Buxa Fort, Eastern India Travel Guide

Buxa Fort, located at an altitude of 867 meters (2,844 ft) within the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal, India, is a site steeped in history and shrouded in mystery. Its origins are debated, with some attributing it to the Tibetan Emperor Tsong-Sin-Gyampo in the 7th century, while others suggest it was built by King Sangkalp of the Kamtapur dynasty.Historically, the fort was a point of contention between the Bhutanese and Koch kings, guarding a crucial route connecting India and Tibet. The British, invited by the Cooch King, seized the fort and formally took control in 1865, reconstructing it from bamboo and wood to stone. In the 1930s, it gained notoriety as a high-security prison, second only to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands, where many Indian freedom fighters were detained. Nationalist revolutionaries and communist intellectuals were imprisoned here. It is said that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was also imprisoned here. Poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote a poem to lift the morale of the prisoners.After India's independence, the fort served as a refugee camp for Tibetans and Bangladeshis. Today, the ruins of Buxa Fort stand as a testament to its rich and complex history, attracting tourists and trekkers alike. The fort is accessible via a trek from Santalabari. The trek to Buxa Fort is considered easy and takes about 2 hours from Santalabari. The surrounding Buxa Tiger Reserve offers opportunities for wildlife safaris and bird watching. Nearby attractions include Lepchakha village, known for its panoramic views, and the Jayanti River.