Siliguri and Mirik – Visit Interesting Places!

📍Siliguri, Darjeeling

Siliguri is one of the main cities in North West Bengal, India. The city serves as a base for exploring various tourist attractions besides Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Duars, Gangtok. Although it is a fast developing modern city with little tourist attraction, people visit Siliguri to explore other parts of Gangtok and Sikkim besides the Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Dooars regions of West Bengal. Siliguri is a good place for shopping or accommodation at the beginning or end of the tour.

Siliguri serves as a communication hub for the North Eastern states of India. As a major commercial hub, the city is well-equipped with an advanced transport network of air, road and rail. If you are visiting cities like Darjeeling in West Bengal, Kalimpong and Gangtok in Sikkim, Siliguri is the gateway to each of these places.

Sightseeing places in Siliguri

• Kanchenjunga Stadium
• Hong Kong market
• Jaldapara
• Cows
• Cooch Behar
• mirik
• ink storm
• Sukna with the Mahananda River.

How to get to Siliguri

• By Air – Bagdogra has a domestic airport located about 17 km from the city center. Bagdogra Airport is connected to Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati by regular flights. Several government and private airlines operate flights to this airport. The region has an airport, from which regular helicopter services are available to Gangtok, Sikkim. From Dhaka first go to Kolkata and then take a flight to Bagdogra.
• By Rail – Siliguri has three important railway stations – Siliguri Town, Siliguri Junction and New Jalpaiguri Junction. 
• By Road – Siliguri is easily accessible from Changrabandha-Burimari border from Bangladesh. Shyamoli Paribahan bus leaves from Kalyanpur.

Where to shop in Siliguri?

Darjeeling tea is the most popular ingredient to shop in Siliguri. Darjeeling tea is arguably the best in the world and is famous for its wonderful aroma. Siliguri is definitely an ideal place to buy authentic Darjeeling tea. You can buy Tibetan or Bhutanese woolen clothes while shopping in Siliguri. You will find all kinds of Tibetan or Bhutanese woolen cloths anywhere in this city. Also while shopping in Siliguri you can buy some handicrafts and decorative figurines from Sikkim, which can be given to friends and relatives as a gift.

Hill Cart Road and Sevak Road have many shopping places, shopping malls and roadside shops where you can do your shopping. There is a market in Siliguri where electrical goods are available which are mostly stolen. If you are a gadget lover, then you can visit the Hong Kong market which is very popular. Also the Vidhan Market of Siliguri is noteworthy. Bidhan market can go to Hong Kong market. After that, you can go out towards Sevak Road in the afternoon. Sevak Road has all brands of shops starting from Sri Leathers, Khadim, RAYMOND, ARVIND, BIG BAZAR, VIMAL, KFC, DOMMINOS PIZZA.

 

📍Mirik, Darjeeling

Mirik is a beautiful scenic spot located in the hills of Darjeeling district. The word mirik is derived from the Lepcha word ‘mir-yok’. It means ‘place burnt by fire’. The latitude and longitude of Mirik city is 26.9°N 88.17°E. Mirik has an average elevation of 1,495 meters (4,905 ft) above sea level. Bokar Gompha, the highest point here, is about 1768 meters (5801 feet). The lowest point is Myrick Lake at an elevation of 1,494 meters (4,902 ft).

Mirik has become a tourist center due to pleasant weather, natural beauty and accessibility. The main attraction here is Sumendu Lake. Gardens on one side of the lake. The two parks are connected by the Ramdhanu Bridge. A 3.5 km long path surrounds the lake. One can enjoy the beauty of Kanchenjunga while walking here. Boating in the lake is also possible. Horse riding is also possible.

Miri at an altitude of 4905 feet can be easily reached by traveling 52 km from Siliguri or 49 km from Darjeeling. The West Bengal government started developing Mirik as a tourist destination in 1974 by acquiring 335 acres of land from the neighboring Thurbo Tea Estate. In 1979 Mirik became a full-fledged tourist destination.

The main attraction of Mirik is Sumendu Lake. Whether it’s winter or summer, the whole day can be spent basking in the sun by the lake. The highest point here is Bokar Monastery (5801 ft). On the west bank of the lake is the Singha Devi temple. An afternoon can be spent at Dudhiya, 30 km away on the banks of the Balasan River. Another attraction of traveling from Darjeeling to Mirik is visiting Pashupati Market in Nepal. The Darjeeling-Mirik route partially touches the Nepal border. On that occasion, almost all tourists enter Nepal and go 3-4 km to see the cheap market Pashupati Market.

Places to visit in Mirik:

• Sumendu Lake – The main attraction of Mirik is Sumendu Lake. There is an 80 feet long pier over this lake. There are boat rides on the lake and pony rides around the lake. No boating after 4 pm.
• Ramite Dara – A view point located near the city from where one can see the surrounding hills and vast plains.
• Bokar Gumpha – It is famous as a center of Buddhist practice which is on the way to Dara in Rami.
• Rai Step – Main source of drinking water and picnic spot in Mirik.
• Devisthan – A Hindu goddess temple situated on a hill near Sumendu Lake.
• Tingling Viewpoint – A 360 degree panoramic view of the tea gardens is available from here.
• Tea Gardens – Many tea gardens in and around Mireek grow the famous Darjeeling tea.
• Orange Orchards – Mirike is famous for very high quality oranges. Oranges are grown in Mirik Basti, Murma and Soureni Basti areas.
• Orchids – Mirik’s climate is very suitable for growing Cymbidium, one of the most expensive orchids in the international flower market. There is one such Cymbidium Orchid garden at Rato Met in Mirik called “Darjeeling Gardens Private Limited”.
• Pashupatinagar – It is a major commercial center for clothes, electronics and home goods on the border with Nepal.
• Don Bosco Church, Mirick – Located near Don Bosco School, this is one of the most beautiful and large Catholic Churches in Darjeeling district.
• Swiss Cottage (also known as Motel) – A very nice lodge located at the highest altitude of Myrick away from the city crowd.

where will you stay

• There are several good hotels to stay in Miri. Notable among them are –
• Jagjit, Krishnanagar, Mirik.
• Ratnagiri, Krishnanagar, Mirik.
• Orange Country Retreat, Krishnanagar, Mirik.
• Hotel Park, Lakeside, Mirik.

how to go

The nearest airport to Mirik is Bagdogra at a distance of 52 km (30 mi) and New Jalpaiguri is the nearest railway station near Siliguri. Share taxis are operating from Siliguri to Mirik with a fare of Tk 60 per passenger. Private taxis can be hired between 800 and 1200 taka. Share taxis are available from Darjeeling Motor Stand to Krishnanagar in Mirik (right next to Mirik Lake) (fare is the same). Share taxis are also available to travel within Mirik. The fare from Mirik Lake to Mirik Bazar is Rs.5 per passenger.

Checkout this article: 17 Interesting Places in Darjeeling!