Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary,

Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary,

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The lush Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary was constituted to protect the wildlife of the Terai region especially the one horned Rhino, an animal threatened with extinction. The sanctuary is situated at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in the Alipurduar Sub-Division of Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal. The 216 sq. kms sanctuary abounds with forest, swamps and grass lands and is irrigated by the river Torsha. A 124 km drive out of Siliguri will get you here. The riverine forest sanctuary is mostly savannah and abounds in wild life such as the famous single horned rhino, Royal Bengal Tigers, wild elephants, deer, swamp deer, hog deer, wild pigs, bison and some rare and endemic species like the hispid hare, hog badge, wild boar and sloth bear. A tiger or leopard may be spotted on the sandy banks of a stream. Jaldapara is a bird watcher's paradise and is one of the very few places in India, where the Bengal Florican was sighted. Sit on the deck of your bungalow and train your binoculars to catch the majestic flight of hornbill, racket-tailed drongo and paradise flycatcher. Bird lovers will love the rich and varied avifauna found here - the Crested Eagle, Pallas's Fishing Eagle, shikra, Jungle fowl, peafowl, partridges and sometimes the Pied Hornbill. Watch out for the reptilian species of Python, monitor lizards, krates, cobras, geckos and about 8 species of fresh water turtles. The best way to explore the sanctuary is by jeep or elephant. A thrilling elephant safari is organized in the early morning from Hollong and offers you an exhilarating experience. Sway with the indolent walk of the pachyderm and train your binoculars on the jungles that surround you. Experienced scouts will lead you to the precise spots where a rhino, tiger or a herd of gaur are known to graze or drink water at. If you are lucky, you might catch a rare sight of the Indian rhino or Asiatic elephant in the wild. The jeep safari is another great way to explore the area and is very popular with tourists.