Jalpaiguri
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- Not to be confused with New Jalpaiguri (NJP), the main railway station serving Siliguri.
Jalpaiguri (জলপাইগুড়ি Jalpāiguṛi) is a town in the northern plains of West Bengal. The town has historical links going back to the deep past, but it really grew as an administrative centre during British rule. Earlier, Jalpaiguri had a direct broad gauge rail link with Kolkata via eastern Bengal. With the partition of India, railway links were realigned and Jalpaiguri lost some of its strategic importance to Siliguri. On the road and rail link for Assam and the North-East, Jalpaiguri is re-inventing itself as an agricultural and business centre.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]Bagdogra Airport is about 48 km from Jalpaiguri town.
By bus
[edit]- Netaji Subhash Central Bus Terminus has bus service to all places within West Bengal.
- 1 NBSTC Terminus.
- Kadamtala Bus Terminus- There are private and government buses operating super (1-stop) and non-stop buses to Siliguri and Kolkata.
- Bowbazaar Bus Stop- Buses to Haldibari are available from here.
By road
[edit]The main town of Jalpaiguri is just beside National Highway 31D, which connects Assam and the entire North East to the rest of India. Jalpaiguri is about 42 kilometers from Siliguri. A state highway begins at Jalpaiguri, connecting to Haldibari, near the border of Bangladesh.
By train
[edit]
Get around
[edit]
You can travel by cycle-rickshaw or totos or autos or city buses, which you can get everywhere, or you can hire a taxi from taxi stands.
See
[edit]
- 1 Gajoldoba. Considered a paradise for bird watchers since migratory birds throng the dam over the Teesta River. The reservoir is surrounded by the Baikunthapur Forest. It is said that Lord Krishna, along with his principal wife and Queen Rukmani, chose that forest as their hiding place. West Bengal Tourism runs a lodge at Gajoldoba.
- 2 Jalpesh temple, Maynaguri Road. The massive 126 feet high and 120 feet wide Shiva temple, built in the 9th century, was actually destroyed and rebuilt many times. It looks like a mosque because it was designed by a Muslim architect. Inside the temple, there is a Shivalinga called "Anadi". The ideal time to visit is July and August, in monsoon, because of the mighty "Bole Bom" festival; and in March and April, during the Shivaratri. After worshipping, devotees collect water from the Teesta River and walk barefoot 15 km (9.3 mi) to the temple.
- 3 Karala riverside, Samajpara. Karala, a small river, flows through the middle of the town bisecting it into two halves.
- Panchmukhi Balaji temple, Maskalaibari.
- 4 Rajbari Palace, Raikatpara. Palace of Baiknthapur Estate. The building was constructed in the early years of the twentieth century in place of the old palace made by Raja Jayantadev Raikot.
- Jogmaya Kalibari, Temple Street.
- 5 Sarojendra Deb Raikat Kala Kendra (Art Centre), Hakimpara.
- 6 Tin Bigha Corridor (তিনবিঘা করিডোর Tinbighā Kariḍor). A small stretch of land connecting the Dahagram exclave of Bangladesh to the rest of the country.
Do
[edit]- 1 Jubilee Park (Along the spurs of the Teesta River), DM Office Rd. Jubilee Park is situated on the bank of River Teesta. There is a garden with different flowering plants. There is a wooden statue of an elephant. The park also offers beautiful views during sunrise and sunset.
- 2 Teesta Udyan (Children's Park), Collectorate Avenue. ₹20.
- 3 Town Club Ground, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Opposite Art Gallery. Watch football matches and other sporting events.
Eat and drink
[edit]- Motorist Inn on Jalpaiguri-Siliguri road.
- Street chats (puchkas, momos, jhal muri etc.) at Dinbazar.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Bhorer Alo Tourism Property, Gajoldoba Rd, Junglee Mohal, ☏ +91 1800 212 1655. Run by West Bengal Tourism.
- Eco City, Jalpiguri Siliguri Rd, ☏ +91 8967031657. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. Resort is covered with a tea garden. All rooms have AC, 24-hr room service, doctor on call, laundry, 24-hr light ₹1500.
- 2 Hotel De l' Pretom, 6-49/139, D.B.C. Rd, Kadamtala, ☏ +91 3561-228-317, +91 3561 225-945.
- Hotel Ratnadeep, Club Rd/Main Rd (Opposite State Bank of India), ☏ +91 3561 222501-2.
- 3 Prantik Lodge, Kather Bridge, Jalpaiguri Rd, ☏ +91 3561 256489.
- 4 Teesta Sundori Tourism Property (Teesta Paryatak Abas). Run by West Bengal Tourism.