Jayanti to Buxa: A Living Landscape Journey

I have walked these forests more times than I can count, and Buxa still surprises me. This is not a checklist wildlife tour or a luxury escape packaged inside a forest. Over four days, we slow down and experience the landscape as temporary residents of the Eastern Himalayan foothills — listening to river sounds at night, watching weather move across the Bhutan hills, sharing stories with local communities, and learning how forests shape everyday life here.
Buxa is one of the most ecologically and historically layered landscapes in eastern India. Colonial history, migration, conservation struggles and living forest cultures all exist together in this terrain. Ancient riverbeds carved through Bhabar sediments tell stories millions of years old, while abandoned trails and forest villages reveal more recent histories of conflict, resilience and coexistence.
A note on wildlife & birdwatching — every walk, jeep ride and riverside trail is an opportunity to observe. With more than 280 bird species and mammals like elephants, gaur and leopards sharing this landscape, encounters happen when you are paying attention — and on this trip, we always are. Some moments may be dramatic, while others may simply be the sound of hornbills crossing the valley at dawn.
Being in a forested landscape, weather and conditions can change quickly. Some activities may depend on the situation on the day, especially during monsoon or heavy rainfall. Wherever possible, suitable alternatives will be arranged.
The stay is intentionally simple and rooted in the landscape. Electricity may occasionally be unavailable depending on weather and local conditions, and power backup is limited. Mobile network is intermittent in many areas, though Jio and Airtel usually work better than other networks. This journey is less about comfort in the conventional sense, and more about settling into the rhythm of the forest for a few days.
Experience curated by Dr Arkajyoti Shome