Gorumara and Lataguri to Jaldapara
Your options
Ways to make the trip
2 hours
₹2,500–3,500 per car · Drive back towards Chalsa, then east through Nagrakata, Banarhat and Birpara to Madarihat. If you already have a car and driver from Siliguri, this is part of the day's run.
3–3.5 hours
₹80–150 a seat plus local auto · Take an auto from Lataguri to Malbazar or Chalsa and catch a bus heading for Birpara, Hasimara, Jaigaon or Alipurduar. Ask to be let off at Madarihat.
Worth a stop
- Chalsa
- Murti river crossing
- Tea estates around Nagrakata
- Birpara
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How long is the drive from Gorumara to Jaldapara?
About 75 km and 2 hours by car from Lataguri to Madarihat via Chalsa, Nagrakata and Birpara. Add 30 minutes if you are staying at Murti or Chalsa rather than Lataguri. The road is mostly good two-lane highway through tea estates and small towns.
Can I visit both Gorumara and Jaldapara in one day?
It is possible to do a dawn safari at Gorumara and an afternoon safari at Jaldapara on the same day, if you have confirmed slots for both. It is a tiring day. A night in each place, with two safaris in each, gives much better chances of seeing rhino and elephants.
Is there a bus from Lataguri to Madarihat?
No direct bus is reliable. Take an auto or toto from Lataguri to Malbazar or Chalsa, then a bus to Birpara, Hasimara, Jaigaon or Alipurduar that passes Madarihat. Allow 3–3.5 hours in all. Buses are cheap but crowded on market days.
Is it safe to drive this road at night?
Avoid it after dark. Elephant herds cross the highway in several places between Chalsa and Birpara, and the forest department sometimes stops traffic. Night driving also means missing the tea garden views. Plan to arrive before sunset.