Jaldapara – Jaldapara Jungle Camp

JALDAPARA NATIONAL PARK

Jaldapara National Park (formerly Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary) is a national park situated at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in Alipurduar District of northern West Bengal and on the banks of the Torsa River. Jaldapara is situated at an altitude of 61 m and is spread across 216 sq km of vast grassland with patches of riverine forests. In the year 1941 during the British era Jaldapara was spread over an area of about 141 sq km as a wildlife sanctuary. Later is gained its popularity as a National Park for the protection of wide varieties of flora and fauna and spread across an area of about 216 sq km. Jaldapara was famous among the tourists far back. Jaldapara National Park is situated in the eastern region of Dooars. Apart from Kaziranga in Assam, Jaldapara is famous for its wide numbers of One- Horned Rhinos. Jaldapara is located at the foot hills of Bhutan, and rivers like Holong, Torsa and Malangir and drained by Buri Torsa, Kalijhora, Chirakhawa, Sissamara and Bhalukha flows through this national park in a crisscrossed way provides refuges to wide varieties of mammals, amphibians, reptiles like Python, monitor lizards, kraits, cobras, geckos those are found here. Apart from One- Horned Rhino at Jaldapara one will also get to see elephant, Indian Bison or Gaur, Leopard, Barking Deer, Hog deer, Sambar, Spotted deer, Wild Boars along with numerous varieties of birds those inhabit this national park. Special among these is the Bengal Florican along with crested eagle, Pallas’s fish eagle, Shikra, Finn’s weaver, jungle fowl, peafowl (peacock), partridge, and lesser pied hornbill. At Jaldapara as one goes deeper, there is a Salt Lake where animals used to gather to taste the salt. From Jaldapara one can also visit to the nearby Chilapata which is a corridor for elephants between Jaldapara and Buxa.

Things to do and see: At Jaldapara one can take a jungle safari by car or can avail the elephant safari. Though most demanding among the two is the elephant safari.  Every day at morning 06.00 am to 07.00 am and 07.00 am to 08.00 am each one hour ride are available for the tourists (on availability of elephants) that are arranged near the Hollong tourist lodge. There are few elephants and jeeps those are maintained by the WBTDC are used to arrange these safaris. The tickets of Jungle Safari are available from the range office. The tickets for the morning safari are available on yesterday evening and the evening safari tickets are available on the same day morning. The Elephant ride in Jaldapara is the best possible way to explore the vast territory of Jaldapara. Apart from elephant or car safari, one can go around by car and visit the nearest Leopard Rehabilitation center and Nature Interpretation center. Or you can pay a day visit to the watch tower located nearest to Hollong Tourist Lodge. From Jaldapara by car one can visit ‘Totopara’ at a distance of about 22 km located at the banks of River Torsa at the Bhutan border. Totopara is famous for the habitat of the Toto Tribes and Mech Tribes. Throughout the year large numbers tourists during their stay in Jaldapara visits this region to get an in-depth knowledge of these tribes. At present the population of these tribes has reached to 1500. Toto are claimed to be one of the oldest tribes of India. Surrounding Madarihat the nearest places of visit are South Khayerbari Leopard Rehabilitation Center and Nature Park located within 10 km from the entry point of Jaldapara, the main attraction of this park is the leopard safari for the tourists. The area is guarded by 20 feet high iron nets inside which the rescued leopards are kept. From there very nearby is the Tiger Rescue Center, here injured tigers are bought from circus and jungles and after necessary treatments they are released into the wild. There is a watch tower near the banks of River Torsa which is worth watching or one can also enjoy boating at River Buri Torsa. Again from there one can visit the Kunzum Eco Tourism Park located within 9 km from Falakata and spread over an area of about 4500 hectare. Here River Torsa forms an open an open border and divides both Kunzumgarh and Jaldapara and above the river there is a hanging bridge that connects both the region. Kunzumgarh was established at the Torsa cantonment area.

How to Reach: The nearest railway station is Hashimara from there at a distance of aboutr 12 km is Madarihat and from there Jaladapara Wildlife Sanctuary is about 7 km. Or one can reach up-to Alipurduar, from there Jaladapara is about 50 km, again from there up-to Madarihat. Or you can reach up-to NJP railway station from there by any bus those reaches up-to Cochbehar or Assam, by those one need to get down at Birpara from there Madarihat is about 15 km. Several small or big cars are available from Madarihat those reach up-to Jaldapara. The nearest Airport is Bagdogra, from there several cars and jeeps are available those reaches up-to Madarihat at a distance of about 3.00 hours via Siliguri, Nagrakata and Dhupguri.