Jaldapara

Overview:  Jaldapara is a paradise of earth . Jaldapara National Park is a national park situated at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas (i.e Last part of Himalayas called ‘SIWALICKs’) in Newly formed Alipurduar district in West Bengal and on the bank of the Torsa River. The local name of the place is “Madarihat”. It is situated at an altitude of 61 m and is spread across 216.51 km² (83.59 sq mi) of vast grassland with patches of riverine forests. It was declared a sanctuary in 1941 for protection of its great variety flora and fauna. Today, it has the largest population of the Indian One Horned Rhinoceros (i.e aksringo gonder) in the state, an animal threatened with extinction. The nearby Chilapota Forest is an elephant corridor between Jaldapara and the Buxa tiger reserve. The Gorumara National Park known for its population of Indian Rhinoceros is 65KM(approx) away from here. The forest mainly covered with savannah and the main attraction of the forest is Indian One Horned Rhinoceros. The park holds the 2^nd largest population of Indian One Horned Rhinoceros in India after Kaziranga National Park of Assem. The park also include Royal Bengal Tiger,elephant, sambar, barking deer, spotted deer, hog deer, wild pigs,peacock and Indian Gaur(Bison).

    The birds to be found here are the shikra, Finn’s weaver, pallas’s fish eagle, crested eagle, jungle fowl, peafowl (peacock) lesser pied hornbill, partridge etc. Among reptile pythons, monitor lizards, cobras, kraits, geckos and about 8 species of fresh water turtles can also be found here. Many of the animals in the park are endangered, like the Indian one-horned rhino and elephants. It is one of the very few places in India, where the Bengal Florican is found.

Toto tribes used to stay in this area before 1800. Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1941 for the purpose of protecting the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. In May 2012 it was declared a national park. The Toto tribes are still residing in the Totopara with very little population which is just 15 KM away from Jaldapara. One can have a day trip from Jaldapara and meet one of the ancient tribes in India.

     Please Remember : I will strongly recommend you that try to get ticket to have a Jungle Safari conducted by the West Bengal Forest Department daily with Zypsy car and a trained guide. The Car will enter into the deem forest and cross the elephant corridor inside the Jungle even if you don't have permission to stay at Holong Banglow. The chances to come across with wild animal will be more, do not panic , keep silent don't get exited feel the beauty of nature and keep it in deepest core of your heart.  You can also go for elephant safari at the deep jungle. The entry ticket will be available at the adjacent counter just beside the museum (Located at the Map).  Please keep a look on the following table. 

	Time	Ticket  Price	Ticket Available At
Car Safari (Morning)	Every Day at 5.30 AM/ 7 AM	INR 1560/6 Persons  Or INR 1440 /2 Or 3 Person	Previous day at 6PM from office adjacent to Jaldapara Tourist Lodge & Museam.
Car Safari (Afternoon)	Every day at 3.30 PM	INR 1560/6 Persons  Or INR 1440 /2 Or 3 Persons	Same day at 10 AM from office adjacent to Jaldapara Tourist Lodge & Museam.
Elephant Safari	Every Day 6 AM, 7 AM, 8 AM`	INR 660/ Person And  INR 275 (Personal Car gate pass) Or  INR 400 (extra) to make entry to the Jungle by Car.	Previous day at 6PM from office adjacent to Jaldapara Tourist Lodge & Museam.

     
How to reach: The only railway station is Madarihat from where the Jaldapara wild life sanctuary is 1 KM apart. One can get there by road. Some bus travel on daily basis(up & down) from jalpaiguri / Siliguri towards Alipurduar through Jaldapara (Madarihat). One can hire rented car to reach the place from any part of north Bengal. Falakata is 23 KM away from the Jaldapara. Hasimara is 10 KM apart. Birpara is 15 KM apart. Alipurduar 55 KM apart. Every important train which travels to the North -East part of India will surely halt at any of the place mentioned above. Rented car may be hired to reach Jaldapara from any part of the above. There are lots of daily bus/ auto/ savari(Small car) service available. One can avail train service (i.e Demu/Intersity Exp.etc) from siliguri and Dinhata.

     Place to stay:  There are lots of Private hotels and lodges are available at Jaldapara. There is also special lodge run by the West Bengal Forest department. The only forest lodge at the deem forest inside the Jungle is Holong which is also run by the Forest department.

Jaldapara_Map