Jaldapara
Rhino country on the Torsa grasslands
Jaldapara National Park covers about 216 km² of grassland and riverine forest along the Torsa river in Alipurduar district, at only about 61 m above sea level. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1941, mainly to protect the rhinoceros, and was made a national park in 2014. Tall elephant grass, patches of sal and khair forest and many river channels make good habitat for rhino, Asian elephants, gaur, sambar, hog deer and wild boar.
The park is known above all for the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. Jaldapara holds the largest population in West Bengal and, after Kaziranga in Assam, is one of the most important rhino areas in India. Leopards live here too but are seldom seen. Birdwatchers come for the Bengal florican in the grasslands, hornbills, and waterbirds on the Torsa in winter.
Madarihat, a small town on the main Dooars road, is the gateway, with the WBTDC Jaldapara Tourist Lodge, the safari counter and a cluster of private hotels. Hasimara, about 20 km east, is closer to Chilapata and the Bhutan border at Jaigaon. Two nights lets you take a dawn and an afternoon safari and add a visit to Totopara or a tea estate.
Highlights
What Jaldapara does best
Open gypsies follow forest tracks across the Torsa grasslands, with a forest guide, in search of rhino, elephants and gaur.
Short morning rides from the Hollong area have been suspended and restarted over the years; check the current season's status.
The home village of the Toto, one of India's smallest communities, about 22 km north of Madarihat near the Bhutan border.
Hornbills, florican, storks and winter ducks along the river and grassland edges.
The road from Birpara to Madarihat runs past working Dooars gardens and their factories.
Experiences
Four hours to plan around
Getting there
How to reach Jaldapara
Buses for Jaigaon, Hasimara and Alipurduar from the Tenzing Norgay bus terminus in Siliguri pass through Madarihat; the trip takes 4–4.5 hours and costs ₹150–250.
A reserved car from Siliguri, NJP or Bagdogra takes 3–3.5 hours (125 km) via Malbazar and Birpara and costs about ₹3,800–5,000 one way.
Madarihat and Hasimara stations are on the Dooars line between Siliguri Junction and Alipurduar; services are limited, so check timings.
Bagdogra is the nearest airport with regular flights, about 140 km and 3.5–4 hours away.
Where to stay
Rooms we book
Most people stay at Madarihat, where the WBTDC Jaldapara Tourist Lodge sits near the park gate and private hotels and resorts line the main road, from about ₹1,500 to ₹6,000 a room. Hasimara and the Chilapata side have a few resorts and forest corporation lodges such as Malangi Lodge and Mendabari Jungle Lodge. The old Hollong Tourist Lodge inside the park, the most famous place to stay in the Dooars, was destroyed by fire in June 2024.
The West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation lodge at Madarihat, right by the entry to Jaldapara National Park. Plain, spacious and well placed for early safaris.
A small forest corporation lodge inside the Chilapata and Mendabari forest near Jaldapara. Simple rooms, real forest at the door and very few people.
Shape your own trip Tell us your dates and budget. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the valley to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an itemised price within one working day. No payment to start. BeginFrom our planners
Five things to know
- Book the first morning jeep slot; animals are most active and the light is soft.
- Wear dull green, brown or grey and keep your voice low in the jeep.
- Carry a warm layer from November to February; open jeeps are cold at dawn.
- Bring binoculars; rhinos are often seen at a distance across the grass.
- The park closes from 16 June to 15 September. Check current status before you travel.
The local story
The night the Hollong lodge burned
For decades the most sought-after rooms in the Dooars were in the Hollong Tourist Lodge, a wooden building on stilts deep inside Jaldapara. It stood beside a salt lick, and guests could watch rhinos, gaur and elephants come to the lick from the verandah. The few rooms were booked months ahead, and many Bengali families remember a night there as the high point of a childhood trip.
Questions travellers ask
Questions about Jaldapara
How many days do I need at Jaldapara?
Two nights is ideal. Arrive by lunch, take an afternoon jeep safari, take the dawn safari next morning and use the rest of the day for Totopara, a tea estate or Chilapata. One night with a single safari is possible, but rhinos are not guaranteed on any one drive, so a second safari doubles your chances.
Will I definitely see a rhino at Jaldapara?
Not definitely, but your chances are good. Jaldapara has the largest rhino population in West Bengal and most jeep safaris in the dry season see at least one. Sightings are best from December to April, when grass is shorter. In October and November the grass is tall and rhinos can be hidden.
Is the elephant safari running at Jaldapara?
Elephant safaris at Jaldapara have been suspended and restarted more than once in recent years. For the 2025–26 season the forest department announced them again from September, starting in the Hollong area, with very few seats sold online first. We do not sell elephant rides ourselves, and a jeep safari covers the same grassland. Check current status before you travel.
How do I book a Jaldapara jeep safari?
Jeep safaris are sold by the West Bengal forest department. When online booking is open, book on the official forest department or WBFDC booking pages a few weeks ahead. Remaining seats are sold at the Madarihat counter, often the evening before or early in the morning. You pay per jeep for up to six people, with entry and guide fees included or added. Check current status before you travel.
What happened to the Hollong Tourist Lodge?
The Hollong Tourist Lodge, the wooden forest lodge inside the park, was destroyed by fire on the night of 18 June 2024, while the park was closed for the monsoon. Nobody was hurt. At the time of writing it has not reopened, so stay at Madarihat, Hasimara or a forest corporation lodge near Chilapata instead.
When is Jaldapara National Park closed?
The park is closed every year from 16 June to 15 September for the monsoon. It reopens on 16 September, though some tracks open later if rains have damaged them. Safaris may also be stopped for a day or two for official counts or for safety. Check current status before you travel.
Can I visit Totopara from Jaldapara?
Yes. Totopara is about 22 km north of Madarihat near the Bhutan border, about an hour each way by car on a road that crosses riverbeds. It is home to the Toto, a small community with its own language and script. Go with a local driver, walk quietly through the village and ask before taking any photographs.
Where should I stay for Jaldapara?
Madarihat is the most convenient base, with the WBTDC Jaldapara Tourist Lodge near the gate and several private hotels. Hasimara suits travellers also visiting Chilapata or Bhutan. For a forest stay, try the WBFDC lodges at Mendabari or Malangi near Hasimara. Book early for Puja, Christmas and New Year.
Is Jaldapara good for children?
Yes. Jeep safaris last about 1.5–2 hours, and children usually love spotting rhinos and elephants. Very young children may find the dawn start and bumpy tracks hard. Keep them seated in the jeep and quiet near animals. Madarihat lodges have gardens and are used to families from Kolkata.
Packages
Routes that stop in Jaldapara
Nearby
Pair it with
Elephant corridor and a lost fort in the sal
A Bhutanese fort and prison in the clouds above the Dooars
Watchtower safaris on the edge of the Murti and Jaldhaka
Bhutan's front door on the Dooars plains
Shape your own trip Tell us your dates and budget. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the valley to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an itemised price within one working day. No payment to start. Begin