Culture and history · Jhalong
A walk through the hydel colony and river
Jhalong's quarters, offices and market grew around the Jaldhaka hydel power station built from the 1960s. An evening walk along the road and the river shows how a small industrial colony settled into a border valley.
The Jaldhaka Hydel Project was one of West Bengal's early hydroelectric schemes, using the drop of the Jaldhaka between Bindu and Jhalong to generate power. Water diverted at the Bindu barrage runs to the power station here, and the colony of quarters, a school and a small market grew up around it from the 1960s onwards.
Walk the road through the colony in the late afternoon, past the market and down towards the river. You see the ordinary life of a project town: children back from school, employees heading home, tea shops filling up. Beyond, the river widens and the Bhutan hills catch the last light.
The power station, intake and transmission areas are restricted. Do not enter fenced areas or photograph installations where signs prohibit it. Keep to public roads and the open riverbank, and ask if in doubt.
Cost: Free
Questions people ask
Good to know
Can we visit the Jaldhaka power station?
Not as casual tourists; power stations and intakes are restricted sites. You can see parts of the project from public roads. Respect signs about photography and do not enter fenced areas. Special visits would need official permission, which is rarely given to travellers.
When was the Jaldhaka hydel project built?
It was developed by West Bengal's state electricity board from the 1960s, with later stages added. Water diverted at Bindu feeds the power station at Jhalong. For exact commissioning dates and capacity, check official sources, as details vary between accounts.
Is there a market in Jhalong?
A small one, with grocery shops, tea stalls and a few eateries serving rice, dal, noodles and momos. There are no large stores or reliable ATMs. Stock up on cash and anything special in Siliguri, Malbazar or Chalsa.
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