Siliguri Sightseeing, Quick Facts, History, Packages, Tours & Excursions

Sightseeing Highlights:

Although generally used as a transit stop en route to the surrounding hill stations, Siliguri has many noteworthy attractions of its own. The North Bengal Science Centre, in the city's northern suburbs, features many scientific experiments and gadgets. It also hosts a Nature Interpretation Centre that showcases the region's diverse flora and fauna, and has a small planetarium as well.

The recently built ISKON Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is considered to be the largest of its kind in the region. A prominent centre for Buddhist studies, the Sed-Gyued Monastery in nearby Salugara was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama and features a 100-feet tall Stupa containing five types of relics. The Kalchakra Monastery is also worth a visit.        

A must-visit for nature lovers, is the densely forested Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary situated just eight km from the city. Also at a short distance, the Coronation or Sevoke Bridge crosses over the Teesta River and is a fine example of British architecture. Closer to home, the Madhuban Park is a great spot for a family picnic, as is the Surya Sen Park, which lies along the Mahananda River.

Other Activities:

With quite a few bazaars and markets catering to all types of budgets, Siliguri can easily be described as a shopper's paradise. The Hong Kong Market offers a wide array of inexpensive Chinese and other imported products, while the Seth Srilal Market, Hill Cart Road and Sunflower Shopping Mall are packed with large shops, featuring a range of goods at competitive prices.

Those interested in boating should head out to the Umrao Singh Boat Club in Sukna.

The surrounding landscape is dotted with many tea plantations and estates that make for very interesting tours.

 The second largest city in West Bengal, Siliguri lies in the shadows of the mighty Himalayas, in a narrow strip of land just 40 km wide at its broadest section often referred to as the Chicken's Neck. Its strategic location makes it the main gateway to the north-eastern states, Sikkim, Gangtok, and even neighbouring nations like Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Siliguri is also the connecting point to many of West Bengal's hill-stations like Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.

Progressively developing into a prominent centre of trade and commerce for the northeast, Siliguri is today a metropolis that is bustling with commercial activity. However, in addition to its unique location, the city also boasts lush green environs, interspersed with tea plantations, rolling hills and meandering rivers, as well as a pleasant climate through most of the year.