Darjeeling: Tourism in North Bengal is all set to receive a further boost with new accommodations coming up in the form of eco-friendly cottages in tourist hotspots.
The state Tourism department, in collaboration with the Parks & Gardens Wing (North) of the state Forest department will be constructing these cottages at Gajoldoba, Tiger Hill and Tonglu.
"15 cottages will come up at Bhorer Alo of Gajoldoba, with 5 cottages at Tiger Hill and 5 cottages at Tonglu. We will try to finish the cottages by Durga Puja this year," said Anjan Guha, the divisional forest officer of the P&G Wing (North).
Detailed Project Reports of the projects have already been submitted to the Tourism department. The project is pegged at Rs 11 crore. Rs 6 crore will be spent for the cottages at Tonglu and Tiger Hill, while the 15 cottages at Bhorer Alo will be built at a cost of Rs 5 crore.
Bhorer Alo, located at Gajoldoba in the Jalpaiguri district is located at a distance of 15 km from Siliguri town. Spread across a sprawling 210 acre area, Bhorer Alo is a dream project of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Upon completion, the project will boast of a budget hotel, 2-star category hotels and a high-end hotel, along with a 9 hole golf course spread across 60 acres of land. Tourists will also be able to enjoy cycling, boating and camping facilities.
It will also have a trekking route through Saraswati Tea Estate to the Bengal Safari. Work is on by the Forest department for developing the route. The project also includes a jungle safari, sunset point, orchid park, bird park and an amphitheatre.
The cottages will not be constructed out of concrete. They will be made of wood and will have double occupancy, with all modern amenities on offer.
Tiger Hill, a famous sunrise point, is located 11 km from Darjeeling town. An old British bungalow at the location that had been burnt down during the violent agitation of the 1980s is currently under renovation. The new cottages will come up surrounding the British cottage.
At Tonglu, two separate dormitories for men and women will be there. Each dormitory will have a ten bed facility. Tonglu is located on the world famous trekking trail to Sandakphu- the highest point of the state at an altitude of 12,000 ft.