DooarsLodgeValue tier

Murti (Banani) Eco-Tourism Centre, WBFDC

Name: Murti (Banani) Eco-Tourism Centre, WBFDC
Address: Gorumara and Lataguri

The West Bengal Forest Development Corporation lodge beside the Murti river near Gorumara, with a main building, cottages and tents in a large garden. Guests can arrange Gorumara safaris at reception.

Photo: Joydeep · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Banani sits on the bank of the Murti river, about 15 km from Lataguri, with the edge of Gorumara forest across the water. You can walk down to the stony riverbed in the evening and listen to peafowl and barking deer from the far bank. Rooms range from tents and standard rooms to deluxe and premium categories.

Because it is run by the forest corporation, the reception can usually book Gorumara and Chapramari safari and watchtower slots for guests, which saves queueing at the public counter in Lataguri. Meals are simple and served at fixed times.

Why we book it

Riverside setting on the Murti
Safari bookings at reception for guests
A wide range of room prices, from tents upwards
Quieter than the lodges on the Lataguri highway

Questions travellers ask

Good to know

How far is Murti Banani from Gorumara safari gates?

It is about 15 km from Lataguri, where the main Gorumara counter is, a drive of around 30 minutes. Some safari routes leave from points closer to Murti. Ask reception which gate your slot uses and leave early for dawn slots, as wild elephants sometimes block the road around sunrise.

How do I book Murti Banani?

Book on the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation website at wbfdc.net, where the Jalpaiguri properties are listed with room types and tariffs. Prices shown there were about ₹1,500 for a tent and ₹1,800–4,000 for rooms when we last checked, before taxes. Tariffs are indicative and change each season.

Is it safe to walk by the Murti river at night?

No. Stay inside the lodge compound after dark. Elephants, gaur and occasionally leopards move along the river and forest edge at night. Evening walks on the riverbed are fine before sunset, close to the lodge and with others. Follow the staff's advice, especially in the early and late season.

Packages

Routes that stay here

Dooars · 4 nights Gorumara and Jaldapara rhino trail in four nights Gorumara and Lataguri · Jaldapara From₹12,000 pp

Dooars · 2 nights Samsing and Gorumara weekend in two nights Samsing and Suntalekhola · Gorumara and Lataguri From₹6,500 pp

Dooars · 6 nights The whole Dooars from Samsing to Buxa in six nights Samsing and Suntalekhola · Gorumara and Lataguri · Jaldapara · Chilapata · Buxa From₹17,500 pp

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