BENGAL DUARS (The land between rivers)
The Doars is actually an Anglicized version of the original phrase “Duars”, which in Sanskrit means Doors. The Doars comprises of the great low lands lying south of the eastern Himalayas. East of the River Teesta bordering Darjeeling till the River Manas at the eastern end of Assam, it was composed of impenetrable rain forest until the arrival of tea planters who cut down vast stretches of forests to make way for sprawling tea estates. There still remains a substantial area under forest cover that comprises of thickly forested flood plains, drained by some of the mightiest rivers in the Himalayas, gently rolling highlands broken occasionally by vast patches of wet lands, swamps and grassland. They are now being conserved as Wild Life Sanctuaries and reserve forests. These wild vestiges of Procter forests are probably the last remaining preserves of a fascinating range of flora and avifauna in the entire Indian sub-continent.
The bulk of the population in the Doars lives in its numerous tea plantations. They are comprised of tribal from the tribal region of Jharkhand, whose ancestors were transported here by the British colonials to work in the tea plantations. About one and a half centuries ago, Nepali speaking people started settling down in the area. Today, they form the two distinct majorities of people living here. Others like Bengalis, Marwaris, Biharis, etc. also have a sizable representation in the commercial towns that have sprung up in the area.
There however, exists a primitive race, believed to be the original inhabitants of the Doars; this aboriginal tribe is called the Totos. They don't easily mix around and prefer to remain isolated and confined to themselves. They live in their simple dwellings in a small cluster of villages fringing the outskirts of deep forests or inside the forest itself.
An interesting link to the medieval history of North Bengal is provided by the historical town of Cooch Behar, former capital of the kingdom of the Koch Rulers and a princely state that has been integrated into the union of India. Believed to be a part of the ancient kingdom of Kamrupoa, the Koch chieftains declared their independence under the leadership of ………. And hence laid the foundations of a strong and powerful kingdom that later emerged as the dominant force and important unifying factor the glorious history of the region. Ruled by a succession of kings belonging to the Narayan dynasty made Cooch Behar town their capital. Testimonial evidence of their influence and authority are found in a number of monuments that dot the picturesque town of Cooch Behar, which also serves the administrative headquarters of the district today.
The bulk of the population in the Doars lives in its numerous tea plantations. They are comprised of tribal from the tribal region of Jharkhand, whose ancestors were transported here by the British colonials to work in the tea plantations. About one and a half centuries ago, Nepali speaking people started settling down in the area. Today, they form the two distinct majorities of people living here. Others like Bengalis, Marwaris, Biharis, etc. also have a sizable representation in the commercial towns that have sprung up in the area.
There however, exists a primitive race, believed to be the original inhabitants of the Doars; this aboriginal tribe is called the Totos. They don't easily mix around and prefer to remain isolated and confined to themselves. They live in their simple dwellings in a small cluster of villages fringing the outskirts of deep forests or inside the forest itself.
An interesting link to the medieval history of North Bengal is provided by the historical town of Cooch Behar, former capital of the kingdom of the Koch Rulers and a princely state that has been integrated into the union of India. Believed to be a part of the ancient kingdom of Kamrupoa, the Koch chieftains declared their independence under the leadership of ………. And hence laid the foundations of a strong and powerful kingdom that later emerged as the dominant force and important unifying factor the glorious history of the region. Ruled by a succession of kings belonging to the Narayan dynasty made Cooch Behar town their capital. Testimonial evidence of their influence and authority are found in a number of monuments that dot the picturesque town of Cooch Behar, which also serves the administrative headquarters of the district today.
REGION DESTINATIONS
PLACES TO VISIT
