Jaldapara National Park

Jaldapara National Park is a protected wildlife reserve located in Madarihat in Alipurduar district, West Bengal, on the banks of the Torsa River at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. Established in 1941 to protect the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, it was declared a national park in 2014. Spanning about 216.51 sq km of grasslands and riverine forests, it hosts the second-largest rhino population in India after Kaziranga, along with elephants, deer and diverse birdlife.

Visitors can expect vast grasslands and riverine forests along the Torsa River with jeep and elephant safaris through designated zones. Sightings may include Indian one-horned rhinoceros, elephants, Indian bison (gaur), spotted deer, wild boar and numerous bird species. Facilities include watchtowers, forest rest houses and interpretation centres. Safaris operate in morning and afternoon slots with forest guides, and the landscape is flat with open meadows and dense forest patches.

Declared as Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary in 1941 to protect the Indian one-horned rhinoceros whose population had declined sharply. It was elevated to a national park in May 2014. Covering 216.51 sq km, it has played a key role in rhino conservation in West Bengal and is managed by the West Bengal Forest Department.

Located in the Dooars region at the Himalayan foothills, the park is closely associated with the forest-dwelling communities and the nearby Totopara village, home to the Toto tribe, one of the smallest tribal groups in India. The landscape reflects the traditional Dooars forest culture and riverine ecology.