Situated in the foothills of the lower Himalayas in the northern part of West Bengal, Jalpaiguri is mostly untouched by popular tourism. The small town still retains its colonial character quite evident in the stately bungalows lined along the beautiful River Teesta. Jalpaiguri is surrounded by dense forests crisscrossed by fast-flowing rivers, and rolling acres of tea plantations adding to its charm. The town and its neighbouring areas offer ample scope for wildlife and adventure tourism. Jalpaiguri derives its name from ‘jalpai’ which means olives in local parlance, and ‘guri’ which means place; thus a place where olives are found abundantly. The name is also believed to be borrowed from a Bhutanese term, je-le-pe-go-ri which means a place where warm clothes are bought and sold. Besides having a great potential for eco-tourism and adventure activities, the town is also the gateway to Bangladesh, Bhutan and north-eastern states of India.
Some of the tea gardens worth exploring in the area are Karala Valley, Rajpur Tea Garden, Jaipur Tea Garden and Denguajhar. The Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, 50 km from Jalpaiguri is a must visit. The sanctuary came into existence in 1941 to protect the local flora and fauna, particularly the Indian one-horned rhino. Gorumara National Park, a few kilometres away from the town is another forested area known for its rich wild life.
Jalpaiguri Town Club is almost a century old, built by the British. Visit it to take in the colonial nostalgia and typical life of the tea-planters. Other places of interest include Jalpaiguri Rajbari or the palace, which is surrounded by picturesque lakes. The palace gate is considered to be the world’s largest un-reinforced concrete structure. Within the palace there’s an art gallery, Sarojendra Deb Raikat Kala Kendra, for art buffs.
This is the perfect place for a laid-back holiday close to nature. You can stroll for hours in the tea gardens, walk past the colonial bungalows dotted along the river or simply soak in the un-hurried pace of this small town. Go on a jeep safari to Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary or visit Gorumara National Park. If you are interested in eating local cuisine, you can halt at the local restaurants for some Bengali specialities. A must purchase from Jalpaiguri is tea – buy it for your friends and also enjoy your evening cuppa set in the beautiful locales of this tea-growing region.
Situated in the foothills of the lower Himalayas in the northern part of West Bengal, Jalpaiguri is mostly untouched by popular tourism. The small town still retains its colonial character quite evident in the stately bungalows lined along the beautiful River Teesta. Jalpaiguri is surrounded by dense forests crisscrossed by fast-flowing rivers, and rolling acres of tea plantations adding to its charm. The town and its neighbouring areas offer ample scope for wildlife and adventure tourism.
