Siliguri is a city in Darjeeling district in the northern part of West Bengal, India.
With a population of half a million in 2011 census, Siliguri is the third largest city in West Bengal after Calcutta and Asansol. It boasts the highest literacy rates in the state. With its environs such as Bagdogra included, the population of Siliguri urban agglomerate reaches three quarters of a million.
As one of the most important transportation hubs in the north east, Siliguri has recently become something of a boom town. Sprawling and boisterous, modern condominiums dominate the landscape on entering the town, followed by endless streets of market stalls that surround a core of up-scale shops and shopping malls. Due to its position as a shopping and business hub and its high concentration of colleges and institutes of learning, the city enjoys a sophistication and range of shopping rarely found outside the five metro cities.
While it is a popular place to shop and do business for people from the North East and Bhutan, it has little to offer in the way of tourist attractions and so there is no good reason for tourists to linger in Siliguri. However, travelers heading towards Bhutan, Darjeeling and Sikkim may need to spend a night here.
The people of Siliguri have a reputation for their business prowess, but at the same time are known to be friendly and welcoming to outsiders.
Sports & nature
Siliguri is blessed with wonderful natural beauty. Siliguri is renowned for its three “T” – the tea, timber and tourism. The other two may be part of economic world but the tourism is the blood vain of Siliguri. The distant view of Kanchenjunga from Siliguri is a clear day is enough to take away the mind to a long journey from the world of reality.
The forest-covered foothills also present a panoramic sight for the visitors of Siliguri. The myriad flora in the Terai to the north and the agricultural flats, along with teagardens to the south combine to form beautiful vistas, thus Siliguri is uncommon around most other cities of India. Siliguri serves as the gateway of 8 northeastern states of India. Its amazing views really charm the visitors to have a look on it.
Places in the city of Siliguri
North Bengal Science Centre
It is located 5 km north of the city Siliguri alongside the National Highway 31 in Matigara. This Science Museum exhibits many scientific experiments and scientific equipments. The Science city complex encloses a planetarium and a Nature Interpretation Centre. The Science City of Siliguri shows the biological diversity of the region. the visitors can also enjoy the flora and fauna existing in Siliguri range. Another attraction of the place is observing the dialect, customs and traditions and culture of the people living in North Bengal.
Madhuban Park
It is Located within the Army Cantonment area, which is 8 km from the city Siliguri. The park is well maintained and serve as a picnic spots also. It is the trail of the renowned Sukna forest. There some animals at the park house like rabbit, deer, peacock etc. A wide variety of Butterflies will surely attract the heart of the visitors not only from Siliguri but also the visitors from out side the city Siliguri.
Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary
The Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary or Reserve is located 8 km from the city Siliguri in the Sukna Forest Range. It is a vast stretch of wilderness with thick foliage stretched along the tributary of the Mahananda River, called the Panchanoi River. Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is a natural habitat of many varieties of wildlife fauna and flora. The foliage includes thick woody trees and dense bushes. The animals include rare mountain goat, Chetal, barking dear, fishing cat, sambar, tiger, elephant and Indian bison.
Elephant Saffari and jeep Saffari are to wonderful option to enjoy the wild beauty very closely. It is a nice place for trekking nearby the city of Siliguri.There some mild to medium options for trekking lovers to meet their charm for it. It is Really a good place near to Siliguri to be part of the wild and enjoy it thoroughly.
Surya Sen Park
It is located at Mahakalpally in Siliguri, alongside the Mahananda River. The Surya Sen Park, a favorite picnic spot among the local people of Siliguri. The park is a eco-friendly pace as it exhibits different alternative energy source. This park in Siliguri is named after the renowned freedom fighter Surya Sen. The park facilitate the children of Siliguri with different equipment of enjoyment. The beautiful decorations, the lush green lawn, picturesque view of the fountains will definitely the steal the heart of anyone weather from Siliguri or not. The night lighting of the Surya Sen Park, Siliguri is another thing that should not be missed.
North Bengal University
The North Bengal University is located 9 km away from Siliguri with a great campus stretched along an area of 330 acres. It is the educational centre for the North Bengal region along with the state of Sikkim. This University situated at Siliguri was established on1962. It enrolls over 36,000 undergraduates and 1500 graduates at different courses under its affiliation every year. There are 23 post graduate departments, 18 centres and 19 administrative departments other then the researchers centers and officers quarter at Siliguri. Student not only from Siliguri and its surrounding area , Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Malda and the states of Sikkim choose this university for their study. Again students from neighboring Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal like to this university as the way to get the successes.
Sed-Gyued Monastery, Salugara
The Sed-Gyued Monastery, Salugara, is a sacred Buddhist destination near to Siliguri. It is located in Salugara, belonging to the Gelugpa. Siliguri. It was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama in November, 2001. Here is also a researcher center for the Buddhist studies. It is believed that the original Monastery was first destroyed by Chinese when they invaded Tibet. Dalai Lama wished to rebuilt it at Salugara, Siliguri. The main attraction was the 100 feet high Stupa founded by the Tibetan Lama, Kalu Rinpoche. The stupa at Slugara, Siliguri brings out five kinds of relics and is really worth to be revered.
Kalchakra Monastery
The Kalchakra Monastery at Siliguri was also inaugurated by the Dalai Lama when he visited Salugara, a suburb in Siliguri, for the Kalchakra ceremonies in 1996.
ISCKON Temple
International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as Hare Krishna Movement manages the ISCKON temple, Siliguri The temple houses many beautiful idols of Advaita Acharya, Lord Narasimha, Lord Chaitanya and many more. This temple attract thousand of people every year.
Places around Siliguri
Gajoldoba on Tista Barrage
Gajoldoba on Tista Barrage is 25 km away Siliguri is a perfect place for bird watcher.The place has been a boon to the migratory water fouls after a dam was constructed for irrigational purposes on river Tista. The water reservoirs are surrounded by dense forest of Baikunthapur that invites a number of water birds from Ladakh and Central Asia. This place is a wonderful place near to Siliguri to enjoy the beauty Brahmini ducks, Bar headed goose, Poachards, Pintails, Shovlers, mallards, black Ibis, and many species of storks, cormorants and ducks.
Fulbari Barrage
It is located 15 km away from Siliguri on Siliguri-Jalpaiguri highway is lesser-known artificial water body – Fulbari. The most important river Mahananda provides a wide marshy land that is an ideal nesting place for the migratory birds like Rudy shell, Mallard, open bull stork and much more during December to February.
Shorea Forest Recreation Center
It is located at Siliguri on NH31 towards Gangtok. It is a recently established eco-tourism center – Shorea.It is name after botanical name of Sal tree 'Shorea Rubusta' as the place is situated amidst the dense high sal forests of Baikunthapur division of Mahananda Wild Life Sanctuary, Siliguri. A nice and unique tree top restaurant is situated here to provide the visitors of Siliguri with a wonderful experience.
Sevoke, Kalijhora, Mongpong
Sevoke, Kalijhora, Mongpong combines a popular visit place for the people of Siliguri. These are 8-10 km away from each other and 30 km away from the city Siliguri. these beautiful places are situated at the foothill of Kalimpang surounded by dense forest and wide river basin.
The Corronation Bridge at Sevok near Siliguri is a unique example of architecture. It was built by the British before the independence of India. Sevoke Kali mandir is situted on the hill top which provide a wonderful view of river Tista. Mongpong is surrounded by dense forest providing a panaromic view of Tista valley and Mahananda forest.
Rohini
Rohini is a famous tourist place 25 km away from Mirik. There is good accomodation arrangement so that visitors can have a night long view Mirik.
Dudhia
A common tourist spot on the Siliguri-Mirik highway.
Panighata and Lohagarh
Both the places are situated at Indo-Nepal border on the bank or river Mechi. We can find the places 25 km away from the Siliguri city. This places is famous for campaigning composed of forest, low hills, rivers and teagardens. There is a market named Dhulabari famous for foreign goods from Nepal is only half hour drive from this tourist place.
Culture and history info
CULTURE
Siliguri, the gateway of North East India, gained municipal status in 1949 and grew into Municipal Corporation in 1994. It is one of the most rapidly developing and growing metropolis of the state and also of the country. It is situated in both Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri district.
Siliguri is home to diverse group of people from different communities and religion, who have brought their distinctive cultural ideologies with them. Festivals such as Durga Puja, Ganesh Puja, Chhat Puja, Laxmi Puja, Diwali and Sarwasti Puja are celebrated with much pomp and pleasure. It also hosts Baisakhi Mela, which is the oldest fair in Siliguri observed with the Bengali New Year. Other prominent crowd pullers are fairs like the Hosto Shilpo Mela, Handicrafts Fair, Book Fair and Lexo Fair. As the city is inhabited by people from different communities, the food here is multi-cultural. From a wide range of vegetarian to non-vegetarian, tandoori, South Indian, Bengali, Chinese, Punjabi and Continental, Siliguri caters to every taste buds of both the locals and the visitors that flock this city.
HISTORY
The city of Siliguri connects three international borders namely, Bangladesh, China and Nepal. It is also connected to Kalimpong, Sikkim by road and Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling by a well-laid-out railway network. Over the past century, Siliguri has transformed from a small agricultural village to a vibrant and commercially developed city. The city has been ruled by many major dynasties such as Pandyas, Cheras and Cholas. The term ‘Siliguri’, according to Sailen Debnath, a prominent scholar, means a heap of stones or pebbles. It was known as ‘Shilchaguri’ till the 19th century. Originally, a small rural village, which was a kingdom of Sikkim ruled over Siliguri, until the influence of Nepal into the region. According to Debnath, the vast area covered by Siliguri at present was part of the southernmost part of the Sikkim kingdom, till Nepal came into the scene. This lead to the arrival and settlement of Nepali Lepcha and Kirati people into this vast area.
Take a Look
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Theme of Siliguri[Nature, Adventure, Romantic]
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You'll love Siliguri for[Hills, Stunning scenic views, Adventurous activities]
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Watchout for[Humid summer]
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Altitude400 ft. above sea level
