Jhalong Travel Guide
Jhalong is a small village situated on the banks of river Jaldhaka, near India-Bhutan border in the Kalimpong subdivision of Darjeeling district in West Bengal, India. It is just 94 km from Siliguri, towards Bindu and a lesser-trodden offbeat wonder of Dooars Himalayan foothills. A Hydro Electricity Project is constructed on the Jaldhaka River and it acts as a bridge for crossing over to Bhutan.
It is the first hydroelectric project in India founded way back in 1976 and the population developed based on this project. It is a major attraction in this area. The large reservoir provides a great opportunity for the bird lovers to enjoy a varied collection of hill birds as well as migratory water fouls. Eurasian Wryneck, Crested Kingfisher, Brown Dipper, Hodgson’s Redstart, Slaty-backed Fork tail, Little Fork tail, Rufus-necked Laughing thrush are some of the recorded species found here.
West Bengal Forest Development Corporation) has its own lodge known as the Jhalong River camp which in itself is quite an attraction for tourists visiting Jhalong although it only provides basic living amenities and not much of a luxury.
A journey thru beautiful forests, villages and hills will take you to Jhalong. This stretch is home to elephants, leopards, bison, deer, boars and a host of other un-domesticated animals. The narrow asphalt road crosses the elephant corridor at several points, as does the broad-gauge rail line to north-east India that also passes through this forested region. From a hilltop, we had the first and a breath-taking view of the township. Far below, the river Jaldhaka meandered and gurgled past the boulders towards the plain. The opposite bank (on the right) climbs up to a green plateau in Bhutan. The township with its electric transmission substation is spread out on the left bank (the Indian side).
How to Reach Jhalong
- By Air — The nearest airport to Jhalong is the Bagdogra Airport. After reaching Bagdogra, you need to hire a car to reach Jhalong.
- By Rail — The nearest railway station is New Mal Junction. Kanchan Kanya Express is the only train that takes you to the New Mal Junction station directly from Kolkata. The train has a halt in New Jalpaiguri station as well. Other NJP bound trains can also be availed. There is a taxi stand just outside the station where from one can hire a taxi to Jhalong.
- By Road — Jhalong is connected by road with Siliguri and other places in North Bengal. Various government and private buses and taxis are available from Siliguri to Jhalong.
Distance of Jhalong from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Kolkata |
647 |
|
Siliguri |
94 |
|
New Alipurduar |
130 |
|
Gorumara National Park |
42 |
|
Lataguri |
49 |
|
Bindu |
3 |
Weather
Jhalong Temperature:
- Summer (Apr to Jun) — Temperatures are high and range between (21°C) to (32°C)
- Monsoon (Jul to Sep) — Regular and heavy rainfall happens. This is not a good season for tourists
- Winter (Oct to Mar) — Temperatures are low and range between (12°C) to (29°C)
- Best Season to Visit — Oct to Mar are the best season for tourism
Places to See In Jhalong
The term, ‘in the lap of nature’ best describes this incredibly beautiful place. Just beside the Jaldhaka River and surrounded by lush green mountains, Jhalong is a piece of paradise for those who love nature.The place is stunningly beautiful, with a rivulet roaring across by the cottages.
The beauty, the silence, the atmosphere will definitely leave the tourists overwhelmed. Just in front of the tents, the river is flows through the rocks. On the other side, there is the hill, where you can go for hiking. Otherwise one can just sit through the day beside the river and never feel time is running away. The only noise at night is the water and one wakes up to the chirping of unfamiliar birds. The bridge at the entrance is quite enthralling. At the moment of sunrise, the beautiful landscape looks like calendar shots.
The dam built on the Jaldhaka River helps to provide water supply to Jaldhaka Hydel Power Project. One can cross the dam only by foot. From there you can take a rare view of the snow Peak Mountains in winters. Jhalong is also famous for various hill birds as well as some migratory waterfowl. This place is about 8 km away from Jhalong.
Jaldhaka Hydel Project is the first hydroelectric project of India can be visited with the prior permission of the WBSEB authorities. On the way to Godak village, about 15 km from Bindu, government has set up a Cardamom Curing Centre. Cardamom is dyed and processed here before delivery. Godak is famous for the worship of a tribal Goddess.
Other Details
What to Do
- Sit by the hilly terrains ran by a gurgling brook called river Jhalong
- A few minutes’ drive can take you to places beyond which no vehicles can traverse. A small wooden bridge over the brook and the gigantic boulders jutting out can take you in the middle of nowhere. Once the car’s engine dies down, a sense magic and peace will overtake. Apart from the sound of the roar of the cascading Jhalong, there is absolute silence. Take a deep breath and submerge into some soul searching moments.
- Strolling around the place and clicking some fantastic snaps can keep you occupied in the afternoon.
- Camp fire can be arranged at night with dinner at the resort.
Where to Eat
- Number of restaurants are scanty in Jhalong. However, the hotels generally have adjacent restaurants which are more or less clean, hygienic and well equipped. They serve Bengali cuisine like Chicken Curry, Egg Curry, Rice, Dal, Finger Chips etc. In the mornings, the nearby villages put up weekly markets where you can get fresh vegetables. If you wish to buy, the hotel cook can prepare curries according to your choices and tastes.
- Delicious Tibetan food like Momos and Thukpas are available in roadside eateries.
What to Buy
The place is not for the shopaholics and there is nothing you can buy from here.
Get Around
- To get around the place and visit other places of interests adjacent to Jhalong, the only option for tourists is a vehicle on rental. You can ask the resort manager to arrange a vehicle for a drop to another place, for a day trip, for sightseeing or you can hire a vehicle on a full day basis.
Top Destinations - West Bengal
– Bakkhali
– Bindu
– Bishnupur
– Buxa Tiger Reserve
– Chapramari
– Chilapata
– Darjeeling
– Digha
– Jhalong
– Lataguri
– Jairambati
– Jaldapara
– Jayanti
– Kalimpong
– Kamarpukur
– Lava
– Lolegaon
– Mandarmani
– Murti
– Murshidabad
– Rishop
– Samsing-Suntalekhola
– Santiniketan
– Sundarbans
– Tajpur
– Tarapith
Popular Tour Plans - West Bengal
1-3 Days
1. Murshidabad (2N/3D)
2. Digha (2N/3D)
3. Tajpur (2N/3D)
4. Bakkhali (2N/3D)
5. Sundarbans (2N/3D)
6. Kamarpukur-Jairambati-Bishnupur (3N/4D)
4-6 Days
1. Bakreshwar-Tarapith-Santiniketan (4N/5D)
2. Mandarmani-Digha (4N/5D)
3. Jaldapara-Chilapata-Buxa Tiger Reserve-Jayanti (5N/6D)
4. Lava-Lolegaon-Rishop (6N/7D)
5. Darjeeling-Gangtok (6N/7D)
7-10 Days
1. Jaldapara-Lataguri-Murti-Chapramari-Jhalong-Bindu-Suntanekhola (8N/9D)
2. Darjeeling-Kalimpong-Pelling-Gangtok (9N/10D)
3. Darjeeling-Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung (9N/10D)
4. Darjeeling-Pelling-Gangtok (8N/9D)
>10 Days
1. Darjeeling-Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung-Pelling (11N/12D)