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West Bengal

Jaldapara National Park (Madarihat)

Torsa riverine grassland with Bengal's densest rhino count

Wildlife

Best time to visit Jaldapara National Park (Madarihat)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to March
  • Shoulder: April to May and October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to September

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryMarchNovemberDecember

Jaldapara National Park (Madarihat) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Best window: 8-25 C, elephant-back and jeep safaris out of Madarihat, and rhino in the tall Torsa grass at first light.

Summer March to May Prime time

April-May runs 36 C and humid; the grass is burnt back so rhino and bison are easier to find, but afternoons are brutal.

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Shut 16 June to 15 September; the Torsa floods, Madarihat takes the full Dooars rain and every safari counter closes.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Reopens mid-September into head-high wet grass; wait for late October when it is burnt back and visibility returns.

What Jaldapara National Park (Madarihat) is actually like

Hollong bungalow inside the park books out months ahead; Madarihat itself has plain lodges and one small bazaar.

Getting to Jaldapara National Park (Madarihat)

Madarihat has its own halt on the Siliguri-Alipurduar line; NJP is 3.5 h by road and Bagdogra about 4 h.

Practical ways in: trainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
80 m
State
West Bengal
Coordinates
26.6905, 89.2805

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Jaldapara National Park (Madarihat)?

November to March is peak season in Jaldapara National Park (Madarihat). April to May and October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to September. Reopens mid-September into head-high wet grass; wait for late October when it is burnt back and visibility returns.

How many days do you need in Jaldapara National Park (Madarihat)?

2 days is the usual stay. Hollong bungalow inside the park books out months ahead; Madarihat itself has plain lodges and one small bazaar.

How do you get to Jaldapara National Park (Madarihat)?

Madarihat has its own halt on the Siliguri-Alipurduar line; NJP is 3.5 h by road and Bagdogra about 4 h. Practical ways in: train and road.

Is Jaldapara National Park (Madarihat) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in West Bengal

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