(top) The home page of the website and Dasgupta at the forest week celebration at Kholta. (Main Uddin Chisti)

Siliguri, July 14: A trip to Gorumara, Neora Valley or the Chapramari forests is now a click away. Log on to www.jalpaiguriwildlife.org and you will find the booking details along with information on the flora and fauna.

The wildlife division-II of the Bengal forest department launched its website today to woo tourists to the north Bengal forests.

“The attempt is to help nature lovers planning to make a trip to wild forests equipped with all information,” said Tapas Das, the divisional forest officer (wildlife-II). “We answer thousands of queries from tourists, before and during their visits. They can now log on to the website.”

With the message “save the wildlife, save the nature,” the website contains the names, addresses and contact numbers of registered booking agents and tariffs in places of stay in the three forests.

These include the eco-village at Kalipur in Ramsai, elephant camp at Dhupjhora, tents at Murti and the inspection bungalows at Gorumara and Neora Valley National Parks and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. Wilderness camp at Panjhora and the Red Panda Camp at Neora Valley also figure in the list.

The website also provides information on boardings run by the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation at Murti, Lava, Samsing and Sunthelakhola.

“Tourists can enquire about the tariffs, availability of rooms and make bookings online,” the DFO said. “We have furnished the itinerary of package tours conducted by us.”

Those interested in seeing a glimpse of forest life from home — ranging from one-horned rhinos, elephants, leopards, gaurs (Indian bison) and birds — can surf the photo gallery and video clips on the website. Timings of day visits in all three forests have been also provided.

“There are options for feedback through e-mail. We will answer the queries received through the portal,” Das said adding the website would be updated and improved at regular intervals.

The information on road, rail and airways has also been loaded in the portal along with maps to help tourists know north Bengal better.

The department has also put a list of endangered species according to the Red Data Book of the Switzerland-based International Union for Convention of Nature and the appendices of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. These include the red panda, Chinese ferret badger, flying squirrel, leopard, rock python, clouded leopard, mithun, ghoral, Himalayan thar, rhino and tiger.

Stakeholders associated with the tourism sector in the Dooars have appreciated the move. “We expect the launching of the website will contribute in increasing the tourist inflow,” said Kamal Bhowmik, the secretary of the Lataguri Resort Owners’ Association.

Finance minister Ashim Dasgupta launched the website at the inaugural ceremony of State Forest Week at Kholta in Cooch Behar.