123 Jalpaiguri: The Jaldapara National Park, known for one-horned Indian rhino conservation in Bengal, is all set to get back its Hollong forest bungalow, which was gutted in June this year, at a cost of Rs 3.8 crore.
According to officials, the construction work is likely to begin around Holi next year.
The PWD, which was entrusted with the job to replicate the iconic bungalow, has already submitted the detailed project report (DPR) to the forest department for seeking sanction for the project. Once given the go-ahead, the new bungalow, an exact copy of the original one, will be constructed at the same place where the old structure stood. "Taking lessons from the past, the main structure of the new bungalow will be made of concrete so that it doesn't meet the same fate as the old one which had a wooden base. In the new bunglow, the base will be covered with wooden panels on both sides to give the same finesse as the original one. Special care will be taken of its fire system," a senior forest official said.
Officials said half of the old bungalow still exists.
"The eight rooms which accommodated the tourists were gutted. The dining area, kitchen, and staff quarters are still there. The bungalow will be erected on the same pillars," the official added.
Built in 1967 in the erstwhile Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, the Hollong bungalow was one of the most sought-after holiday destinations, especially for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. It used to remain fully occupied all year round. "The Hollong bungalow was the crown of tourism in the Dooars. Having featured in travel guide Lonely Planet, Hollong bungalow used to get regular foreign visitors. An exact replica will help restore its glory," said Dibyendu Deb, general secretary of Dooars Tourism Development Forum.