Siliguri: The Gateway of Northeast India
Introduction
Siliguri is known as the gateway of Northeast India. It is famous for its Tea estate, timber and tourism. It is located on the bank of river Mahananda. Siliguri is the third-largest urban area in West Bengal. Siliguri is famous for its beauty, culture and tradition. This is the place where you can find all your needy things or products in one place.. Siliguri is one of the largest areas in North Bengal. It is a place where you can enjoy, find peace, hang out during your holidays, etc.
This place has nearly two districts Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri. There are 47 wards in Siliguri. Siliguri is the best place for the entertainment zone. It is one of the budget-friendly places. Siliguri has now achieved the status of becoming the 2nd largest metropolitan city in West Bengal, after Kolkata. There are some popular places, restaurants, markets and parks to visit for roaming around. Scroll down the places listed below.
- Geography and Location
Siliguri is located at the foothills of the eastern Himalayas at a location of 26.71°N 88.43°E. This city is spread over an area of 260 km2 within the Siliguri Corridor. This city is surrounded by dense forest. The river Mahananda flows through the city. Also, the Tista river is not so far from the city. The soil of the city is sandy in nature and the ratio of sand and silt is much higher than clay. The rainfall season is from June to August. The climatic conditions are very perfect. This region is very common for earthquakes as there are many fault lines nearby. Siliguri has also been a modern hub for its commercial.
- History
Siliguri means a stack of pebbles or stones. In the 19th century, this region was called “Shilchaguri”. Siliguri started growing rapidly as a small city due to its business and convenience of trade. A narrow gage toy train is running since 1880 between Siliguri and Darjeeling. Siliguri was formed when Bengal was divided into WestBengal and East Pakistan in 1947. Thecity touched 46.83% of the population growth rate in 1981–1991. Siliguri is an international transportation and logistics hub. In 1994, Siliguri built a Municipal corporation which has been responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the city of Siliguri.
Why Siliguri is known as the gateway of Northeast India?
Siliguri is the third-largest urban area in West Bengal, after Kolkata and Asansol. Siliguri has a major tourist destination in the vicinity. It is the place for adventure, trekking, paragliding, river rafting, etc. It has the beauty of nature and wildlife sanctuaries. The Kanchenjunga is visible from the Siliguri. The main gate is at Sukna which is nearly 30 minutes from Siliguri.
You can see many flora & fauna including 330 different types of the plantation, 36 species of mammals, and 243 species of birds. There are many such parks and forests where you can find peace and a natural atmosphere. Siliguri is also connected with many parts of the cities like Sikkim, Gangtok, Darjeeling etc. Siliguri also has a good bond with other nation-states for import and export of the business. It can be said proudly that Siliguri North Bengal is a ” Green Land ” of India.
- Demographics
The population of Siliguri is 701,489 while the population of Municipal corporation is 5,13,264. The population of male and females are about 40% – 55%. The literacy rate in Siliguri is 77%. There are 154 notified and 31 non-notified slums in Siliguri, with 32% of Siliguri’s population staying in them.
- Languages
Bengali is the official language in Siliguri. It is the most common language spoken followed by Nepali, Hindi, Bhojpuri, Urdu etc. Bengali speakers had a percentage of 64.25% out of the total population. This language is also known by the people outside the cities. And it seems that it is one of the most comfortable languages.
- Religion
The most commonly followed religion in Siliguri is Hinduism and Islam belonging to the largest minority religion followed by small numbers of Christian and Buddhism. The Hindu festival Navratri is celebrated there as a big occasion of Hinduism. And Kali Puja is also one of the precious festivals in Siliguri. But there is no discrimination among the religion every religion can enjoy all festivals.
Nearby tourist attraction
Siliguri is one of the most popular places for tourism. There are various points of interest in the city. People from different states or countries come here to spend their quality of time. Some of the most famous places are as follows:-
- Coronation Bridge
Siliguri in the small town of Sevoke. This bridge is popular by other names such as “Bagh Pul ” or “Tiger Bridge ” because of the two lion statues at the entrance or as “Loha Pul ” because it is made of steel. It is a visual treat for travelers to get a breathtaking view of the greenery of the location while traveling between Darjeeling and New Jalpaiguri. It is also named the National Highway.
- Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary
If North Bengal Wild Animals Park has left you gasping for more, then Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary is the perfect place for your next stop. It is located 9km from Siliguri. It is a reserve forest with many flora and fauna, Royal Bengal tigers, elephants, deer, peacocks, etc. You can also spot different types of birds, hornbills and many more from different parts of central Asia. It also has a government forest lodge if you wish to spend your night there. It is closed every year for 3months during the rainy season.
- Tea gardens
It would be very disappointing to leave Siliguri without visiting the tea gardens. These tea gardens have a variety of tea plantations. The teas are being made naturally by plugging the leaf of the tea plants. Siliguri has many options to visit one of them. There is a popular tea garden named Sepoy tea garden. This place is the perfect place where you can capture your memories and the beauty of nature with your camera. A tea garden is also a perfect place where you can chill and find peace from other parts of a city.
- Hong Kong market
This is one of the most popular and the most iconic markets in Siliguri. This market has a variety of shops, food courts, stationery etc. These shops are some of the cheapest shops in North Bengal. You have to be very smart while burgeoning about the prices. You get all kinds of stuff for daily use as well as gift items taken as mementos for loved ones from your visit to local destinations. They have the best umbrellas and slippers. This shop is open every day till day tonight. Get your stuff from here and save your pocket.
- Bengal Safari
This place is very big with lots of Greenery. The beauty of nature and fresh air can make you fall in love with the place. There is also an interesting medicinal plant nursery that has many medicinal plants. You can see Royal Bengal Tiger, Elephant, Panther, Bear, Peacocks, deers, rabbits and many birds. With the vast forests of Sal trees, this safari is one of a kind. You get public vehicles like Totos,
Autos and Cars which can take you to this place although reaching there in your own vehicle would be advisable. It has numerous species of birds and animals and deer, rhino, bear, leopard and tiger are the main attractions. This is because these animals are not kept in a cage and they roam about freely in the forest. You will be taken on a tour in closed air-conditioned cars for a memorable journey.
Things to do in Siliguri
Explore some places nearby the city and spend your leftover time. Siliguri is the city that will leave you with much more entertainment, delicious foods, a perfect atmosphere, and most important natural beauty. You must try out some mouthwatering food like momos, thukpas, tea/coffee, fried rice, Chowmein, chili chicken etc. The perfect time to visit these places is from October to February. Also, you can visit the parks to entertain yourself and enjoy yourself with your family, friends, etc. Here are some of the markets, parks and restaurants listed below. Go and have a look.
Check Top 5 Touristic places near Siliguri
Wonderful buffet options at a reasonable amount with great ambiance and wide varieties of starters/main course/dessert. This is the perfect place for lunch and dinner and also good for celebrations like birthdays, anniversaries etc. You will love the atmosphere and the good nature of the waiters as they are extremely friendly. The best multi-cuisine restaurant in Siliguri. Serves various buffet menus. Covid-19 protocols are maintained properly.
It is one of the most popular restaurants in the town. The ambiance is very good. This place has a variety of delicious foods, starters from the main course and then desserts. The staff of this restaurant is very cooperative and helpful. They suggest some of their mouth-watering dishes you haven’t tried earlier. This place has been maintained with proper hygienic and following all the covid19 safety measures to the customers. If you are a kind of beer person then you can enjoy yourself in their bars and can take a view of the North East Siliguri from their balcony. This place is amazing for tourists, couples, friends and youngsters. If you are in Siliguri then do visit here definitely you will enjoy it.
This is a family restaurant where you can enjoy and spend some time with your family. It’s a pure veg restaurant with budget-friendly prices and tasty foods. The staff is very helpful and decent. They serve the orders as much as the low limit of time. You can spend one or two hours here and get relaxed and have yummy food.
The ambiance and the decoration are up to the mark very simple and colorful. They have plenty of veg items on their menu. Must try at least once. you will surely visit again and again. They follow proper hygiene and sanitize all the tables several times. They also keep the covid19 safety measures and precautions of their restaurants.
- Seth Srilal Market
This is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Siliguri. This market is famous for customized things. You can also find clothes for both men and women and also children. It is also said that this market is the heart of the city. You can also check out the mono Gali for its yummy dishes. This place is welcoming for both locals and tourists. The prices are very pocket-friendly but you need to be very careful about the bargaining. This place is located in Nabin Sen Road, Mahakal Pally, Janta Nagar, Siliguri, West Bengal. This is one of the best things to do in Siliguri.
- Banglabandha Zero Point – Indo-Bangla Border
It is an inland spot located at the borders of India and Bangladesh. This place is also known as the zero points. This spot has a symbol with the number “0”. This is one of the great places to click pictures in Siliguri. This is one of the best places to visit in Siliguri and this is a famous place in west Bengal. Location – Siliguri, West Bengal.
- Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
One of the famous things to do in Siliguri is to travel on the Darjeeling Himalayan railway. Also to take a ride on the ” toy train” where elders and little ones both can enjoy. The train is passing through the most eye-catching views of hills and valleys. Location- Siliguri to Rangtong and back.
- City Center Mall
City Centre, Siliguri has already established itself as a must-visit mall especially among Teenagers and Youngsters. Shopping, hang-outs, cinema, restaurants etc. all present in the huge city center mall. It is clean and well maintained. The attractive food stalls, eateries etc. It is 3 to 4 km away from Siliguri, located in the city’s township, the national highway, well connected by public transport. But one should watch the traffic mobility condition. Sometimes, there are heavy traffic jams originating from the narrow rail overbridge near Darjeeling More. Do visit there.
- Savin Kingdom
If you are traveling with your kids, then the Savin Kingdom is a beautifully themed amusement park with many rides, a food court, bar, pottery making, magic and various kinds of entertainment for all age groups. It is quite popular among locals for day trips. This kingdom offers complete family entertainment so even adults can enjoy rides like Sky Train, Bumping Car, Break Dance, and Flying Chair.
In the water park section, you can enjoy many rides. This is a well-maintained place with parking facilities. Break the vacation by bringing out your inner child and be prepared to capture lots of crazy moments. The hours of the water park are from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm and for the amusement park are from 10:30 am to 8:30 pm.
- Vega circle mall
One of the best malls in Siliguri. It is not a very big mall but the mall is all decked up. Most of the big brands are available here. It has Inox for taking care of movie experience. The food court is quite good. There are brands like Forever 21, pantaloons, Pepe, hush puppies, Ritu Sharma etc. Lots of fun activities are available. The Smash game zone is there. Spencer Super99 is there for your grocery and daily shopping needs. Dominos, KFC, etc.. are available. You can spend your evening time shopping and look after the good things. Must try to visit.
- Teesta Barrage project
This is one of the largest projects in the eastern region. This project is not only the largest irrigation project in WestBengal but many parts of the region. Gajoldoba barrage is few far from Siliguri it was built on the river Teesta. It is surrounded by dense forests. You can take a ride in the local fisherman’s boat in the river Teesta. The variety and volume of birds are high. If you are a photographer don’t forget to carry your lenses and monopod. Capture all memories and peace over there. Hurry up.
These are some of the things to do and many more are there. But Siliguri is a mesmerizing place for the people of India.
Conclusion
You can visit Siliguri anytime around the year as the climatic conditions are suitable and sightseeing opportunities are abundant. June to September receives heavy rainfall so that you can avoid these months for a more comfortable outing. Being an important trade center, Siliguri is well-connected to other parts of the state and country.
Siliguri is the prettiest city in North Bengal and we can make it more developed by changing and creating newer things to do here. As we are the generation of this century, we can create positive changes in the local economy and bring back the glory of the old days. So let’s bring our hands together and make the city more beautiful in the future.
