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The Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary is situated at the foothills of Eastern Himalayas and on the bank of river Torsa in West Bengal. The vast grassland with patches of riverine forests, was declared a sanctuary in 1943 for protection of the great variety flora and fauna. Principle among them is the Asiatic one horned Rhino. The Jaldapara sanctuary is a mixture of a mosaic of woods, grassland, swamps and streams.

The main attraction in Jaldapara apart form its exquisite natural beauty, is the Asiatic one horned rhino. The Jaldapara sanctuary holds the maximum number of rhino population in India after Kajiranga National Park in Assam. Among other major attractions, the elephant, Indian bison, Royal Bengal Tiger, leopard, spotted deer and hog deer can be seen here in plenty.

Jaldapara is a paradise for bird watchers. It is one of the very few places in India, where the Bengal Florican can be sighted.

Set out with a binocular and see the majestic flight of lesser Pied hornbill, racket-tailed drongo, paradise flycatcher, Crested Eagle, Pallas's Fishing Eagle, shikra, Jungle fowl, peafowl, partridges and many other bird species.

An adventurous elephant ride in the morning will take you deep inside the grassland for the real excitement. The sights of rhino in a muddy pond, the herd of elephants or the running deer are the thrilling experiences in Jaldapara. Jeep safari inside the forest is also organised on a regular basis. Please note the elephant rides are booked on the spot and can not be reserved in advance.

Totopara, adjacent to the Jaldapara sanctuary is a major attraction for those interested in ethnic tourism. Toto Para is the only settlement for the Totos, one of the most endangered ethnic communities in the world. Their numbers are now reduced to mere a thousand. Lot of initiatives has been taken by the governmental and non-governmental agencies for the uplifting their living condition. However, to live with them and to observe their traditional cultures can still be a precious experience.

Hidden deep inside the Chilapata Forests the ruins of a thousand yeas old fort of Nal King has a tremendous historical and archeological importance. Built in the 5th century during the Gupta Empire the ruins still recall the memories of the Golden Age. Because the site is not maintained properly, it has now become the play ground for leopards, snakes and other animals. Other destinations of Dooars can also be visited from Jaldapara on a day trip.

Accomodation for the tourists visiting Jaldapara is arranged in the Madarihat tourist bungalow or Holong tourist lodge. The Holong lodge is inside the forest and is preferred over Madarihat Bungalow which is on the forest fringe. Since the number of rooms in Holong is very limited, availability is a big question mark unless you are booking months in advance. naturebeyond provides booking in this lodges for its guests on a regular basis.

Please Note :
1. During the rainy season the sanctuary remains closed to tourists. The duration is normally between June 15 to September 15
2. Outsiders can visit the forest only during visiting hours from 9 AM till 4 PM.