Known as the gateway to North-East India, Siliguri is an amazing tourist destination worth exploring and cherishing for a lifetime. It is a nice combination of rivers, forests, and wonderful landscapes.
The exotic flora and fauna of Siliguri will win your heart in such a way that you would want to come here again and again. With all its natural beauty, Siliguri has managed to come across as one of the most remarkable places, registering itself in the travel bucket lists of several travellers.
Best Time to Visit Siliguri
The best time to visit Siliguri is between the months of October to February. In the winter months, the temperature can drop down to 8-degree celsius along with drizzling. You won’t regret your time in Siliguri during these months.
History of Siliguri
Overtime, Siliguri has grown from practically a village into a commercially successful destination. What gave a major directional change to its history was the Treaty of Sugali that was signed between Britain and Nepal.
From then on, Siliguri started to grow quite rapidly and due to its strategic convenience of trade, within some time, it became a flourishing region.
However, in 1865, the Britishers had captured Darjeeling for the purpose of building their tea plantations and export it to their country. And for easy transportation, a toy train was introduced in Darjeeling in 1880. Because of this step, Siliguri gained the status of a sub-divisional town.
Best Places to Visit in Siliguri
1. Salugara Monastery
This monastery was established by the Tibetan Buddhist Monks who were also the followers of the great Dalai Lama. There is also a stupa here which is about 100 feet in height and was built by one of the Tibetan lamas named Kalu Rinpoche.
2. Iskcon Temple
The temple is also known by the name of Sri Sri Radha Madhav Sundar Mandir. This temple was built by ISKCON that stands for International Society for Krishna Consciousness. It is quite a grand and lavish temple, and visiting here you can feel a soothing ambience and a sense of great peace.
3. The Science City
This place is quite popular among children and adults alike. The North Bengal Science Centre is frequently visited for its planetarium and Nature Interpretation Centre. Other than these, the centre has various attractions like fun science gallery, 3d theatre, tara-mandala, light, mirrors and images gallery.
4. Madhuban Park
It is again a spectacular tourist spot to visit in Siliguri with your loved ones. Madhuban park was founded by the Indian Army and is situated in the outskirts of Siliguri and the lush green surroundings make it an interesting destination for your visit.
How to Reach Siliguri
Siliguri is a terrific place to be at and explore the heritage of West Bengal. It is located at a distance of about 1,458, 2,304, 559, 2,503 km from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively. Here is how you can travel to Siliguri via the following means of public transport.
By Air
If you are planning to visit Siliguri by air, then, you will need to deboard at the Bagdogra Airport (IXB). It is situated at just 15 min distance from Siliguri and is an international airport.
Interestingly, Bagdogra Airport is also considered to be the gateway airport to the hill stations of Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kurseong and several other parts locally. Many major airlines operate to and fro with good flight connectivity to this airport. From the airport, you will need to take a taxi or some other means of public transport to reach your destination.
Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Siliguri
By Train
Although there are two main railway stations namely Siliguri Junction and New Jalpaiguri Junction, the latter is considered to be more prominent in terms of overall connectivity and travelling here. Its station code is NJP and was established in 1960. Acting as a significant connecting point to the Northeastern region of India, this station has fairly good connectivity with other Indian cities. After deboarding at the station, you will need to take some other means of public conveyance.
- From Guwahati - Board DBRG NDLS AC SPL from Guwahati station and deboard at New Jalpaiguri Station
- From Patna - Board BRAHMPUTRA SPL from Patna Junction and deboard at the New Jalpaiguri Station
- From Agra - Board BRAHMPUTRA SPL from Agra Cantt and deboard at New Jalpaiguri Station
By Road
Siliguri has been overall well-connected with other Indian cities by accessible roadways that are quite well-maintained. To travel to Siliguri, you can easily book interstate as well as private buses, local taxis which are readily available from nearby cities and regions.
- From Darjeeling - 61 km via NH110
- From Gangtok - 114 km via NH10
- From Sahibganj - 325 km via NH27
Frequently Asked Questions about Siliguri
Q: What are some popular places to visit in Siliguri?
A: Some popular places to visit in Siliguri include ISKCON Temple, Surya Sen Park, Science City, Salugara Monastery, and Coronation Bridge.
Q: Are there any famous festivals in Siliguri?
A: Yes, Siliguri is famous for its Durga Puja festival, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion during the month of October.
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here.
