Abode of One Horned Rhino

     Abode of One Horned Rhino

                   Nidhu Bhusan Das

 

                    Jaldapara National Park (formerly Wild Life Sanctuary ) in Alipurduar District of West Bengal, India is famous for her One Horned Asiatic Rhinos. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1941 with the aim of protecting the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. In May 2012, its status was upgraded to that of a national park.

           Located in the flood plains of Torsa, the Green Cover rich with a huge marsh and grassland. 

           If you are, really, fond of variety in wild life you cannot but desire to spend a couple of nights in the Holong Bungalow enjoy the free movement of herbivores and carnivores, and their pranks and joy day and night in the Green Wild. It is gifted with a variety of woods.grasslands,flowing streams,sandy river banks and tall grass covered area. The forest is mainly savannah covered with tall elephant grasses. 

            The sanctuary holds the highest rhino population in India after Kaziranga National Park in Assam.Besides the Rhinoceros, you can see the famous Royal Bengal Tiger, Gaur, Leopard, Sambar, Chital, Hog Deer, Barking Deer, and lot others.

                                                             

Elephant in Jaldapara.Pix by Partha Pratim Saha

           Jaldapara is a paradise for bird watchers. It is one of the very few places in India, where the Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis also called the Bengal Bustard) is sighted. The other birds to be found here are the crested eagle, Pallas's fishing eagle and shikra, besides jungle fowl, peafowl, partridges, and lesser pied hornbill. Python, monitor lizards, krates, cobras, geckos and about 8 species of fresh water turtles have also found sanctuary here.

           Bagdogra is the nearest Airport at a distance of 140kms.You can travel by road to the idyllic Jaldapara to be in the midst of pristine Nature. Madarihat is the entry point for the sanctuary. It's located on the NH 31 (Siliguri-Hasimara), 140km east from Siliguri, 80km north from Cooch Behar and 50km west from Alipurduar.

The nearest railway station is Madarihat which is only 7km from the sanctuary. All passenger trains stop here. Jaldapara Tourist Lodge is a walkable distance from this railway station.All the mail and express trains stop at Birpara/Hasimara railway stations; both are 20km away from the sanctuary.

Peafowl at Jaldapara. Pix by Partha Pratim Saha

         Jaldapara is connected by road with Siliguri and other places in North Bengal. North Bengal State Transport Corporation buses, Bhutan Government buses, inibuses are available from Siliguri to Alipurduar via Madarihat.

          The sight and sound of the wild will make you feel being in harmony with glory of the Savage far from the madding crowd.

An elephant safari is preferred by most people staying at Jaldapara (in Holong lodge or tourism lodge) overnight. The 4x4 safari is available both in the morning and in the afternoon.

         The climate is warm and humid all the year long. The best season to visit is the middle of October to the end of February. Summer temperatures ranges from 22-35 degrees C while winter temperature ranges from 6-19 degrees C.Monsoon starts as early as mid May & continues up to late September. This region experiences heavy to very heavy rainfall during June-August.