Jaldhaka River

The Jaldhaka river originates at Kupup lake in the East Sikkim Zuluk tourist circuit area. From here it flows partly through Bhutan and partly through the Bhutan-Bengal border. The last stretch of its Himalayan journey is through the Jaldhaka river valley referred to here. From the Himalayas, it enters the Dooars plains and slowly takes a much larger and stronger form thanks to its many tributaries. The river passes through the East of Gorumara forest and takes a southeastern path. Through Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar district it passes before entering Bangladesh near Mathabhanga in Coochbehar district.

The Jaldhaka Khola meanders between the hills of India and Bhutan- oral narratives recall that villagers from either side used to gather for the Kholey Dai before National borders were enforced.India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers of which agreement has been reached only on sharing of waters of the river Ganga. The India-Bangladesh Treaty on the Sharing of Ganga Waters was signed on December 12th 1996 and is based on a sharing formula of the flows measured at Farakka, during the lean season each year, from 1st January to 31st May. The 30-year Treaty is renewable by mutual consent. The two countries have a bilateral Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) that was established in June 1972 to maintain liaison between the two countries to maximize benefits from common river systems, formulation of flood control works, formulation of proposals on advance flood warnings, flood forecasting and cyclone warning
In the Coochbehar district, the river takes the name Singimari. After entering the Bangladesh river Jaldhaka again changes its name to Dharla and flows into the Brahmaputra near Kurigram.