Why Siliguri Should Be Your Next Holiday Destination
Siliguri, a name which has become quite popular when it comes to tourism, is a major town located in West Bengal. Apart from being a famous tourist spot, it is also the transit point for many tourists who are on their way to other destination such as Kalingpong, Darjeeling, Bhutan, Nepal or the Northeast. While most of the people prefer clubbing their vacations to the above places with a day or two exclusively for Siliguri, there are many others who stay in Siliguri for as long as a week to explore the beautiful town, which has a lot to offer.When going on a vacation, all you think of is a relaxed environment amidst beautiful surroundings, great food and great shopping destination. Siliguri is one such place which provides all of the above and more. Read on to find out why you should consider Siliguri your next holiday destination
Siliguri- A Great Place to Explore
Siliguri provides different attractions for people of all age groups. Coronation Bridge, which is a famous tourist spot, is an ideal place for those who would like to enjoy some freshness. You can visit the bridge during late evening and enjoy the sun set as well as the therapeutic, calm and smooth breeze that flows almost all the time. You can even climb down the stairs to the riverbed below. It was built during the British time and connects the Dooars area with Sikkim and Siliguri. This place is ideal for a family outing or outing with friends and for couples who wish to spend a romantic time amidst the mesmerizing environment.
When here, you can also visit the Kali temple which is considered to be a very auspicious place and located very near to the bridge on Sevoke road. Many people from all walks of life can be seen visiting the temple to seek blessings of Goddesses Kali. During the marriage season, many couples can be seen getting married here.
Apart from the Sevoke Kali Mandir, one can also visit the ISKON temple in Siliguri which has been very well kept by the devotees of Sri Krishna. Every day lots of activities takes place in the temple and it is wonderful to witness such activities which are performed with great devotion. Tourists can also visit Salugara Monastry and Kalchakra Monastry to get a glimpse of the rich Buddhist tradition and culture.
The municipality of Siliguri has provided the city with lots of Parks and lush green gardens for its residents and tourists alike. When tired, you can always take some rest in the beautiful gardens and parks, which have been quite well maintained. The places are also good for enjoying some beautiful time amidst lots of greenery and different varieties of flowers that are grown there. There are ample options for kids too to keep them busy.
Another favorite spot for people of all age groups especially the children is visiting Savin Kingdom.
This is the first amusement park and the only one in Siliguri and the nearby state of Sikkim. Numerous water rides and various other amusement facilities are available here. One need not worry about food as good food is available too. The Cinemax present there is a great option for the elders to catch a movie while the children are busy keeping themselves entertained with various options available there. This place can be visited all year round for a great family outing.
Mirik is also one such place which can be reached very easily from Siliguri. It is a great place to be and can be enjoyed by one and all. The journey to the place has been described by everyone as a great one with full of natural beauty that will take you to a different world all together. You can see lovely Alpine trees, dreamy scenery and clouds in different shapes and sizes moving around.
You have to pass various tea gardens while going to Mirik and the experience of travelling through the lush green tea gardens will refresh your senses and make you feel good too. When there, you can indulge in horse riding around the lake, boating, playing around or simple marvel at the natural beauty that the place has to offer. Do not forget to indulge in the piping hot flavored tea and a plate or two of hot momos and several juices and other local snacks that the local shops sell here.
Siliguri- A Great Place for Shopping
The excellent location of the third largest town in West Bengal is what brings most tourists to this place. When here you can find a clear synthesis of north eastern and Bengali culture. This makes it a great place for shopping destination too. People from different backgrounds sell different varieties of goods to the locals as well as tourists. One common place which is visited by almost all the tourists is the Hong kong market. The colorful and various varieties of goods being sold at dirt cheap price is something which attracts thousands of people to this market every day.A mind boggling variety of cosmetics, shoes, jewelry, bags, umbrellas, electronic items and much more are available here. Also the goods available are the ones which are latest in fashion and very trendy too. Hence, you would able to flaunt that nice pair of heels or a nice bag or a nice watch which has been purchased at a very reasonable rate yet is latest in the world of fashion. Do remember to bargain here as the price quoted is much higher than the actual price.
Since, Siliguri is the Gateway to many tourist destinations, which experience cold climate almost all the times of the year hence, you, would also be able to find various shops selling woolen garments. The most famous ones are the Bhutia Market and also the Tibetian Market. The prices here are more or less reasonable. Woolen garments for all age groups and in different variety can be found here. The stalls are mostly given by Nepalese or Bhutanese from Bhutan or other nearby areas such as Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kalingpong and many more. Bidhan Market, Nivedita Market and Seth Srilal Market are some other street markets which can be visited by tourists for great deals and also for satisfying their quest for shopping.
In case you are missing the mall culture of your city, Siliguri won’t disappoint you in this regard. With 4 malls i.e. Cosmos Mall, City Mall, Orbit Mall and City Center you can have your share of visiting shops for goods of different brands and also to stop for a bite or leisurely meal at the multi cuisine restaurants or the pizza outlets or KFC outlets that are present here
Mouth Watering Dishes on Offer in Siliguri
When on a tour to a place, apart from visiting all the sightseeing options and shopping at the local markets, one thing that dominates the to-do list of tourists is tasting the local cuisine and having great food. Siliguri being a mixture of various cultures offers different cuisine to its tourists leaving them wanting for more.Another hugely popular dish which is in great demand by the locals and tourists alike is Momo. Both vegetarian and non vegetarian variety is available in most of the restaurants, Considering its popularity, you can see many momo stalls coming up at every nook and corner almost at all times of the day but usually after sun sets. Along with Momo, a special tangy sauce is also given, which is accompanied with a bowl of steaming soup.
Available in both vegetarian and non vegetarian category, the momos are a healthy option as the ingredients are steamed in a container and no frying is involved. Though the frying versions have also come out, but the momo tastes best when it is steamed and eaten with lot of spicy sauce and hot soup. Though found in various food joints, Momo gully in Hong Kong market sells different variety of momos which will make you drool. One cannot pass the momo gully without having a plate of this mouth watering dish. Since it is a local cuisine, the price is very pocket friendly.
Most the food joints serve 6 pieces in a plate with sauce and soup all for Rs 20 for vegetarian Momo and Rs 25 for Non vegetarian. No one can have just 1 plate is the guarantee that is given by the food joint owners here. Apart from momo, various other Nepalese delights are also offered in many restaurants.
Beside Bengali and the Tibetan dish Momo, authentic Chinese dishes, Mughlai cuisine, South Indian cuisines and cuisines from other parts of the country are also available here. The city restaurants serve different variety of vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes. Different varieties of both foreign and Indian liquor are available. There are several Bar cum Restaurants in Siliguri for those who would like to have a glass of their favorite wine while chatting over the day’s events with a close friend.
Siliguri- Gateway to Famous Destinations
Apart from tourism, Siliguri is the gateway to many other places in North Bengal and Sikkim which are emerging as famous tourists spot too. Tourists are on the lookout for places which have not been explored and are not too crowded like the famous tourist destinations such as Darjeeling, Sikkim and Kalimpong. This has led to the discovery of small but beautiful and unspoilt places such as Lava, Lolegaon, Rishop, Kolekham and many more.Amongst other destinations, the whole of Sikkim is a famous tourist destination. Now a days offbeat destination such as the villages along the silk route like Lingtam, Zuluk, Rishikhola, Nathang Valley etc are being visited by lot many tourists to experience the un spoilt beauty of nature that can hardly be found in the city life. The mountains and high hills, snow in winter accompanied with chilling breeze is what makes this place a sought after destination amongst tourists.
One can also travel to the royal kingdom of Bhutan which is just 4 hours drive from Siliguri to experience the culture and tradition of a country which is full of Buddhist monasteries, lots of natural beauty and a bunch of happy people to welcome you with all they have. If you are in love with wild life, Jaldapara forests, Chilapata Forest, Gorumara Forest are some of the wildlife sanctuaries that can be visited for a thrilling experience. All of these forests are located at close proximity to Siliguri and have great accommodation arrangement along with awesome food and thrilling wild life safari experience.
Siliguri has all that is expected by a tourist while visiting a particular place. It offers great accommodation, excellent restaurants to satisfy your hunger pangs and great places to explore when on a tour here. You can even contact travel agents who provide specialized service as per your expectation and budget. All you have to do is pay the charges quoted by them and they will take care of everything right from airport and railway transfers to accommodation, food and sightseeing too. You can also plan on your own after doing a fair amount of research.