsa is closed, hasn't dampened
spirits. Instead, tourists consider it prime time to explore the
surrounding tea gardens, adjoining hills and the thickly forested
banks of the Teesta.
`We have been receiving about eight to 10 calls every day
on North Bengal, especially on trips to Dooars. People want to spend
their holidays in the forests even though its off-season now,`
said tourist officer Ranjit Mukherjee. If the present rush is any
indication, officials feel the demand will sky-rocket when the Jaldapara
sanctuary opens in October.
The media hype was supported by Union Tourism Minister Jagmohan
who stressed the development of Dooars in his address to a tourism
conclave in Siliguri last week.
Tabu has been promoting the location off the sets too. The actress
has reportedly urged directors in Bollywood in consider Dooars as
a prime location. `People got a glimpse of the Dooars in Abar
Aranye and tourists are now taking notice. The department has also
arranged for elephant rides in the forests to attract tourists,`
said Mukherjee. |
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