A Workation Break to Jaldapara National Park
Aditi Paul- 24/July/23 After the sprawl of Covid-19, where almost the entire world was forced to shut behind doors, there has been a significant rise in the cases of stress, frustration and hypertension. The importance of mental health has surfaced to prominence since lockdown. Amid the havoc caused by the deadly virus, one of the positive impacts was people learned to find happiness through various means even without stepping outside their homes. The culture of ‘work from home’ rocked the professional trend. However, the matter of fact is whether working from the office or remotely serving your work institution, the work stress persisted to bother the employees, especially coping up with the technological adoptions for remote working.
According to many psychologists, taking breaks from work is very much essential to balance the work and the personal life. However, one cannot easily apply for leaves in various sectors. Therefore, the practice of workation (work + vacation) came into existence, where you can go for a short trip without taking leave from work, provided you can opt for work from home. As Helen Edward puts it - “In this game, everyone needs a break to refuel, recharge, and jump back in full throttle.”
Let’s carve out one such workation plan for Jaldapara National Park to escape the daily 9-5 routine. Encompassing the weekend, plan a working vacation for about 4 days.
Kolkata to Bagdogra
Board a flight from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport to Bagdogra International Airport on a Wednesday evening or night and reach Siliguri the next early morning. The Jaldapara National Park is 122 kilometres away from the airport which has to be covered by road. It will take around 3 hours to reach. If you are travelling solo or with a couple of friends or colleagues or with your partner, check in to a budget-friendly home stay or resort near the Jaldapara National Park.
Enjoy the stay and work for the rest of the two days
After settling down with everything, begin with your office work since it's your working day of the week. However, the vibe will be completely different today, though from indoors but on the foothills of the Himalayas, away from the regular chair you sit on. The best part is you do not have to worry about your meals or cooking. They are just a call away in the resort. Along with your mind, your tummy too deserves a treat in this workation.
In the evening, post working hours, take a stroll nearby the resort but avoid going near the forest area. For the rest of the time you can sit back and relax or order for some snacks and beverages.
On the next day, that is Friday, you can leave for an early morning jeep safari or elephant safari to get fascinated with the Flora and Fauna in Jaldapara for which the national park has gained popularity. The sound of the brooks accompanied by fauna and avifauna will definitely captivate your soul during the forest safari. Other than these, the nearby virgin hamlets and panoramic views of the mountainous landscape are the perfect gateway for any nature enthusiast. The safaris are of 1-hour duration and you can return to the resort before your working hours. After all, you must experience the charm of Dooars once you have travelled so far from your home town.
About the weekend
You can spend your weekend in two ways -
Option 1- If you are a wildlife enthusiast then you can continue your stay in the resort and explore Jaldapara National Park and Gorumara National Park. Start your return journey on Sunday afternoon from Bagdogra Airport to Kolkata Airport.
Option 2- If you are obsessed with nature and tranquility, then check out from the resort in the evening and head towards Lava Loleygaon, one of the favourite offbeat destinations in North Bengal. Reaching Lava will take about 3 hours. Enjoy some of the picturesque viewpoints in Lava and Loleygaon on Saturday. On Sunday head towards Bagdogra Airport from Lava covering around 118 km.
Return to your hometown after a rejuvenating break and indulge in your daily routine with a fresh mind.