Region

North Bengal

Base in Darjeeling (2‑3 nights) or Siliguri (1‑2 nights); day‑trip the hills, Dooars forests and plains. Trains, buses and Bagdogra Airport connect the area.

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Key facts · India

Best months: Apr–May, Oct–Nov
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Indian rupee (INR, ₹)
Language: Hindi and English at national level
Plugs: C · D · M · 230 V
Time zone: UTC+5:30 all year

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 6

South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.

North Bengal is a mix of tea‑garden hills, wildlife‑rich Dooars forests and historic plains. Stay in Darjeeling for mountain scenery or Siliguri for easy access, and use day trips to explore the hills, forests and cultural sites.

Where to sleep

2 places in this region

DarjeelingCity guide
Mountain views, tea gardens, UNESCO toy train.
Best Mar–May, Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Darjeeling →
SiliguriCity guide
Transport hub, close to Bagdogra Airport.
Best Oct–Mar
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Siliguri →

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

2 nights: Darjeeling 2 nights, day‑trip Dooars and plains
3 nights: Darjeeling 3 nights, day‑trip Dooars, Kalimpong, and plains
2 nights: Siliguri 2 nights, day‑trip Darjeeling Hills, Dooars, and Malda

Monsoon (June‑July) can cause landslides on hill roads; keep flexible travel plans.
High‑altitude areas like Sandakphu may cause altitude sickness; acclimatise.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Kalimpong	Darjeeling	90 min	check	Paragliding and cultural sites; early start recommended.
Jalpaiguri	Siliguri	45 min	check	Gateway to Gorumara National Park; buses run hourly.
Alipurduar	Siliguri	120 min	check	Access to Jaldapara and Buxa forests; long‑day trip.
Cooch Behar	Siliguri	150 min	check	Historic kingdom, distinct language; train preferred.
Malda	Siliguri	180 min	check	Rail hub and historic centre; best by train.

Bags between cities

Luggage forwarding between Darjeeling and Siliguri is available via Indian Railways services; arrange at hotel reception.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Darjeeling	×	×	go	go	go	×	×	×	×	ok	go	ok
Siliguri	go	go	go	ok	ok	×	×	×	×	go	go	go
India (country-wide)	go	go	go	ok	×	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	ok	go

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Darjeeling HillsHimalayan foothills	cool	cool	cool	best	best	wet	warm	warm	wet	best	best	cool
Dooars PlainsFoothills and alluvial plains	cool	cool	cool	best	best	wet	warm	warm	wet	best	best	cool

best: dry, mildcool: jacket, greywet: daily rain

Darjeeling Hills: October‑March clear skies, 10‑20 °C (68 °F); June‑July heavy rain.October‑March clear skies, 10‑68 °F (20 °C); June‑July heavy rain.
Dooars Plains: Similar pattern; higher humidity in monsoon.

Best travel window is October‑March; avoid peak monsoon for road travel.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	How	p50	Note
Bagdogra International Airport (IXB)	Flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Guwahati; also Paro and Bangkok (Druk Air).	~1 h 30 min taxi to Siliguri	Main air gateway for North Bengal.
New Jalpaiguri Junction (NJP)	Direct trains from Delhi, Kolkata (Darjeeling Mail, Paharia Express).	~10–12 h from Delhi, ~8 h from Kolkata	Connects to Darjeeling Hills via Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
State/National highways via NBSTC	Daily services to Siliguri, Darjeeling, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar.	Siliguri‑Darjeeling ~3 h	Low fares; online booking available.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Darjeeling tea	Darjeeling tea estates	Best in morning; buy loose leaf for freshness.
Fish curry	Coastal‑influenced restaurants	Fresh river fish, often served with rice.
Luchi with alur dom	Local breakfast stalls	Puffed flatbread with potato curry; vegetarian.
Samosa	Street vendors	Deep‑fried pastry, usually vegetarian filling.

Go next

Bhutan

planned

Cross border from Alipurduar; bus 5‑6 h

Planned entry point.

Sikkim

planned

Bus from Siliguri ~4 h

Popular mountain destination.

Nepal

planned

Bus via Siliguri‑Raxaul, ~12 h

Long‑distance travel.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 2 bases
Day trips: 5, 45 min to 3 h
Nights suggested: 2–3 nights
Ways in: 3 listed
Best months: Apr, May, Oct, Nov (all zones)

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

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Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

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Sources

secondaryWikivoyage: North Bengal, revision 5307314 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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