North Bengal is a treasure hunt for nature lovers, especially for those who are looking for an escape from the chaotic modern day fast life. The hills in the eastern and north eastern part of India is said to have one of the best views of raw nature. The beautiful hills, the winding road, the local food and the peaceful native people surely attracts thousands of tourists every year in this part of the country. If you are planning for a budget trip and want to experience the most beautiful view of the Himalayan Range , we would recommend you to visit the northern part of Bengal formerly West Bengal (eastern part of India)
North Bengal has a lot to offer to tourists. Starting from the picturesque mountains, to dense forests & beautiful rivers , the place has everything. The best part for budget travellers are that ,these places are easily accessible and accommodation & food is very cheap compared to other hilly regions of India.
In this blog, we will recommend you 10 beautiful places to visit if you are planning for a trip to North Bengal after the lockdown.
Entrance to North Bengal:
a) New Jalpaiguri Railway station : Overnight train journey from the city of Kolkata aka Calcutta, capital of Bengal
b) Siliguri Railway Station : Again overnight train journey from the city of Kolkata aka Calcutta, capital of Bengal
c) New Mal Junction Railway Station : Overnight train journey from the city of Kolkata. New Mal Junction is located around 55 km from New Jalpaiguri Station (NJP) . You can hire a cab or you can take local train from NJP
d) Hasimara Railway Station : Overnight train journey from the city of Kolkata. Hasimara station is located close to New Mal Junction. Both Hasimara and New Mal Junction are the two entrance points to the famous Dooars region.
e) Bagdogra Airport - 1 hour flight from Kolkata Airport
f) Via Sikkim - Overnight Journey by train or flight from Kolkata via Gangtok, the capital of the state of Sikkim
10 Places to Visit
1. Darjeeling
One of the oldest town in North Bengal, Darjeeling still holds its charm after so many years of the British colonial era. It is also known as the "Queen of Hills". Darjeeling is one of the most magnificent hill stations in the world. The beautiful resorts & hotels overlooking the hills will take your breath away. It is also famous for its cafes and restaurants like Glenary's, Keventers, Kunga etc. It is located around 70 km from the NJP station and around 65 km from Bagdogra Airport. You can hire a cab or you can take a shuttle taxi to reach the town. Darjeeling is also famous for its famous tea estates, and it offers one of the best teas in the world. It is one of the highest exporter of tea in the world. Do not forget to taste their tea and local cuisine when you visit the place. Also do not forget to take a ride in the famous UNESCO world heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Toy train. See other beautiful photos
Famous Places to visit : Tiger hill, Japanese Pagoda, Batasia Loop, Darjeeling Zoo, Ghoom Monastery etc
2. Kurseong
Kurseong is another district of Bengal and is close to the town of Darjeeling and around 42 km from the NJP railway station. It has a pleasant climate throughout the year and the winters are not as severe as Darjeeling's.
Kurseong is also known as "The Land of Orchids". It is also famous for tourists who are into adventure sports like trekking, rock climbing & hot air balloon ride.
Places to visit - Eagles Craig, Deer Park, Shiva Mandir etc
3. Kalimpong
Another majestic & beautiful town in the northern part of Bengal is Kalimpong. It is located around 50 km from the town of Darjeeling, 68 km from NJP railway station, 67 km from Siliguri Railway station & 76km from Bagdogra airport.
Kalim in local dialect means King's Minister and Pong means Stronghold. So the name Kalimpong actually means Stronghold of King's Minister and has originated from the time of king's dynasty in the region.
The place is famous for its green meadows and the gorgeous Teesta river which flows parallel to the region. It is very close to Gangtok,the capital city of Sikkim. The gushing blue water of the Teesta river, the pine trees across the road and the misty cloud crossing the mountains is a treat to the eyes. Do try their local Tibetan cuisine.
Places to Visit : Deolo Hill, Morgan House, Army Golf Course,Durpin Monastery etc
4. Lava, Lolegaon & Rishop
Arguably one of the most beautiful places in North Bengal. Lava, Lolegaon and Rishop are three different villages which are located very close to each other and is a part of the Kalimpong District.
Situated around 30 km from the Kalimpong town, this place offers the best view of the famous KanchenJunga , the third highest mountain in the world. On a sunny day you can clearly get a view of the famous peak from Rishop. There are plenty of hotels and home stays in the region. Try to avoid visiting the place during the monsoon as the roads are not so well developed. Winters have extreme temperature, try to visit the place during the summers and between monsoon and winter.
Do not miss the famous view of the Changey Falls around 14 km from Lava. It is the highest altitude falls in North Bengal. Lava, Lolegaon is also the gateway to the famous Neora Valley National Park.
Places to Visit : Canopy walk in Lolegaon, Lolegaon View Point, Neora Valley National Park, Lava Monastery, Lolegaon Eco park etc
5. Dooars
If you think we will only recommend mountains and there is nothing for the people who loves visiting dense forest & jungle, then we will surely not disappoint you
One of the most thrilling and exciting places in North Bengal is located in the Dooars region. The Dooars or Duars are the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in North-East India around Bhutan. Duar means 'door' and the region forms the gateway to Bhutan from India.
The famous Jaldapara & Gorumara National Park is located in this region which offers one of the best forest safaris in the country. It will take approximately 1.5-2 hours to reach the National Parks from NJP station and 20 minutes from New Mal Junction and Hasimara. We would recommend you to definitely do the forest safari if you are planning to come to this region. If you would like to know more about our journey visit this link.
There are plenty of Hotels and Government Bunglows available depending on where you want to stay. Avoid the monsoon season if your planning to do the forest safari (jeep and elephant)
The border of Bhutan is just a 45 minutes drive from the area.
Places to visit : Jaldapara National Park, Gorumara National Park, Chapramari Forest, Murti, Jhalong, Bindu, Samsing, Suntalekhola etc
6. Cooch Behar
Once a princely State, Cooch Behar is known for its fine climate, natural freshness, and beauty. During the 11th and 12th Century AD, the Pala-Senas ruled Cooch Behar.
Cooch Behar is also the birthplace of Maharani Gayatri Devi, the third Maharani of Jaipur and probably India's most famous queens. The city gets its name from Koch dynasty which ruled the region and Behar from the Sanskrit word vihar meaning house.
There are many budget hotels in Cooch Behar that are scattered throughout the city along with many guesthouses and few mid-range hotels. There are no luxury hotels in Cooch Behar, but the mid-range hotels near Gopalpur offer good service.
Rajbari, a heritage hotel shows strong influence of European styles and is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the city. It was built by Nripendra Bahadur Narayan who was the most notable ruler of the Narayan Dynasty.
Places to visit - Rajbari, Madan Mohan Temple, Sagardighi etc
7. Lepchajagat
Located at a distance of 14 km from the famous town of Darjeeling is the serene place of Lepchajagat. Lepchajagat is a small village in the foothills of the northern hills. You can get pre-paid taxis from NJP or Bagdogra for Lepchajagat. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach from NJP/Bagdogra (by the normal route - Hill Cart Road via Ghoom).
If you are a nature lover or looking for a romantic stay for couple of days, then Lepchajagat is the place for you. We know of many who actually combine a short stay in Lepchajagat with their visits to Darjeeling just to blend the vacation with an offbeat stay amidst nature.
You will get plenty of homestays mostly. Do try out their local cuisine if you are staying in one. Lepchajagat gets plenty of rain compared to other places on the northern hills, so it's better to avoid the monsoons.
Per head cost will be around Rs 1000 - 1300 per head/day inclusive of stay and meal.
Places to visit : Ghum Rock , Balsan Valley etc.
8. Tinchuley
North Bengal has a lot of offbeat places for tourists and one such place which has got a lot of popularity these days is Tinchuley. It is a small and peaceful village located at a distance of around 27 km from Darjeeling, 68 km from NJP and 74 km from Bagdogra airport. The word Tinchuley stands for three chullas (chulla means oven), and this is represented by three prominent hill tops that resembles the three chullas.
You will be able to witness the raw beauty of nature if you visit this place. Once gain on a sunny day you will get a clear picture of the Mt Kanchenjunga from there.
There are lot of small places nearby Tinchuley to visit, like the Lamahatta Eco Park and Takdah Orchid centre. The main inhabitants of Lamahatta are tribes like Sherpas, Yalmos, Tamangs, Bhutias and Dukpas. The inhabitants of this quiet settlement took an initiative for establishing their locality as a model organic village.
We would definitely recommend you to stay in their homestays which is an absolute pleasure and do try their local food. If you are group of friends visiting this place for the first time, definitely request the owner of the homestays to arrange a bonfire & barbeque in their beautiful lawns. It will surely be an amazing experience for all of you. See our photos.
Famous home stays : Gurung Guest House, Abiraj Homestay, Rai Resort etc
9. Sandakphu
Sandakphu or Sandakfu is the highest peak in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the highest point of the Singalila Ridge in Darjeeling district on the West Bengal-Nepal border.
If you are into trekking , this is the place to be. Trek to the highest point on this hill station and you will get the never seen before views of the Himalayan Range. A long stretch of Himalayas starting from Bhutan till Mt. Everest is visible. There are not many homestays around the region, trekkers generally carry their tent with them which they set up in the course of their journey.
How to reach :
Drive from NJP - Manebhanjan/Chitrey (95 km/4 Hours).Next Day 11km/5 hours trek, Singalila Range, trek from Manebhanjan to Tumling (9,500ft)Next Day 9 km/5 Hours Trek, Singalila National Park
1o. Sillery Gaon
Sillery Gaon is a small village surrounded on all sides by tall pine trees is situated at a height of about 6000 ft in the Darjeeling district. Located at a distance of around 8 km from Pedong and 5 km from 21 Miles, this sleepy village of New Darjeeling offers a magnificent view of the Kanchendzonga. The shimmering silver peak and the serenity around attracts every traveler visiting the village.
Sillery derives its name from a plant that grows in abundance in the region. This area is also well-known for its Cinchona Plantation that the British introduced in this region as a source of Quinine for treatment of Malaria.
The main attraction of Sillery Gaon other than its pristine greenery is the open north with the towering Kanchendzonga and Macchli-Puchhare peaks and mountain ranges.
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External Sources
Wikepedia https://www.wbtourismgov.in/destination/place/kurseong https://www.wbtourismgov.in/destination/district/darjeeling https://www.holidify.com/places/kurseong/sightseeing-and-things-to-do.html https://www.holidify.com/places/kalimpong/ https://www.darjeeling-tourism.com/darj_000127.htm https://northbengaltourism.com/changey-falls/ https://www.holidify.com/places/lolegaon/sightseeing-and-things-to-do.html https://www.wbtourismgov.in/destination/place/dooars https://www.wbtourismgov.in/destination/district/coochbehar https://www.india.com/travel/cooch-behar/ https://www.darjeeling-tourism.com/darj_0000fc.htm https://www.darjeeling-tourism.com/darj_0000ed.htm https://www.tinchuley.com/ https://www.wbtourismgov.in/destination/details/sandakphu https://www.facebook.com/Sandakphu-132091086898532/photos/a.132091303565177/132091306898510 http://noisebreak.com/18-offbeat-places-of-north-bengal-full-0f-natural-beauty/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienman/20678966346
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