Jalpaiguri is a district in the northern part of West Bengal which shares its borders with two countries, namely Bhutan in the north and Bangladesh in the south. During the partition of India, after independence, a part of Jalpaiguri district went into East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. Jalpaiguri also has a significant Nepalese population being very close to the country. Jalpaiguri experiences a huge exodus of tourists each year owing to its exquisite landscapes, serene river banks, rolling tea gardens and for housing two of India's popular wildlife sanctuaries - Gorumara National Park and the Chapramari wildlife sanctuary. Several tourists come to Jalpaiguri just to wade through the dense forested lands on elephant back and view the wide variety of flora and fauna here.
In fact, Jalpaiguri ranks second in the list of popular places to visit in West Bengal. This picturesque place has small villages which offer unique scenery depending on their strategic location. Chalsa is one such village which is ethereal and looks like a painting on canvas. It is the place from where the beautiful tea gardens in Dooars can be viewed. In order to enjoy sightseeing in Jalpaiguri, winters are the best time. Between October to March the temperature is pleasant, slightly on the cooler side but that makes it ideal for trekking, do a safari, or simply to rest in the river-studded valley. Temperatures here rarely drop below 5 degrees and it is also the best time to view the animals in the wilderness.
Those who come to Jalpaiguri to view several exotic species of birds, must not miss these months, as the winged friends are at their resplendent best in the season. Bagdogra International Airport is the closest airport to Jalpaiguri and there are a number of taxis and reserved cars available from the airport to reach Jalpaiguri. There are multiple trains from Kolkata and other nearby cities which run daily to the Jalpaiguri Road Station. Siliguri, also an important city in North Bengal, is well connected to Jalpaiguri through multiple buses plying at regular intervals in the day between them.
