Jalpaiguri

Interesting Facts & History of Jalpaiguri

Jalpaiguri derives its name from the olive fruit, which is locally known as 'jalpai' it literally means a place where olives are found abundantly. Its name is also associated with Lord Shiva who is also known as Jalpesh, the presiding deity of the region. Jalpaiguri shares the northern part of West Bengal and is close to international borders with Bhutan in the north and Bangladesh in the south. Jalpaiguri is spread over 6,200 square kilometer out of which about 30 per cent is forest land. The major forests region including Jaldapara, Gorumara and Chapramari fall under the Jalpaiguri district. A number of large and small rivers pass through the district including Teesta, Jaldakha, Diana, Torsha, Neora, Murti etc.

The district is also famous for its tea gardens. There are a large number of tea gardens producing the famous 'Dooars Tea'. Apart from having dense forested area and lush tea garden, Jalpaiguri also has a rich cultural heritage which is reflected in its numerous sightseeing places. While the historians can get glimpses of history in the Rajbari Palace and the art gallery, nature lovers can dwell in Jubilee Park and River Karaya also known as the Thames of Jalpaiguri. For people with a religious bent of mind, Jalpaiguri extends numerous well-known temples.

Tourist Places included in Jalpaiguri Tourism

Jalpaiguri, situated in the North-Eastern part of India, has some of the finest tourist destinations which increase tourism in West Bengal. Here are all the major tourist destinations travelers can explore during their tour in Jalpaiguri.

Gorumara National Park

Gorumara National Park is a wildlife sanctuary nestled on the floodplains of Murti, Raidak, and Jaldhaka. Established in 1994, this thickly wooded forest is rich with unique flora and fauna. Spreading over an area of 80 square km, Gorumara hosts various wild animals like Royal Bengal Tiger, gaur, Asian elephant, sloth bear, Indian rhinoceros, barking deer, hog deer, wild boar, and more. Birds like scarlet minivet, Indian hornbill, woodpeckers, peafowls, and several other birds can be sighted here.

Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary

Adjacent to Gorumara National Park, Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary is also a part of the ever-growing tourism of Jalpaiguri. Spreading over an area of 960 hectares, Chapramari is also blessed with a large variety of flora and fauna. Elephant, Indian Bison, leopard, rhinoceros, and deer are found in abundance in this forest. Several birds can also be sighted such as kingfishers, green pigeons, parakeets, and more.

Tea Tourism in Jalpaiguri

Jalpaiguri has several tea estates and gardens. Travelers visit these tea estates to enjoy their serenity, lush green tea gardens, rare species of birds, and the splendid view of mountains. Some popular tea gardens in Jalpaiguri are Jayanti Tea Garden, Jalpaiguri Tea Garden, Gopaldhara Tea Estate, and more.

Wildlife Tourism

Wildlife is one of the major reasons for the ever-growing Jalpaiguri Tourism. The district is covered with vast forests and grasslands that shelter many endangered wild species. Jungle Safari and Elephant Safari is conducted in the forests and national parks to witness some of the species closely. Moreover, there are several watchtowers located inside these forests from where the great panoramic vista of the forest can be enjoyed. Sighting of several wild species is also common.

Jalpesh Temple

In the Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal and located in Maynaguri Town, Jalpesh Mandir is one of the sacred religious Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This ancient Hindu temple has a unique history and was first built by Sri Bisu Singh, the father of Coochbehar's king Maharaja Narayan in the year 1524. Thousands of pilgrims visit this sacred pilgrimage site from North Bengal and from the entire state of West Bengal in the months of July-August and then again Feb- March to worship Lord Shiva. Shravan Mela is organized during this time and people can be seen coming from the adjacent areas.

Jalpaiguri Town

Jalpaiguri town itself is the major attraction of the village. The town got its name from an olive fruit which is locally known as "Jalpai". The village was named so as olive fruit was found abundantly in this city. The town has great tourism potential and blessed with a rich history. Jalpaiguri Rajbari Dighi, Rajbari Palace, and the park are the major attractions of this city.

Siliguri

Siliguri is one of the major cities in Jalpaiguri. Also known to be "the gateway of North East India" has all the proportions to bewitch its visitors. Abundant with myriad sightseeing places, you can blindly include Siliguri in your next holiday checklist. Located at the foothills of the glorious Himalayan range, the city, apart from boasting a panoramic view of nature, has a number of tourist attractions to its credit. Some of the important tourist sites are North Bengal Wild Animals Park, Syed-Guyed Monastery, Suryasen Park, Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, etc.

How to Reach Jalpaiguri

By Train: Jalpaiguri has some busiest railway station. The major one is New Jalpaiguri Junction. Jalpaiguri Rani Nagar Railway Station, New Jalpaiguri Town, etc are some notable railway junctions in the district.

By Air: Bagdogra Airport is the only operational airport nearby. Several flights are available daily to this airport from most of the major airports of West Bengal.

By Road: Jalpaiguri, being an important district in North Bengal is connected with all the nearby cities by road. There are several highways by which you can reach Jalpaiguri quite comfortably.

Jalpaiguri is a place whose beauty lies in its serenity, green dense forest, rich historical culture and the relaxed way in which people go about their day-to-day life. Jalpaiguri is a place which is sure to woo everybody's heart with its simple yet lively nature and the rolling acres of tea estates with colorful tribal peoples makes it an ideal place for holiday makers and adventure lovers. Don't wait, experience the beauty of Jalpaiguri with the help of North Bengal Tourism's finely crafted Tour Packages. Call now for a travel itinerary.