Jalpaiguri, a travel destination in the foot hills of lower Himalayas

Jalpaiguri is situated in the district of Jalpaiguri in the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the foothills of the lower Himalayas, in the northern part of West Bengal, Jalpaiguri has great prospects as a tourist destination. Surrounded by thick forests, with many swift rivers flowing through it and extensive tea plantations, Jalpaiguri is a charming and tranquil retreat far from ‘the madding crowds’ .Jalpaiguri gets its name from ‘jalpai’ meaning olives and ‘guri’ meaning place, thus meaning a place where olives are found abundantly. The name is also associated with Lord Shiva who is the presiding deity of the place and is known as Jalpesh.

One of the tourist attractions here is the Jaldapara Wildlife sanctuary established in 1941 to protect the local flora and fauna, especially the Indian one horned rhino. Another interesting location worth visiting is the Gorumara National Park lying in a densely forested area and well known for its rich wildlife. The Jalpaiguri Rajbari or palace surrounded by pretty lakes is also an interesting spot. The palace gates made of unreinforced concrete is said to be the largest of its kind in the world. The palace houses the Sarojendra Deb Raikat Kala Kendra, an art gallery.

Jalpaiguri is a perfect locale for a rejuvenating holiday in the midst of peaceful surroundings. One can go for walks in the tea garden, stroll along the river bank admiring   the colonial bungalows. The Jalpesh Siva temple, located 15 km from Jalpaiguri, is visited by thousands of devotees in the month of sawan (15th July-15 August). Devotees collect water from the river Teesta after offering prayers and walk barefoot to the temple which is 15 km from the river. Jalpaiguri is a travel destination that has a lot to offer to the week end tourists as well as to those who wish to get a taste of India.