The largest city in North Bengal, Siliguri (Bengali: শিলিগুড়ি Śiliguṛi, Nepali: सिलगड़ी Silgaṛī, Hindi: सिलीगुड़ी Silīguṛī) is a liberal and cosmopolitan city that is known for its vibrant music scene and strong youth culture. Located on the banks of the Mahananda River and the Teesta River at the foothills of the Darjeeling Hills, Siliguri is the third-largest urban agglomeration in West Bengal. It is known as the "Gateway of North-Eastern India" as it connects North-Eastern India with mainland India, making it a major trading and transportation hub. It borders Nepal on one side and Bangladesh on the other.
Siliguri (Bengali pronunciation: SHIH-lih-GOO-rih /ʃiliɡuɽi/) has a population of half a million in 2011 (around 700,000 for the urban area), making it the third-largest city in West Bengal.
With massive developments since the turn of the 21st century, the city has grown from a small regional town into one of the most important business centres in Eastern India. Sprawling and boisterous, it is a city whose periphery is dominated by modern condominiums, while the downtown is characterised by sprawling street markets, up-scale shops, and large shopping malls.
Due to its position as a commercial hub and centre of learning, the city enjoys a sophistication and range of shopping usually only associated with metro cities. Furthermore, as it has attracted a large number of young Nepalese, Sikkimese, Tibetans, and Bhutanese, it has developed into one of India's most liberal and cosmopolitan cities that is known for its vibrant music scene and strong youth culture.
Siliguri is the only city in West Bengal other than Durgapur and Kolkata to have a commercial airport and, perhaps due to the high concentration of colleges, institutes and private schools, the city has the highest literacy rates in the state. Traditionally, Siliguri has been known for the four 'T's — tourism, timber, tea and transport — and is the gateway to Darjeeling, Sikkim, Bhutan and North-Eastern India.
Siliguri has a warm summer, cool winters and a severe monsoon. In summer, the temperature varies from a minimum of 18-22 °C to a maximum of 26-32 °C. The temperature in summer sometimes exceeds 35 °C. On the other hand, the winter maximum temperature hovers around 20-24 °C, and the minimum drops 6-9 °C. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 16.1 °C. The minimum temperature in winter season sometimes drops 5 °C or below. On an average, Siliguri gets 3340 mm per year. Winters are mostly dry, with the summers being rainy. About 80% of the annual rainfall is felt between June to September, this period is known as monsoons or rainy season in the season cycle. Heavy showers are often felt in May, June, July, August and September. July is the wettest month (804 mm) and January is the driest month (12 mm).
As in most of West Bengal, Bengali is the main language in Siliguri. However, the Bengali language spoken in Siliguri is different from Standard Bengali and even uses first-person pronouns like mui (I) and ham (we). The dialect is known by different names, including Rajbanshi, Rangpuri, Kamtapuri etc.
Due to the presence of Nepali-speaking migrants from the Darjeeling Hills, Nepali is also spoken in the region.
NJP is served by four Rajdhani Express trains, two Vistadome Express trains, two Humsafar Express trains, four AC Superfast Express trains, a Shatabdi Express train and a Vande Bharat Express train from this station. There is also an international train from Bangladesh, called Mitali Express. NJP also connects the mainstream broad-gauge line with the heritage narrow-gauge line.
NJP has two double-bedded air-conditioned (AC) retiring rooms, six double-bedded non-AC retiring rooms, one three-bedded dormitory and one twelve-bedded dormitory. Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available at this station. It has IRCTC and other private restaurants. There is also a decommissioned train coach that acts as a restaurant, and tea rooms that serve locally grown tea.
Transport options to city centre:
There are regular buses from Kolkata. The well-known and comfortable Siliguri Rocket, run by the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC), leaves Kolkata at 8PM arriving Siliguri at 8AM (₹245). Some private bus lines also ply the route. The 'Royal Cruiser' Volvo buses leaves Kolkata at 8PM arriving Siliguri at 9AM (₹745 AC/₹325 non-AC).
Under a joint understanding between Indian and Bangladeshi transport authority, there are regular bus services from Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh. BRTC (Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation) buses leave Dhaka every night at 8PM and reach India-Bangladesh border at Changrabanda post at early morning. These buses will not cross the border and the passengers have to clear customs, walk a few hundred yards to cross the border and board the waiting Indian buses for another three-hour ride to Siliguri. The buses are air conditioned, very comfortable and depart on time. One-way fare from Dhaka to Siliguri is between $20-25, depending on conversion rates.
There is also a regular bus service from Phuentsholing, Bhutan. Buses from Phuentsholing leave at 7AM, 7:30AM, 8:15AM and 3PM daily, with the journey taking approximately four hours. A direct deluxe service links Siliguri to Kathmandu, with buses plying the route on alternate days.
Moving in and around Siliguri is cheap. There are electric rickshaws (locally known as totos), shared vans, an efficient public bus service, and rental cars. App-based car services are also available on OLA Cabs and Uber, while shared e-rickshaws and vans run on established routes, charging ₹10-15 per person (as of 2021) per journey. The core areas can be covered on foot and is very safe.
There are many places in Siliguri to visit and spend some quality time. You can tour the city yourself by renting a bike or a car. There are many places to watch movies. You can also visit tea estates for a tour where you can see the serene and spacious tea farms in and around the city. There are many exhibitions and sport events around the city.
Silguri sells its wares on three streets: Hill Cart Road, Bidhan Road and Sevoke Road. The former offers more traditional stores and is home to many of the city's hotels, Sevoke is home to several upscale shopping malls and is the centre of the city's banking, while Bidhan Road is primarily known for the street markets that span out from the thoroughfare.
As the centre of a tea-growing area, Siliguri is an excellent place to pick up some Darjeeling and other brands of the leaf.
Due to the large number of Nepalese and Tibetans living in Siliguri, the city offers an excellent selection of authentic Tibetan and Nepali delicacies. In addition, there are also several good quality restaurants specializing in Western and Chinese cuisine as well as a considerable number of US fast food outlets.
Badshah Biryani Hut, Opposite Kanchenjunga Stadium, Khudiram Pally Rd, Ward 11, Hakim Para, 26.7144°, 88.4258°, +91 81013 47809. Daily noon–10:30PM. Excellent Biriyani along with several other cuisines.
Bedween Restaurant, Bidhan Market, Old Bus Stand, 26.7175°, 88.42611°, +91 98323 71558. Daily 10AM–10:30PM. Known for its delicious Biryani.
Bhojohari Manna (Hotel Golden Moments), 143 Hill Cart Road, 26.71180°, 88.4255°, +91 94342 10011. Daily noon–10PM. Bengali cuisine.
The Cinderella Hotel, 3rd Mile, Sevoke Road, 26.7557°, 88.4422°, +91 353 254 4130, +91 35325 47136. Amrapali - Vegetarian multi-cuisine restaurant, Recoil - Bar, Sizzler - discotheque for private parties, Patio - Roof-top restaurant-cum-bar.
Havelli, Hill Cart Road, 26.7138°, 88.4238°, +91 353 253 5013. Daily 11AM–11PM. An excellent restaurant for fish and mutton items. Also offers high standard Chinese and continental dishes. Cool decor.
Hi Spirits Cafe and Pub, 2nd floor City Centre, Uttorayon, 26.7247°, 88.3951°, +91 98320 59826. Daily noon–11PM. Low-key bar & restaurant in an unpretentious, no-frills ambience with Lebanese, Mexican, Chinese and Tibetan dishes cooked to a very high standard and live music
Indian Pagoda, Top Plaza, Ground Floor, Sevoke Rd, 26.7287°, 88.4307°. Daily 10am–11pm. Contemporary space serving a typical menu of popular Indianised Chinese dishes. 2022-01-09
Kalpana Hotel Bengali Cuisines, Bidhan Market (Near Siliguri Town railway station), 26.7168°, 88.4253°, +91 76796 38292. Daily 10AM–9PM. Bengali cuisine
Kalpatru Pice Restaurant, Panitanki More, Sevoke Rd, Ashram Para, Hakim Para, 26.7203°, 88.4269°, +91 353 264 3479. Daily 10AM–10:30PM. Bengali cuisine
Marina's Motel, Bihar More, Bagdogra, 26.6989°, 88.3164°, +91 96097 43399, reservationmarinas@gmail.com. A serene motel in a colonial-style building with a furnished terrace and garden. Serves northern Indian and Chinese cuisine. Private dining available. 2022-01-08
Momo Gali, Seth Srilal Market (near Margaret School, within easy walking distance of Siliguri Bus Stand), 26.7157°, 88.4237°. Daily 10AM-10PM. A street of restaurants and stalls selling fantastic momos. 2016-10-19
Monarch Restaurant, 10 Sevoke Rd, 26.7165°, 88.4231°, +91 98320 62155. Daily 8AM–11:30PM. Famous for Indian, Tandoori and Chinese dishes.
New Zaika Biryani House, Hill Cart Road, 26.7151°, 88.4229°, +91 94346 89708. Daily 9AM–11:15PM. Mughlai dishes
Punjabi Kadhai, Sidhi Arcade, 2nd Mile, Sevoke Road, 26.7306°, 88.43093°, +91 98326 45678, info@punjabikadhai.in. Daily 11AM–11:11PM. Biryani, kebabs & other North Indian standards served in a casual, family-friendly rooftop setting.
Sagar Family Restaurant, Golden Enclave Building, near Ravi Auto, 2nd Mile, Sevoke Road, 26.7477°, 88.4382°, +91 98320 77344, care@sagarfamilyslg.com. Daily 9AM to 11PM. Relaxed option prepping regional & global fare including dosas, noodles, pizza, momos & curries.
Sartaj, 110/156, Hill Cart Rd, 26.7133°, 88.4242°, +91 94325 16825. Daily 10AM–10:45PM. Good food, good ambience
Steamy Moktu, 94, Udham Singh Sarani, Ward 13, Punjabi Para, 26.7397°, 88.4351°, +91 80015 84124, steamymoktusiliguri@gmail.com. Daily noon–10PM. Asian fusion restaurant, specializing in Thai and Chinese cuisine. Creative interior. 2018-04-19
Tai Wah Restaurant, Sri Bhavan building, ground floor, Hill Cart Road (opposite Century Park), 26.7152°, 88.4228°, +91 353 243 6132. Daily 11AM–10PM. A standard menu of multicuisine meals in a restaurant with a homey, low-key ambience.
The Palms (Sinclairs), Ward 46, Pradhan Nagar, 26.7345°, 88.4109°, +91 97334 62777, siliguri@sinclairshotels.com. 7:30AM to 11PM. Also: O3 lounge bar, 5-10:30PM.
Taste of Sikkim, 3rd Mile, Sevoke Road, Salugara Bazar, Salugara, 26.7350°, 88.4105°. Daily 10AM–10PM. Simple and authentic Tibetan cuisine
Veganation, Opp Union Bank, Salbari, +91 353 251 2222. A cosy restaurant with an international feel. Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine. All meals fully plant based.
Viramma, Viramma Resort, Dagapur, 26.7446°, 88.4016°, +91 353 251 2222. A dining area in a resort.
As Siliguri is at the heart of a tea-growing area, it has traditionally been associated with tea. However, following the international trend, coffee culture has made inroads in the city and there are now numerous branches of cafe chains as well as a growing number of independent coffee shops in and around Siliguri.
Art O Adda Coffee House, 189, Subhas Pally, Netaji Subhash Road, Subhas Pally (near Netaji Girls High School), 26.7067°, 88.4381°, +91 86176 98119. 10AM-10PM daily. A quirky, art-filled cafe. Cosy seating. Specialises in Chinese and street food. 2021-02-07
Barista, Vega Mall, Sevoke Rd, 26.7527°, 88.4390°, information@barista.co.in. 10AM-10PM daily. A café chain in a great shopping mall. Also offers quick snacks. 2021-02-07
Berlin Kaffeehaus, City Centre Mall (near Pizza Hut), +91 98000 45601. An open and light cafe. Outdoor seating, Delicious pastries and cakes. Excellent coffee.
Cafe Bohemia, Opp. Navjeevan Apartments, near Shiv Mandir, Shiv Mandir Road, Punjabi Para, 26.7254°, 88.4328°, +91 94344 96177. Daily 10AM-9:30PM. Great coffee. Innovative snacks and meals. Rough brick walls. Live music. 2019-08-11
Café Coffee Day, Cosmos Mall, Sevoke Rd, 26.7390°, 88.4343°, +91 353 320 1907, customercare@cafecoffeeday.com. A coffee chain with great affordable coffee and its variants. 2022-01-11
Cuppa Java, 2nd Mile Sevoke Road, 26.7526°, 88.4397°, +91 74074 48000. 11AM-10:30PM. Coffee, international cuisine. 2018-01-27
Do Tell, Vega Circle Mall, Salugara, 26.7524°, 88.4390°, 0353 254 3434. Daily 10:30AM-9PM. Small, intimate cafe. Authentic Italian cuisine and high-quality coffee. Quick and professional service 2018-06-18
New York City Cafe, 41 Khaprail Bazaar, 26.7704°, 88.3367°, +91 85974 35436. M-Sa 3-8PM, Su 3-9PM. Great coffee. Specialises in fancy cakes 2019-08-11
Ovenly, Swamiji More, Nazrul Sarani, Ashrampara, 26.7185°, 88.43560°, +91 70014 45897. Noon to midnight. A small bakery-cafe specialising in custom-made cakes and pastries. 2018-11-03
The Coffee Shop, 3F Vega Circle Mall, Salugara., 26.7524°, 88.4385°, +91 89727 72026. 10AM-10PM. An open plan cafe with large screens showing sport events. Espresso based coffees, pastries. Specializes in Italian food. 2018-08-22
With a young, educated, and liberal population, Siliguri enjoys a vibrant and lively pub scene. Planet Mall is the city's main watering hole, and there are a number of pubs and cafes throughout the mall.
Half Full, 3F, Planet Mall, Sevoke Road (diagonally across the road from Cosmos), 26.73990°, 88.4358°, +91 35325 45886. noon-11PM. Upbeat bar & lounge featuring multicuisine fare, regular live music & sports screenings. 2022-01-18
Hashtag, 3F. Planet Mall, Sevoke Road (diagonally across the road from Cosmos), 26.7397°, 88.4355°, +91 98320 99995. noon-11:30PM. European-style pub with live music, dancing, pizza, continental cuisine. 2017-10-06
O3 (Sinclairs lounge), Ward 46, Pradhan Nagar, 26.7652°, 88.4097°, +91 97334 62777, siliguri@sinclairshotels.com. 7:30AM to 10:30PM. Worth checking out for a nice evening drink and snacks. 2022-01-11
Open House Cafe, 3rd Floor, Infinity Square, Sevoke Road, 26.7413°, 88.4351°, +91 96096 01818. noon-11PM. Cocktails & global fast food are served in this casual resto-bar with live music. 2022-01-11
Novus Tanzanite - Bar & Discotheque, 3F. Central Park Building, Sevoke Road, 2nd Mile (Ahead of Cosmos Mall, before PC Mitral Bus Stand), 26.7405°, 88.4350°, +91 70290 70290. Noon-11:55PM. Disco. Bar and restaurant. Sophisticated, urban décor. Good food. 2017-10-06
The Swedish Cafe and Pub (The Swedish), 2F Planet Mall, Sevoke Road, 26.7396°, 88.4361°, +91 91133 95783. 11AM–11:30PM. A stylish pub that serves innovative meals, alcohol, and coffee 2018-12-11
Worth The Hype, B29, Planet Mall, Sevoke Road (opp North City), 26.7396°, 88.4362°, +91 74070 45000. noon–11:15PM. Cafe and pub with chic interior, good selection of drinks, coffee and meals 2018-12-11
Zorb Discotheque and Lounge, Saluja Residency, Level-1, Hill Cart Road, 26.7156°, 88.4237°, +91 98000 90100, salujaresidency.siliguri@gmail.com. 11AM-11PM. Dance and night club, lounge, hookah lounge 2017-11-15
If you are using Siliguri as an overnight halt, you might consider your hotel options based on the convenience of traveling to your next destination. Bagdogra, Matigara and Darjeeling More areas are convenient for Darjeeling, Kurseong (route 110), and the airport (route 327), while Salugara, 2nd or 3rd mile Sevoke Road addresses are good for Kalimpong, Gangtok and Bhutan (route 10).
Many of the modern, up-scale hotels are on Sevoke Road (2nd-3rd mile), near Vega Circle Mall.
As in all of India, travelers may find themselves falling victim to scams and touts. Be on guard for anybody trying to help you by giving you unsolicited directions or travel advice, and do not openly show that this is your first trip to the city.
If you're arriving after midnight, it is advisable to have accommodation pre-booked and an arranged pick-up from the bus terminal or station. Otherwise, you should have the phone number of a reliable person with you so that you have someone to contact in the event of getting lost or in difficulty.
In general, however, Siliguri is an extremely safe city with a low crime rate, and violent crimes against international travelers are unheard of.
The Siliguri Metropolitan Police is one of the most advanced police forces in North Bengal. There are police patrollers all around the city and can be asked for any help.
Cell phone coverage in the city is excellent. There are three major service providers offering a wide variety of plans. Among them are Airtel, VI (formerly Vodafone) and Jio. Airtel is the preferable one as it provides high quality calls and great internet speed all across the city.
To call Siliguri from abroad you will need to dial the international prefix for your country, followed by India's country code +91. If you want to dial a landline no. from a mobile, then you have to add the area code of Siliguri, 0353 before the number.
Internet services are unreliable in some parts of the city. Most stores have broadband connections. Both the railway stations have free high-speed Wi-fi services but you need an Indian mobile number to register and receive the One-time password.
Local newspapers can be handy and reliable sources for day-to-day updates about the city. The city has number of newspapers and other publication that list local happenings. There are different options for newspapers including daily, weekly and bi-weekly. Some of the popular newspapers are Uttarbanga Sambad, Bartaman, Anandabazar Patrika and The Statesman.
Darjeeling Bikes (D), Module 105, First Floor Webel IT Park, Phase – III Khaprail Road, Matigara (from Khaprile More take road going to Darjeeling and then first left), 26.728101°, 88.372927°, +91 97343 77000, stttslg@gmail.com. 8AM-8PM. Bike rental service in Siliguri. 2019-10-10
Darjeeling Riders, B35, Satellite Township, Dabgram, 26.6671°, 88.4206°, +91 95994 56385, +91 9734 000 411, info@darjeelingriders.com. Bike rentals, specializing in tours to Bhutan, Darjeeling, and Sikkim
There are several banks that offer foreign exchange and ATM service.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division