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Voykit pocket guide · India
Alipurduar
Spend a day in Alipurduar as a base for nearby wildlife parks; skip overnight unless you want a jungle stay.
Alipurduar is a small town on the Kaljani River that links to several attractions in North Bengal. With a train station, bus links and nearby airports, a single day covers the main sights; longer stays are only for deeper wildlife trekking.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹500–1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,200–2,500 excl. bed · High ₹2,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire and ambulance 101
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea (street stall) | ₹20–₹30 |
| Street snack (puchka, samosa) | ₹30–₹60 |
| Bus fare within town | ₹10–₹20 |
| Train ticket Alipurduar → Jaldapara | ₹30–₹50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- COH · Cooch Behar Airport
- about 90 km (56 mi) north, bus or taxiabout 56 mi (90 km) north, bus or taxi
- IXB · Bagdogra Airport
- about 120 km (75 mi) east, daily flights from major Indian citiesabout 75 mi (120 km) east, daily flights from major Indian cities
Typical fares
- Alipurduar → Jaldapara (bus)
- about ₹120 round‑trip, 45 min each way (check)
- Alipurduar → Bagdogra Airport (taxi)
- ≈₹1,500–2,000, 2 h
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Trains stop at Alipurduar Junction; local buses (NBSTC, ASTC) connect to parks and nearby towns. Auto‑rickshaws are common for short hops.
See and do
Known for
- Jaldapara National Park
- Buxa Tiger Reserve
- Kaljani River
- Gateway to Bhutan (Phuentsholing)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Jaldapara National Park | Bus from Alipurduar bus stand, about 45 min | ≈1 h total |
| Buxa Tiger Reserve | Bus to Buxa, ~1 h 30 min, then walk to entry gate | ≈2 h |
| Phuentsholing (Bhutan border) | Bus to Phuentsholing, ~2 h; passport check at border | ≈2 h 30 min |
| Cooch Behar | Train Alipurduar → Cooch Behar, ~1 h 15 min | ≈1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Kanchanjangha Tourist Lodge
- Budget dormitory, ₹100‑1,200 per night
- Hotel Sinchula
- Mid‑range, ₹150‑2,600 per night
- Hotel Elite
- Mid‑range, price on request
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | মাফ করবেনmaf korben |
| Thank you | ধন্যবাদdhonnobad |
| How much is it? | এটা কত?eta koto? |
| Where is the bus stop? | বসের স্টপ কোথায়?bos er stop kothay? |
| Can I have water? | একটা পানি দিতে পারেন?ekta pani dite paren? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- No airport in town; plan road transfer from COH or IXB.
- Monsoon can flood roads and limit park access; check conditions.
Alipurduar is generally safe for tourists. Watch for monsoon flooding and stray dogs at night; keep valuables out of sight in crowded buses.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Alipurduar yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Jaldapara National Park
- Buxa Tiger Reserve
- Kaljani River
- Gateway to Bhutan (Phuentsholing)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Alipurduar, revision 5304632 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5304632
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/alipurduar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.