It was February 11, 2018 and we woke up at 3:30 in the morning. We left the hotel at 4 o’ clock. Our car was parked just outside the hotel entrance. It was very cold and we were shivering like anything. As we entered the car, we saw two girls sitting on the front seat.

It was February 10, 2018 and we reached the Darjeeling zoo at about 1:30 in the afternoon. Our driver parked the car on the main street and told us that we need to walk up to the zoo. There were a few stalls selling souvenirs and other eatables on the right and on the left were the zoo premises.

It was 4:45 pm and the sun was still high up in the sky. So, light would not be an issue for at least an hour, I knew. We parked our motor cycle under a tree by the side of the old village church and I took out my camera.

It was while on the way that I saw this amazing palace. The Cooch Behar Rajbari stunned me beyond expectation. I have been hearing of the Cooch Behar Rajbari since I was a kid but the sight surpassed my imagination in all senses.

When I chanced upon these amazing kids playing by the side of the road at Rajabhatkhawa, I decided to try my hand at Portrait Photography. They were full of life and it was a good half hour interacting with them.

He added that Toy Cars would look great if photographed in the narrow road leading up to the jungle. It was then that I became serious about buying toy cars for photography. And the next time I went to the mall, my bag was full of Toy Cars.

We meant to have a leisurely trip to Rajabhatkhawa. I was curious to visit the Rajabhatkhawa Nature Interpretation Centre; more commonly, the Rajabhatkhawa Museum. On both sides of the road were jungles, the buffer zone of the Buxa Tiger Reserve; and the ride seemed thrilling.

There was excitement as well as fear of encountering wildlife. We passed Rajabhatkhawa, the entry to the Buxa and the Jayanti forests and reached a bridge where a couple of cars and motorcycles were parked. It was the Dima bridge.

In no time, we were on this beautifully laid NH17; devoid in dust, dirt and chaotic morning hassles we are normally accustomed to in India. With trees on both sides of the road and forests and tea gardens nearby, it was for the first time I was experiencing Dooars.