Jaldapara National Park

Jaldapara National Park is located at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in the Alipurduar district of northern West Bengal, India. It is 60 m (200 ft) in length and is spread across 216.51 square kilometers with vast grassland. The pin code of this park is 735220. This park is a riverine forest. It is full of perennial streams, sandu river banks, and tall grasslands. Torsa, Malanga, Hollong, Chirakhawa, Kalijhora, Bhaluka, Buri Torsa, Sissamara rivers are near Jaldapara. This wide grassland provides a wide range of territory to a variety of Mammals, Reptiles, Birds, Amphibians etc. This park is located 20 km away from Alipurduar. There is an eco-tourism resort at Kadal Basti near the park. There are many animals in the park, including Royal Bengal Tigers, deerants, deer, sambars, barking deer, spotted deer, hog pigs, bison pigs, bison and so on. September, October, November, December, March, and May, as well as winter and the eve of summer, are the best times to visit Jaldapara National Park. From June 15th to September 15th, the park remains closed. For all these reasons, this dense forest is worth visiting.

Attraction

The Jaldapara National Park itself is an attractive place.

Wildlife: The main attraction of this park is the one-horned rhinoceros. It has the highest population of one-horned rhinoceros after Kaziranga National Park in Assam. The park has various wild birds like large and little cormorants, Indian Shag, Darter, Egret, pied Wagtail, River Lapwing, Moorhen, White-breasted Waterhen, and so on. Besides birds, there are Royal Bengal Tigers, elephants, deer, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, wild pig, bison, and so on. A total of 294 species of trees belong to the Jaldapara National Park, which is another attraction.

Safari: Safari is the attraction of the forest. There are two shifts in the morning and 3rd shift in the evening. Through the safari, visitors get to know the wildlife and the in-and-out view of the forest. Visitors can enjoy jeep safaris, elephant safaris, etc.
There are many restaurants available for tourists to have food and hotels to take a rest. There are many resorts in the Jaldapara National Park; from the resort, a visitor can enjoy the forest view at night.

History

In the 1800s, Jaldapara National Park was known as ‘Totopara’ because, at that time, Toto tribes and Mech Tribes (Bodos) used to live in this area before the 1800s. In 1941, Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary was established to protect a huge range of flora and fauna. In 2012, this park was declared a National Park. This Sanctuary was given to this place especially to protect the one-horned Indian Rhinoceros, which are feared to be on the verge of extinction. Now, it is said that the park has the highest population of Indian one-horned rhinoceros.

Inside/Outside Views

The inside view of the park is amazing. There are many things to enjoy in the forest. For a better view, try to do a jeep safari in the jungle. There, you can see many wildlife creatures, especially peacocks, one-horned rhinoceros, elephants, and many birds. There are many well-known resorts available for visitors from the resorts where one can fully enjoy the park. There are santal villages in the forest where you can enjoy their traditional food. Outside the National Park, one can enjoy the doors. Many hotels and restaurants are available to serve tourists.

How to Reach

By bus: Siliguri bus station is the nearest bus station to the park. It takes only 3 hours by car from the bus station.

By train: Madarihat is the nearest railway station to National Park National Park. It is 7 km away from the park.

By air: Bagdogra is the nearest airport to the park, which is 145 km from the park.

By Road: Jaldapara is well connected by a national highway with Siliguri, which can be reached by car.

Tips for Travellers

Here are some important tips for the travelers who are going to come to visit the park for the very first time:

Before coming here try to bring your important belongings which you may need for the visit.
From June 15th to September 15th, this sanctuary remains closed. So try to come before June or after September.
For a better experience, try to stay at the nearby resorts at the Jaldapara National Park.
Don’t miss the jeep Safari and elephant Safari. For Jeep Safari, one and 2nd shifts are the best because, at that time, you can see the frequent movement of the birds and animals.
As you are going to the forest for Safari, try to bring your water bottle and some snacks with you.
Be careful about the animals. Try to stay a safe distance from the wildlife.
Don’t harm the animals in the forest because they create a balance in our biodiversity.
Try to visit in the winter, it is the best time for visiting there.
As you are going there, don’t forget to try their traditional food. These taste amazing and delicious.

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