Toy train · Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary
The Dooars train through the forest
The broad-gauge line from Siliguri to Alipurduar runs through tea gardens and the forest belt around Chapramari. A short ride between Malbazar and Chalsa or further east is one of the cheapest and gentlest ways to see the Dooars.
The Dooars railway was built to carry tea and timber out of the gardens and forests, and its route along the foothills cuts straight through the elephant corridors of Mahananda, Gorumara, Chapramari and Jaldapara. Today local and express trains run between NJP or Siliguri Junction and Alipurduar, with stops at Malbazar (New Mal Junction), Chalsa, Nagrakata, Banarhat, Madarihat and Hasimara.
From the window you see tea sections, betel-nut groves, rivers wide and stony in the dry season, and stretches of tall sal forest. On the forest stretches trains slow down under speed limits introduced after the 2013 accident that killed seven elephants near Chapramari, and track-side warning systems now try to detect elephants near the line.
Pick a short hop such as New Mal to Chalsa or a longer one towards Madarihat, check the current timetable, and have a car meet you at the far end. Sit on the left (north) side heading east for views towards the hills.
Cost: ₹30–150 a ticket
Questions people ask
Good to know
Which trains run through the Dooars forest?
Local DEMU and express trains on the Siliguri–Alipurduar line via Malbazar, Chalsa, Nagrakata, Banarhat, Madarihat and Hasimara. Services and timings change, so check the current railway timetable or app before planning. Some express services from NJP also take this route.
Can we see elephants from the train?
Occasionally, but do not count on it. Trains run at reduced speed through forest stretches because elephants cross the line, and sightings from the window do happen, especially early and late. The ride is better for forest, rivers and tea gardens.
How much is a Dooars train ticket?
Short hops in unreserved class cost about ₹30–60; longer journeys or reserved seats on express trains cost more, up to about ₹150–400. Buy at the station counter or through the railway app. Trains can be crowded on market days.
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