Lataguri, a small town bordering Gorumara National Park, ain’t the place where you go and just sit inside a resort. If that’s what you thinking, well, you’re doin’ it all wrong. This spot got everything from wildlife safaris to weirdly quiet riversides where you won’t hear a thing except the crickets. And maybe the occasional elephant.
1. Jeep Safari in Gorumara National Park
You wake up at 5 AM. Maybe you hate it. But then, you get inside a jeep, and suddenly, there’s mist all around. The air’s got that damp, fresh jungle smell—damp leaves, soil, a hint of animal musk. You roll forward, trees closing in. A rhinoceros? Maybe. Wild bison? Probably. You keep your mouth shut ’cause the driver tells you animals can hear whispers from a mile away. Spotted deer, barking deer, elephants—all roaming like they own the place (which, actually, they do).
Pro Tip:
Best time to go? November to April. Monsoon’s a no-go, forest gates stay locked. You book a forest permit from the Lataguri tourist office, else you’re standing outside, listening to other people’s safari stories.
2. Birdwatching Near Murti River
Not a birder? Doesn’t matter. You don’t gotta be. You just sit by Murti River, real still, and birds start showing up like uninvited guests at a wedding.
- Indian roller, those electric blue ones? Check.
- Oriental pied hornbill—big beak, bigger attitude? Seen it.
- Green bee-eaters—tiny, fast, gone before you blink? Everywhere.
Early morning, late evening—best slots. You don’t need fancy binoculars. Just patience and no sudden movements.
3. Watch the Sun Say Goodbye at Jatraprasad Watchtower
Nothing fancy here. A wooden watchtower. Some stairs. And a view that kinda freezes time. You get up there and the whole Gorumara jungle stretches in front. Evening’s best. The sky don’t just turn orange—it burns.
And if luck’s in your pocket, a herd of elephants might wander by the salt pit down below. They drink water, stomp around a bit, then leave like they got a schedule to keep. And you? You just stand there, holding your breath.
4. Walk Through the Villages – Talk to People, Eat What They Offer
You ever been in a place where people don’t rush? Santal, Oraon, Rabha tribes—they still live their lives like decades didn’t pass. You walk into a village, someone’s cooking over firewood, someone’s weaving something colorful. They invite you in, no big deal.
If they offer food, eat it. Might be hand-pounded rice, something with banana flowers, a fish curry that smells like it came straight outta the river. Simple, good, real food.
5. Drive to Bindu – The Last Village Before Bhutan
Not in Lataguri, but just a drive away. The road winds, Teesta River on one side, hills on the other. Bindu is where India stops and Bhutan begins. There’s a dam, a couple of tiny shops selling Tibetan tea, and air so clean you’ll forget what city pollution smells like.
You don’t do much here. Just sit, breathe, and feel like you found a place nobody else knows about.
6. Camping by the Murti River – Only If You’re Not Scared of the Dark
There ain’t no streetlights here. No car horns. Just the sound of flowing water, distant owl calls, and sometimes—a heavy branch snapping in the jungle (could be wind, could be a wild boar).
If you up for it, local eco-camps let you stay overnight. Simple canvas tents, bonfire, sky drowning in a million stars. And if you wake up at 3 AM, don’t freak out if you hear something moving outside.
7. Try Dhamsa Madal – Tribal Dance with Drums So Loud, You Feel It in Your Chest
You got two options. Watch it from the sidelines, or get pulled in. ‘Cause trust me, if you’re anywhere close, some aunty in traditional wear WILL make you dance.
Dhamsa Madal—that’s what they call the drums. Oraon, Santhal, Munda people play it when they celebrate. The rhythm’s wild, fast, hypnotic. And before you know it, your feet start moving. Badly, probably. But nobody judges.
8. Tea Garden Walks – Smell the Leaves Before They Become Your Morning Cuppa
Walk into a Doars tea estate, and the first thing that hits you—that smell. Not like a teabag, no. It’s raw, green, earthy. The workers pluck two leaves and a bud, baskets strapped to their backs, moving fast.
You learn how tea’s made. The drying, the rolling, the fermentation. And if you lucky, they’ll let you taste a fresh batch. Strong, bitter, sweet aftertaste—nothing like the dusty supermarket stuff.
9. Eat at a Roadside Dhaba – Best Meal You’ll Have
Forget fancy restaurants. Best food? Always where truck drivers eat. A steel plate, heaps of piping hot rice, dal with mustard seeds, fish curry thick with spices. No AC, no forks—just pure flavor.
Momo stalls, bamboo chicken joints, roadside chai tapris—that’s where Lataguri’s real food scene is at.
10. Kanjilal’s Museum – A Place Nobody Talks About, But Should
Old man Kanjilal spent his whole life collecting rare butterflies, old coins, tribal artifacts. Then he decided, “Might as well turn my house into a museum.” So he did.
Tiny place, but packed with history. If you like stories hidden inside forgotten things, this spot’s gold.
11. Try Making Your Own Handicrafts at a Tribal Workshop
You think bamboo weaving looks easy? Try it. Bet you’ll fail. The locals do it like their hands just know. But they’ll teach you. How to make small baskets, bamboo flutes, traditional jewelry.
You sit on the floor, work with your hands, and when you finally make something that doesn’t fall apart—you take it home. A souvenir you actually made.
Final Word (Not That You Asked for It)
Lataguri ain’t the place you visit with a tight schedule. You come here to get lost, slow down, and just exist for a while. Ride through the forests, eat whatever the locals give you, watch the elephants, and sleep under the stars if you can handle the quiet.
And next time someone asks, “What’s there to do in Lataguri?”, you got an answer. Maybe too many.