Viewpoints · Murti
Sunset on the Murti riverbed
In the dry season the Murti spreads into a wide bed of boulders and clear channels between Gorumara and Chapramari. Walking down for sunset is the simplest pleasure in the Dooars, and it costs nothing.
From November to March the Murti runs low and clear, and its bed opens out into shingle bars and boulder fields a few hundred metres wide. Forest rises on both sides. In the late afternoon, families from the lodges walk down, children skip stones, and the light turns gold over the water and the sal trees.
Bring tea in a flask and a mat to sit on. Watch for river birds: white-browed wagtails, river lapwings, little ringed plovers and kingfishers. On some evenings peafowl walk out onto the gravel, and the forest department warns that elephants may cross the river at dusk, so leave the bed before darkness.
Even in winter, rain in the hills upstream can raise the river quickly. If the water colour changes or the level rises, move to the bank at once. In the monsoon the riverbed is not a place to be at all.
Cost: Free
Questions people ask
Good to know
Is the Murti riverbed safe for children?
In the dry season, at the edges and in daylight, yes, with an adult close by. Keep them out of the main channel, where the current is stronger than it looks. Leave the bed before dusk, and at once if the water level rises after rain in the hills.
Can we see wildlife from the Murti riverbank?
Birds certainly, and sometimes peafowl, deer or gaur on the far bank. Elephants cross at dusk and at night. Watch from the lodge side, do not approach animals and leave the bed as the light fades. Real wildlife viewing is on the park watchtowers.
What is the best season for Murti?
November to March, when the river is low and clear, the parks are open and evenings are cool. April and May are hot but still pleasant on the river. Avoid June to September, when the river runs high and the parks are closed.
Also in Murti
More things to do
Wildlife and birds · 1 hourThe morning elephant bath at DhupjhoraMurti · Free to watch; rides only when offered
Wildlife and birds · 2 hoursRiver birding along the Murti at dawnMurti · Free; local guide ₹500–800
Culture and history · 1.5–2 hoursA local dinner and folk dance eveningMurti · Dance programme about ₹275 at some camp…