Tourists at the state-run tourist lodge in Madarihat next to the Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar district had a pleasant surprise on Sunday morning as a one-horned rhino walked up to the power-fenced boundary of the lodge and stood there for around half an hour.

In Bengal, Jaldapara is the largest habitat of rhinos. As of now, there are over 250 rhinos in the park.

Around 6.30am, the adult male rhino walked up near the lodge. Swapan Kumar Mallick, a tourist from Calcutta, was the first to spot it as the cottage where he has checked in, is just opposite where the rhino stood.

“I was brushing my teeth and was stunned to see the rhino. I silently called my family members. Soon, we all had the experience of a lifetime. Never I have seen a rhino from up so close,” said Mallick.

The tourists went on clicking pictures of the animal, which apparently was unperturbed. It went on grazing vegetation, said tourists.

After 30 minutes, the rhino walked back to the forest.

“It is sheer luck because on many occasions, tourists do not see rhinos even on a car safari in Jaldapara. Only an elephant safari ensures a rhino sighting,” said a tour operator in the Dooars.

Niranjan Saha, the lodge manager, said in recent years, this was the first time a rhino came so close to the lodge. “Elephant sightings are common here but not rhinos,” he said.

Elephant safari

Any tourist visiting the Gorumara National Park in Jalpaiguri district, the state's second largest rhino habitat, can enjoy an elephant safari here from Monday. So far, the safari was limited to those who booked accommodation at the forest department properties.