Bagdogra is known as the ‘Gateway to the North East.’ Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, it is a small town in Siliguri subdivision of the Darjeeling district. This is one of the most serene and non-crowded places of West Bengal. It is surrounded by emerald-green tea plantations, the beautiful Teesta River and cloud-clad mountains. These make it a land of breath-taking beauty. The unadulterated and uncontaminated natural landscapes have taken tourists by storm. The soothing and pleasant weather simply adds to the charm.
Before heading back home via Bagdogra to Delhi flights, consider exploring the nooks and corners of this charming city. The peak time to visit is usually the summer months of March to June and late September to early December. Here’s a look at how to spend a few days here.
1. Jore Pokhri Wildlife Sanctuary
This is about 20 minutes from Bagdogra. The word ‘Jore’ means twin or two and ‘pokhri’ means water tank. Seating arrangements have been added to the lake boundary for tourists to enjoy. The sanctuary is the habitat of a few of the high-altitude animals like Himalayan Salamander. You can also see beautiful swans and wild monkeys here. This place is 18 kms away from the Northeast Nepal borders; in case you wish to visit.
2. Mountain Cuisines
One of the best ways to enjoy your stay is to relish the local meals. The best ones are thukpa, churpee, steamed or deep fried momos, chaang and Darjeeling tea. All of these are traditional dishes and are savoured by the locals daily or on special occasions. While checking out your New Delhi to Guwahati flight, do find out about the other delicacies like the Naga meats and fish, sael rotis and shaphalay.
3. Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha
This is one of the most beautiful Gurdwaras of India. There is a huge hall that can accommodate up to 200 people at once for prayers. You can also enjoy langar since there is a provision of free food. The ambience is quite peaceful and lets you have a divine spiritual experience. Do check the timings while exploring Port Blair to Chennai flight or others.
4. Dooars
This is about half-an-hour away from Bagdogra. It is the gateway to the hill station of Bhutan and North Bengal. The hilly region is packed with wildlife sanctuaries, lovely mountains, streams and lakes and long stretches of lush tea estates. You can take nature walks and click beautiful photos here to cherish for a lifetime.
5. Toy Train Ride
Bagdogra is only 2.5 hours from Darjeeling. This is home to the renowned toy trains which is a nostalgic experience from colonial rule. Tourist can hop inside and enjoy a 2000 metres ride with an enchanting view of the tea plantations and Kanchenjunga. You can also see the Batasia Loop which is located between Ghoom Station and Darjeeling. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was given the status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. The fares for steam engine and diesel engine are different so do check out while searching for Bagdogra to Delhi flights.
Whether you are taking a Bengaluru to Mumbai flight or any other, make sure to pick the best airline with stringent COVID rules in place. This will ensure a safe journey amid the pandemic.