Siliguri Guide - Jaldapara

The Sanctuary is open to visitors throughout the year except from 15 June to 15 September when the Sanctuary is closed. The best season for visiting the park is from October to May, particularly in April and March when the new grass is growing. Riding in elephant is the only way to roam in the park for the safety of visitors and it also provides real excitement.

Jaldapara

Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at the foothills of Eastern Himalayas in Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal. It is situated in Alipurduar Sub-Division and on the bank of Torsa river. The Sanctuary have an area of 216.51 km² and at altitude of 61 metre. The total forest area is about 294.09 sq.km. It was established in 1941 and was declared as Sanctuary which was intended to protect great variety of flora and fauna, particularly for one-horned rhiroceros. Sanctuary provides extensive grassland as the Sanctuary is drained by rivers like Malangi, Chirakhawa, Torsa, Sissamara, Buri Torsa, Bhaluka and Hollong which provides food and water for wide variety of amphibians, birds, reptiles and mammals.

Coordinates:26°37'43''N 89°22'39''E/ 26.628611, 89.3775
Time zone: IST (UTC+5:30)
Area:216.51 sq km
Elevation:61 metres (200 ft.).
District(s):Jalpaiguri
Forest Division: Coochbehar (Total Forest Area = 294.09 sq.km.)
Main rivers: Torsa, Malangi, Hollong, Buribasra, Sissamara, Sukta, Gorumara
Average Rainfall: 382 cm

Rhinocores

Animals in the Sanctuary

Wide variety of animals are found in Jaldapara Life Sanctuary and the main attraction of the Sanctuary is the Asiatic one-horned rhinocores. Large number of rhinos are found in the Sanctuary and it hold a second position for the maximum number of rhinos in India after the Kaziranga National Park in Assam. The Sanctuary is also have other animals like Royal Bengal Tiger, deers, barking deers, elephants, Sambhar, bissions, wild pig, hog deer. Birds like Pallas’s Fishing Eagle, Jungle fowl, peafowl, Bengal Florican, Crested Eagle, Patridge and lesser Pide Hornbill are found in the Sanctuary. Predators like Leopards and Tigers can be seen. Some other important animals found in the Sanctuary are Giant squirrel, Hispid hare, small and large Indian civet, Indian Porcupine, Hispid hare and Indian pangolin. Near about eight species of fresh water turtles are seen in the region. Monitor lizards, cobras, geckos and Python are also present in the Sanctuary.

Leopard

Elephants in Group

Anthropological and Cultural Heritage of the Sanctuary

Totopara is one of the major attraction for those people who are interested in ethic tourism. It lies adjacent to the Sanctuary. The village Totopara which lies in the northern part of the Sanctuary is the only home for the “Toto” tribe, one the most endangered community in the world. Lots of effort are made for the improvement of their living conditions. This remote village has a very small population less than 1000 and are in the verge of extinction. The Bania ruins, the remains of an old fort and a big lake in Banai region are also is of great anthropological interest as it shows the existence of an ancient civilization and culture. Deep inside the Chilapata Forest lies the ruins of thousand years old forts of Nal King has a tremendous historical importance.

Elephant in the Sanctuary

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