Buxa Fort
বক্সা দুর্গ
A fort ruin in the hills at about 870 m altitude, once a trade checkpoint of Bhutan and a British colonial-era prison for independence activists.
Buxa Fort guards the ancient trade route into Bhutan. It was originally a border post of the Bhutanese kingdom and passed to British India after the Anglo-Bhutan War of 1865. In the 1930s the British converted it into a prison, holding many Bengali revolutionaries who opposed British rule. After 1959 it also housed Tibetan refugees. Today stone walls, cell foundations and a memorial remain. To get there, take a vehicle to Santrabari village, then walk about 4 km (1.5 to 2 hours uphill) along an old forest path. The route is thickly wooded and rich in birdlife, and local guides or porters can be hired. Simple homestays near the fort let you continue about 1.5 hours further uphill to Lepchakha village.
Opening hours
Daytime (morning visits recommended)
Nearby sights
- Lepchakha
- Pokhri Hill
- Jayanti River Valley
- Mahakal Cave
- Raimatang
- Buxa Tiger Reserve Jungle Safari
- Rajabhatkhawa Nature Interpretation Centre
- Chilapata Forest