Bagdogra in West Bengal is well connected by rail and air to the rest of the country. There are no airports or railway stations in Sikkim. The primary means of transport within Sikkim/Bagdogra is by road. To get to Sikkim you must first reach Siliguri.
Darjeeling is the hill station of West Bengal. This has been called the queen of hill-stations. 663 kms. from Kolkata Altitude is 2134 m. or 7000 ft. It is a famous hill resort offering a breath taking sight of the numerous peaks of the majestic Himalayas. The clouds seem to whisper to one another here and from horizon to horizon stretches the Kanchanjunga, covered with snow from the head to foot all round the year. The views of Kanchanjunga and Mount Everest are particularly inspiring. And viewing Sun rise is wonderful from the famous Tiger hill. The Himalayan physiography of lofty mountainous terrain and cascading rivers, offers adventure sports trekking, mountaineering and river rafting.
Kurseong A quiet township between Siliguri and Darjeeling at an altitude of 1458 M (4860 ft.) noted for its secluded charm and Eagle's Crag, offering a commanding view of the undulating plains below Eagle's Crag- 1 km Deer Park- 4 kms Forest Museum Giddhapahar Mandir- 2 km Ambotika Shiv Mandir- 5 kms Makaibari Tea Estate-4 kms St.Mary's Hill- 4 km; Downhill Baggaura Chimney Kettle Valley Picnic Spot Namsu Netaji Kothi.
Walks & Treks in Kurseong 1. Kurseong Town-Forest School-Dow Hill School-Kurseong (8 kms). 2. Kurseong Town-St.Mary's-(Rangers College) Deorali-Chimney-Kurseong (8 kms). 3. Kurseong-Singell Tea Estate-Cafebari-Rinchngton Power Station-Namshu Picnic Spot-Kurseong (16 kms).
Kalimpong Another beautiful hill town in North Bengal that can be reached from either Siliguri or Darjeeling. The trip from Darjeeling being memorable for its lovely road through forests and a place called the Viewpoint, offering excellent view of the confluence of the Rangeet and the Teesta rivers, as also of the Himalayan mountain range from Durbindara summit. Kalimpong's attractions include three Buddhist monasteries, orchid nurseries, a sericulture centre and Dr Graham's Home, a large sprawling school set up in 1900 for educating the children of tea workers. Dr. Graham's Homes Durbin Dara Kalimpong Arts & Crafts Flower Nurseries Kalimpong Market Tibetan Monastery and Curio Shops Dela point
Lava & Lolaygaon Short drives through dense forests from Kalimpong are tourist spots with unspoiled idyllic surroundings. Lava is the gateway to the Neora National Park. Lolaygaon offers a fascinating view of sunrise from Jhandidara.
Mirik A recently developed hill-station, Mirik has grown around a lovely lake with boating facilities and a milder climate. It is 55 kms from Siliguri. The town is centered around the Sumendu Lake. Landscaped gardens, the tourism department cottages and boating facilities have made Mirik an attractive resort town. Mirik is 1767 m above sea level. On the western bank of the lake is the Debisthan with its Singha Devi mandir. Mirik has several view points like Ramitey Dara and Deosi Dara which offer spectacular views of the eastern Himalayan ranges. Mirik also has tea gardens, orange orchards and cardamom groves.
Dooars Valley Imagine a stretch of land 130 km. long by 458 km. wide where nature has lavished all her bounties and you know it's doors. The gateway to the Himalayas. Here an unending stretch of virgin forests is crisscrossed by the river Teesta and her innumerable tributaries. Beautiful motorable roads cut trough deep forests, rich with wild life. Mauve hills stand at the end of Birds. In between, there are fabulous wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, tribal settlements and valleys carpeted with tea gardens. Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks of interest in Dooars and adjoining areas are Mahananda wildlife sanctuary, Sevoke, Kalijhpora, Purbakhoila, Mongpong, Malbazar, Gorumara National Park, Jaldhaka, Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Rasikbill and much more.
Batasia Loop Five kilometers from Darjeeling and three kilometers from Ghoom, the meter-gauge, toy train winds its way over this brilliant piece of engineering delight. It is a pleasant and delightful descent from Ghoom - the highest railway station in the world. Dhirdham Temple
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute - A Training Centre for aspiring mountain climbers situated about 2 Kms from Chowrasta, on Jawahar Parbat. It also boasts of an unique museum displaying an array of items used by famous mountaineers.
Padmaja Naidu Himalaya Zoological Park Natural History Museum Lloyds Botanical Garden Tibetan Self-help Centre Darjeeling-Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway Lebong Race Course Rope way Ghoom Buddhist Monastery Observatory Hill
Gangasagar Mela (District South 24 Parganas) The largest fair of the State, Gangasagar Mela is a three-day event held in mid-January, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, at Sagar Dwip. Lakhs of pilgrims come for a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal.
Kenduli Mela (District Birbhum)
on the occasion of Makar Sankranti (mid-January) another fair is held at Kenduli in the district of Birbhum. The Mela draws the largest number of Bauls, the wandering minstrels of Bengal.
Jalpesh Mela (District Jalpaiguri)
On the occasion of Sivaratri (February – March), a month-long fair is held at Jalpesh near Mainaguri in the district of Jalpaiguri. The fair centres round the age-old Siva temple dedicated to Lord Jalpeswara.
Vasanta Utsav (District Birbhum)
With the onset of spring, Holi is celebrated all throughout India. At Santiniketan in the district of Birbhum, it is
Vasanta Utsav (March).
Students of the Visva Bharati University welcome the season of colours through songs and dances, throwing abir and spraying liquid dyes at each other.
Naba Barsho (Throughout West Bengal)
The Bengali year starts from the first Baisakh (mid-April). It is an occasion for celebration to the Bengalees in general and tradesmen in particular. New clothes, fresh flowers, offerings at temples, people visiting decorated shops mark the day.
Rathayatra (District Hooghly)
Rathayatra (June-July) at Mahesh near Serampore is a week-long festival. People throng to have a share in pulling the long ropes attached to the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra on the journey from the temple and back.
Jhapan (District Bankura)
All over the Western part of the state, a festival is held in the honour of the serpent-deity Manasa on the last day of the Bengali month Sravana (mid-August). But the most spectacular is the one held at Vishnupur in the district of Bankura, with its shows of live snakes on open platforms.
Bera Utsav (District Murshidabad) Every year on the last Thursday of the Bengali month of Bhadra mid-September), Bera Utsav is held at Lalbagh on the river Bhagirathi near the palace of the Nawabs. Fireworks of various size and colour add to the gaiety of the festival.
Durga Puja & Deepavali (Throughout West Bengal) The largest Bengali festival is Durga Puja, held in the Bengali month of Aswin (October). Images of the ten-armed goddess are worshipped in ancient houses and at pandals, erected specially for the Puja. After the four-day ceremony, the images are immersed in the river. Durgapuja is the most important festival in the city of Calcutta.
The festival that follows is Deepavali, the festival of lights,. The worship of goddess Kali is marked by display of fireworks and crackers. Rash Mela (District Cooch Behar)
On the occasion of Rashyatra (November), a fair is held at Cooch Behar in North Bengal. The month-long fair is one of the most important fairs in the area.
Jagaddhatri Puja (District Hooghly)
Goddess Jagaddhatri is worshipped in the Bengali month of Kartick (November). At Chandannagar near Calcutta images of the goddess are tall, pandals spectacular and the illumination unique. In fact, the illumination part is the most attractive feature here.
Teesta Tea & Tourism Festival (Inter-State)
Held in a series at Darjeeling, the Dooars and in Sikkim, the Teesta Tea & Tourism Festival is celebrated with a view to promote tourism in this region as a composite tourist destination, with its bounties in tea, timber and tourism. The festival is held every year in November – December.
Poush Mela (District Birbhum)
Between the 7th and 9th of Poush (end-December). Poush Mela is held at Santiniketan in the district of Birbhum. Of the many seasonal festivals celebrated at Santiniketan, this is perhaps the most important, with cultural programmes consisting of folk music & dance, folk theatre and Baul songs.
Vishnupur Festival (District Bankura)
In the temple town of Vishnupur a festival is organised every year between 27 and 31 December. Characterised by exhibition and sale of local handicrafts and performance of the rich musical tradition that Vishnupur boasts, this is an immensely popular festival.
Id (Throughout West Bengal)
Id is the largest festival to the Muslims of West Bengal. Id-ul-Fitr comes after the lapse of the Ramjan month and marks a happy communion after a month of prayer and fasting. Seventy days after Id-ul-Fitr, comes another festive occasion Id-uj-Joha It is celebrated throughout the state, but with great grandeur in Calcutta. A very large congregation of Muslims as well as non-Muslims is held at the Calcutta Maidan.
© Jet Airways (India) Ltd.