✈️ Travel Desk
Jaldapara Jungle Safari Guide 2026: Elephant Safari Booking, Hollong Lodge & Costs
Complete safari guide to Jaldapara National Park — elephant and jeep safari costs and booking rules, how to grab a Hollong Tourist Lodge room, routes to Madarihat and a 2-day budget plan.
Jaldapara National Park: The Elephant-Back Safari Guide
Jaldapara National Park, on the banks of the Torsa river in the Dooars, holds India’s second-largest population of the one-horned rhinoceros. Riding an elephant through dawn mist over the grassland is why travellers cross 700 km from Kolkata. This guide covers the 2026 safari booking rules, costs, the trick to landing a Hollong Lodge room, and a realistic 2-day plan.
Best time to visit
- October–March: the best window — grass is short and sightings peak; December–January mornings are foggy.
- April–mid-June: the park stays open but it is hot and the dense growth makes sightings harder.
- 15 June–15 September: closed for monsoon — don’t plan for this window.
How to reach
| Mode | Route | Time / cost |
|---|---|---|
| Train | Kolkata → Hasimara or New Mal Jn (Kanchankanya / Uttar Banga Exp.) | 11–13 hrs overnight + 1–1.5 hr by car |
| Flight | Kolkata → Bagdogra (IXB), then taxi to Madarihat | 1 hr flight + 2.5–3 hrs by car |
| Road | Siliguri → Gajoldoba → Madarihat | 145 km, 3.5–4 hrs by bus/cab |
Tip: Hasimara station is only 22 km from Madarihat — take the overnight train and be ready for the morning safari.
Safari booking and costs (2026)
| Item | Approx. cost | Where booked |
|---|---|---|
| Elephant safari | ₹800–1,200 / person | In person, Madarihat Range office, previous evening |
| Jeep safari (whole jeep) | ₹1,600–2,200 / jeep (5–6 people) | Madarihat range counter |
| Entry fee | ₹100 / person | At the counter |
| Vehicle entry | ₹300 | At the counter |
| Guide (mandatory) | ₹150–300 | Forest Department assigned |
Rates are approximate and vary by season (incl. GST). Call the range office once before travelling.
The real elephant-safari rule: there is essentially one 6 AM slot with only 4–5 elephants. Staying at Hollong means the elephants board right outside the lodge — that is the single biggest advantage of securing a room.
Where to stay
- Hollong Tourist Lodge (WBTDCL): inside the park itself — rhinos and elephants pass the veranda. Few rooms; grab them 30 days ahead on wbtourism.gov.in.
- Jaldapara Tourist Lodge (WBTDCL): at Madarihat, the budget-friendly official option.
- Private resorts and homestays: plenty around Madarihat and Madhuhura, typically ₹1,500–3,000 a night.
Nearby attractions
- Chilapata forest (20 km): Nalraja Garh ruins.
- Totopara: the only Toto tribe village in the world, near the Bhutan border.
- South Khayerbari Leopard Rescue Centre: family-friendly big-cat rescue facility.
- Phuentsholing (Bhutan): a 45-minute drive to the border town.
- Gorumara (65 km): add a second safari to the same trip — see the Gorumara jeep safari timetable.
2-day budget plan
| Item | Per person (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Train (Kolkata–Hasimara return, sleeper/3AC) | ₹600–1,800 |
| Stay (1 night, shared) | ₹700–1,500 |
| Elephant safari | ₹800–1,200 |
| Jeep safari (shared by 5–6) | ₹300–400 |
| Food and local transport | ₹800–1,200 |
| Total | ₹3,000–6,000 |
Staying at Hollong adds the room tariff (₹2,500–4,000 per room) but guarantees the elephant safari.
Final word
Jaldapara is one of those forests where the safari is more than a ticket — mist at 6 AM, the swaying elephant back and first sun on the grassland all blend together. Book the lodge 30 days out, register the previous evening, and let the forest do the rest. Share your experience or questions in the comments.
🪜 Step-by-step guide
- Book the lodge first
Hollong Tourist Lodge rooms open on wbtourism.gov.in exactly 30 days before the stay date and sell out within minutes — be on the site at opening time.
- Reach Madarihat
Overnight train to Hasimara or New Mal Junction, or fly to Bagdogra (IXB) and taxi down to Madarihat.
- Book the safaris
Jeep safari at the Madarihat range counter; register the previous evening for elephant safari — the 6 AM slot is the best.
- Add the side trips
Chilapata forest, Totopara village, South Khayerbari Leopard Rescue Centre and Phuentsholing (Bhutan border) all fit in 2 days.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Can the Jaldapara elephant safari be booked online?
No — it is offline only. Register in person at the Madarihat Range office the previous evening; when demand is high, Hollong Lodge guests get priority. Jeep safari is also mainly counter-issued.
Jaldapara or Gorumara — which is better?
Choose Jaldapara for the one-horned rhino and the elephant-safari experience; choose Gorumara for watchtower-based jeep safaris and the easier Lataguri lodging scene. Both fit in one 2–3 day trip — they are only about 65 km apart.
How does Hollong Tourist Lodge booking work?
WBTDCL rooms at Hollong open online on wbtourism.gov.in 30 days before the stay date. In the winter holidays they vanish within minutes — be on the site the moment they open. Alternatives: Jaldapara Tourist Lodge, Kodalbasti or private resorts at Madarihat.