#OdeToOutstanding - east

The eastern leg of the #OdeToOutstanding drive starts in the lush green forests of West Bengal. But there is more than just that. Rahul Ghosh tells you all about the outstanding drive in the Mercedes-Benz GLC

- Rahul Ghosh

Think about forests and one’s attention generally gravitates towards north and central India. However, delve into the eastern part of the country and you will be in awe of at the outstanding biodiversity the region offers. On the east leg of the #OdeToOutstanding drive, we are doing exactly that and that too with an SUV so multifacted that it truly matches the diversity this region has to offer, the Mercedes-Benz GLC.

Our journey begins in the quaint town of Alipur Dooar in North Bengal. The small town is surrounded by forests. Quite often we hear that wildlife has encroached on the outskirts of the town on account of its proximity to the Buxa Tiger Reserve. Established in 1983, this was the 15th tiger reserve created in our country and is host to over 450 species of trees and 73 species of mammals which includes the Bengal Tiger. The fun bit about the area is that inside the forests resides a popular tourist destination called Jayanti Hills. This little hamlet consists of very few places to stay and is open around the year apart from the monsoons. But if nature is what you love, you must visit this area.

We cruised through the narrow forest lanes in the GLC cocooned in the comfort of the cabin. Rich materials surround us and then there is a massive infotainment system to which we were connected via Apple Car Play to ensure we don’t lose our way. The narrow tarmac roads are littered with warnings of eminent wildlife attacks and though we were driving slowly, we could barely spot any wildlife. But what was pleasing to the eye was the amount of green all around. Once out of the internal roads, we drove out towards the northern edge of the park driving around its boundaries. The monsoons were at their peak and the GLC tackled the flooded roads with ease. It is also an interesting fact that a train service runs through the area and we crossed over the tracks which meander along.