Kalimponng to Jaldapar

stake501

Hi Steven (et al)

are there any trains that go from Kalimpong to Jaldapara in North Bengal

or is the rented car the best option?

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machadinha

I don't think there are any trains to Jaldapara or anywhere near it.* I took a bus from New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri. If there's a more direct route from Kalimpong, no idea. At the time wanting to combine it with Darjeeling, Siliguri turned out to be the hub indeed.

Can a mod adjust the title? It's Kalimpong/Jaldapara (the first is a town, the second a Wildlife Sanctuary). It would also be better off in West Bengal forum

* Checking now: According to Wikipedia there is a station, at Madarihat, which was pretty much my drop-off point there anyway I think. Maybe this is new, I was unaware of it. In any case at the time a local bus seemed the way to go, it's just a few hours from NJP I think, maybe 2-4 if I recall.

Checking some more: Those are passenger trains though, express ones are said to stop at Hasimara, 20 kms. away. Hence the direct bus I guess.

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steven_ber

Thanks Mach, I was getting confused.

There is a direct road from Kalimpong to Sevok (about 33kms) and Oodlabari (about 50km).

Train 625 departs New Jalpaiguri daily at 07:35, then Siliguri at 08:08, then Sevok at 08:36 and gets to Madari Hat at 11:02 and Hasimara at 11:32.

Train 5741 departs New Jalpaiguri daily at 16:50, then Siliguri at 17:28, then Oodlabari at 18:03 and gets to Madari Hat at 19:59 and Hasimara at 20:13.

Both trains start their journeys at New Jalpaiguri and both only have unreserved 2nd class, so just turn up at the station 30 minutes before the train and buy a 2nd class ticket, very very cheap, though I have no idea how busy these trains will be, on the plus side, I've heard this is a very scenic route.

There are other trains, but they start their journeys from too far away to be relied upon.

I'd choose the train option, but then again, I'm a sucker for punishment sometimes and often have my best and worst experiences getting from a to b, I must love it because I never learn and always do it all again no matter what the previous experience, but if my mother were doing this route, I'd probably tell her to hire a car & driver.

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Train information.

machadinha

ps A note on Jaldapara, as with most parks I think a call ahead to announce your visit and/or arrange a bed is technically required.

When I was there (quite some time ago) this was in practice a mere formality and in other words really unnecessary, but I imagine it may be an issue at peak times, and you'd better give that call first anyway, and well ahead I hear at peak times again.

stake501

thanks for the replies guys

sorry ab0out the thread title, i was using really stiff keyboard hence the errors.

without going too far off topic, i am going to try to book ahead for jaldapara, but do not have an contact e-mail for west bengal tourism or jaldapara directly.

uhm i think as my mother, father and sister are going, i will be taking the car option. If it was me on my own, general class train would be it (and i wouldnt be flying from cal to bagdogra)

machadinha

Don't know how current this is, but have you tried http://www.wbtourism.com/wildlife/ja...ay.htm#reserve ? The tourism board has a contact button there as well. Good luck with it.

If you scroll around there, there's some info on connections to there as well.