Places of interest near Siliguri

Darjeeling – Popularly known as the Queen of the Hills and is situated on the foothills of the Himalayas at an elevation of 2123 meters / 70001 feet. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a World Heritage site declared by UNESCO. It’s a ride worth cherishing. Ghoom, Tinchuley, Takdah, Lebong, Chatakpur, Sukhipokhori, Lepcha Jagat, Baggura, Peshok, Sandakphu, Maneybhanjan, Gauribas, Seemana, Tonglu, Mirik, Kurseong, Tindharia are all places to visit near Darjeeling. Maneybhanjan, Chitrey, Gauribas, Tonglu, Kalopokhori are some of the places to trek.

Mirik - Mirik is situated at an elevation of nearly 1768 meters and is the last range before the Terrain or plain land starts. Lake Sumendu, Singha Devi, Deosi Dara, Rameetay Dara, Rai Dhap, Kawlay Dara View point, Helipad & Swiss Cottage, Devisthan is some of the places of interest in Mirik. The town is centered on the Sumendu Lake. Maneybhanjan, Chitrey, Gauribas, Tonglu, Kalopokhori, Falut, Gurdung, Samadein, Gorkey, Rammam are some of the locations guest can enjoy the stay and the view. 

Kalimpong – Kalimpong is a quieter destination situated at an elevation of 1243 meters / 4078 feet. Durpin Hill is known for the famous Zong Dog Palri Fo Brang Monastery, Jelap La View Point, Pine View Point, Chitra Bhanu & Kalim Temple, Dr Graham's Homes, Kalimpong Arts & Crafts Centre, Nature Interpretation Centre are some more places of Interest. Pedong, Rikissum, Damsang Fort, Lava, Lolaygaon, Charkhole, Raliekhola, Reshikhola, Monsong, Samthar Valley are all places of interest nearby

Sikkim – 22^nd State of India has known for its strategic location with Pelling, Lachen, Lachung, Rinchenpong, Mangan, Ravangla, Hee Bermiok, Namchi, Rhenock, Aritar, Yuksom, Uttarey, Varsey and few other places of tourist interest. Pelling and Gangtok stay has more option for tourist i.e. staying in this two places one can roam more destinations. The Himalayan range in the northern frontier separates India from The Republic of China, Tibetan Autonomous Region, Nepaland Bhutan.

Gangtok – This capital city is situated at an elevation of 1780 meters / 5480 feet. Rumtek Monastery, Enchey Monastery, Do Drul Chorten, Ganesh Tok, Tashiling Monastery, Hanuman Tok, Phensong Monastery, Fambong La Wildlife Sanctuary, Saramsa Garden, Tashi Viewpoint, Flower Show, M G Road, Ranka Monastery, Ban Jhakri Falls, Government Institute of Cottage Industry, Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology, Ridge Park & White Hall Complex, Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden are some of the places of interest in Gangtok.

Yuksom – Situated at a height of 5800 feet.  The place is visited by backpackers who arrive here for these treks. This is an ideal place for leisure holiday, trekker, wildlife, birding and adventure seekers. Yuksom is situated in West Sikkimnearly 40 kilometers from Pelling / Pemayangtse. Norbugang Chorten still bears the evidence of the consecration ceremony like the form of stone seats and foot prints of Latsun Chembo i.e. one of the lamas who consecrated the king. It also serves as the base camp for Dzongri - Goechala trek.

Pelling – Is situated at an elevation of 2073 meters / 6800 feet. Its history, natural beauty, traditional culture of the place, home stay at Hee Bermiok, Dunghay are all makes this place a tourist hot spot. Sanga Choeling Monastry and Pemayangtse Monastery is an important attraction in Pelling. Khechepalri lake, Changay waterfall and Kanchendzonga waterfall, Dentam, Singh shore Bridge. Rock Garden and Yuksom are other places of visit. Nearby places of tourist interest are Yuksom, Legship, Namchi, Ravangla, Sikip are nearby places of interest.

Ravangla - Situated at an elevation of 7100 feet at the base of Maenam Hill, with pristine landscape and is nearly 75 kilometers from Gangtok. Nearby villages known as Yangang, Tinkitam, Kewzing, Barfung & Bakhim are ideal for home stay and some of them are really hot spot among visitors. It has diverse range of flora and fauna, mountains, waterfalls, Temi tea gardens, peaceful villages, monasteries and fresh air. Kewzing, Bonn Monastery, Ralong Monastery, Borong Hot water springs are worth Visiting. Maenam Peak at nearly 10300 feet offers breathtaking views.

Rinchenpong - Rinchenpong in Lepcha dialect means the place to assemble. Pong means place and Rinchen stands for assembly. Maggi Dara is a place with a new monastery is being built close to the Rabindra Smriti Van.  Trek to Bersey Rhododendron Sanctuary or visit Bersey Rhododendron Sanctuary by Road, Sai Mandir at Daramdin, Singshore Bridge, Samduptse statue and Heritage House of 1860 are places of interest nearby. Rinchenpong Monastery and Resume monastery are places of tourist interest.

 Uttarey / Varsey - The Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary is a destination in the Singalila Range. From Barsey one can trek to Sandhukphu and Phalut in Darjeeling via Gorkhey. The sanctuary is spread across nearly 104 square kilometers across the Singalila Range. This Sanctuary can be approached from three points; they are Hilley, Dentam and Soreng. The approach path to Varsey / Bashey Getting there is either from Jorethang – Sombaria - Hilley by road or trek from Soreng to Barsey is 12 kilometers – start from the Soreng Bazaar.

Lachen - An exotic and remote destination in north Sikkim situated at a height of 8840 feet and a five to six hour drive from Gangtok can be reached at afternoon covering nearly 120 kilometers. Lachen serves as a base for visiting Thangu,Chopta Valley and Gurudongmar Lake. Gurudongmar Lake, Chopta Valley, Thangu are the places of interest and Green Laketrek can start from Thangu or Lachen. Lachung is close and is known for hot water spring, Yumthang, Zero point; Yumesamdong and Katao are some of the places of tourist interest.

Lachung – Situated at an altitude of 3564 meters / 11800 feet is a paradise on earth with rhododendron adding color to life. Known for its waterfalls, hot springs, glaciers, Wildlife and the majestic snow covered land. The road from Lachung to Yumthang is lined with rhododendrons with Chungthang on the way, where the river Lachen Chu and Lachung Chu meets. Lachung and Lachen requires special permit, have the basic infrastructure and is nearly 5 to 6 hours drive. Green Lake trek is one of the most difficult treks not for the altitude

Dooars - Gorumara National Park, Chapramari Wildlife Park, Lataguri, Toto Para, Chilapata Forest, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, Jayanti, Bhutanghat, Rajabhatkawa, Alipurduar, Khukusia Park with Khairbari Tiger Rescue Centre, Kunja Nagar, Samsing, Bindu, Jaldhaka, SantaleyKhola, Cooch Behar, Rasikbeel,  Bindu Dam, Jaldhaka Hydel Project, Cardamom Curing Centre, Godak Village, Tea gardens, Gahunbari, Gajoldoba, Murti, Phuentsholling, Rachela Pass, Mouchuki, Neora Valley National Park, Bodaganj, Bhramri Devi Temple, Jatileswar Temple, Jalpesh Temple are some of the places of interest.

Namchi - The latest tourist attraction is the Char Dham - a pilgrimage center of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. Ropeway is also being constructed from Samdruptse to Namchi town and then to Char Dham for tourist to views the hills and surroundings. Temi tea garden, Damthang, Doling Gumpha, Cottage industry, Rock Garden near Namchi bazaar, Samdruptse, one of the tallest statue in Asia of Guru Padmasambhava, Phaley Dara or seven hills, Alley Monastery, helipad, Chaar Dham, etc. are tourist hot spot nearby. Pelling, Ravangla, Yuksom, Hee Bermiok, Legship, Rinchenpong are all nearby.

Places to See in Siliguri

One of the well-known city of West Bengal,  Siliguri has turned out to be an important center of trade and commerce. Blessed with the bounty of nature, Siliguri has maintained a perfect balance between its industrial estates and ecology of the region.

The city of Siliguri attracts many tourists from far and wide. Being an important nerve center of all kinds of activities related to the trade and commerce of the region, Siliguri is always thronged by many visitors who are overwhelmed at the natural and scenic beauty of the place. Siliguri also boasts of many shopping malls that are famous for the variety of foreign goods. The beautiful city of Siliguri can be best described as the shoppers' paradise.

Amidst the picturesque landscape of the exotic mountain ranges of the great Himalayas, Siliguri has many places of tourist interest.

Siliguri City The city of Siliguri is very well planned. Siliguri is endowed with the natural scenic beauty that adds to the grace of the place. One can see the white snow clad mountain peaks of the great Himalayan Ranges from Siliguri. The pleasant weather of Siliguri attracts numerous tourists all over the year

Kanchanjunga Stadium

The Kanchanjunga Stadium of Siliguri hosts many district, state, national and international level competitions. Spread over a huge area, the Kanchanjunga Stadium draws many tourists

Hong Kong Market

One of the major place of tourist attraction, the Hong Kong Market of Siliguri is a well known shopping complex of the region that draws several tourist who are absolutely thrilled at the variety of commodities that are sold at very reasonable 

Jaldapara

124kms away from Siliguri, this wild life sanctuary is home to rare one-horned rhino and many other species of animals and birds. With the beautiful river Torsa running through the forest, it is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Siliguri. 

Garumara

This is also another Wild Life Sanctuary only 87kms away from Siliguri. A variety of species of animals and birds are found here.

Coochbehar

Lying close to Siliguri, Coochbehar was once a princely state. Beautiful palaces, lakes and temples still exist with an old-world charm.

Mirik

Some 100kms away from Siliguri, this is a picturesque hill resort.

Kalijhora

The scenic spot of Kalijhora lies 27kms away from Siliguri Along the river Teesta.

Mahananda Weir Sukna

This is also a wild life sanctuary close to Siliguri.

Mongpong The journey starts from Coronation Bridge. The first stop on the Dooars express, Mongpong, is a destination in its own right. Trek through the virgin forests or let the serpentine mud tracks vanishing into the deep woods beckon you on a voyage of discovery. And while you are at it let the moisture laden cool breeze with the fragrance of the forest uplift you.

Malbazar At a distance of 40 km from Siliguri and 65 km from Jalpaiguri, Malbazar is one of the most important towns in Dooars. It is famous for its tea gardens and scenic spots and as a base of starting package tours to the hills and other places around. The Siliguri-Alipurduar broad gauge intercity express passes through Malbazar. This is one of the most beautiful train rides anywhere.

Suntalekhola One can find here  rare one-horned rhinoceros, the mighty bison, leopard, spotted deer, sambar, hog deer, reptiles, huge wild tuskers, wild boars and the rarest variety of animals and birds including plenty of peacocks. Elephant safaris through the Jaldapara forest in search of wild animals, is a memorable experience. Numerous watch towers here allow you to take a real close look at wildlife. Moreover the scintillating light and sound show at Jaldapara guest house adds a wild thrill to your trip.

Murti Located beside the Murti river, this place has a lovely forest resort. With the nature's generosity at its best, the small village of Murti, by the side of the rivulet Murti, is a desired winter picnic spot for local residents.

Chapramari The Chapramari forest, also a wildlife sanctuary, is located near the NH31 connecting the north-east with the rest of India. Chapramari is famous for its Elephant population. It is quite close to the Gorumara National Park.

Samsing At a distance of 82 km from Siliguri, it takes about 3 hours to reach Samsing from Siliguri through the most picturesque landscape. Beside Jaldhaka river, it is famous for it's scenic beauty, orange plantations and forest resort.

Jaldhaka All around is a forest so deep and so green, it radiates an ethereal energy. Some of the roads here are so quiet that you can hear the crickets and birds distinctly even at 10 in the morning. Walking around here is a great experience as there is beauty hidden around in every corner.

Toto Para A small village on the bank of the river Torsha near the Bhutan border, famous for the Dooars aboriginals - the Totos. Totos are one of the most primitive tribes in the world. Totopara is the only place where the Totos live.

Rajabhatkhawa Rajabhatkhawa is a small town situated just outside the Buxa Tiger Reserve in the Jalpaiguri district. It is known for its natural beauty, surrounded by forests. It is attractive in its own way for its nature information centre.

Jayanti This is a beautiful spot encircled by Jayanti river and hills.

Bhutanghat This is famous for its scenic beauty beside river Raidak bordering Bhutan.

Phuntsholling It is the border and a major gateway to Bhutan.

GRANDMA'S HOME REMEDIES FOR WEIGHT LOSS

There is nothing more overwhelming than losing the excess kilos and getting to your ideal weight, all toned and fit. But the bigger task is to maintain the weight loss. We bring you some good old fashioned wisdom on shedding those excess kilos and staying trim through the summer.

If you are one of the many who struggle every single day, trying to survive this balancing act, we have some easy ways to help you keep the lost weight at bay, and be fit and toned always. This is especially for all the brides who lost a lot of weight before the wedding, and are now struggling with maintaining it.

1. Never skip meals:

Unlike the popular notion, skipping meals will not help you maintain the lost weight. Skipping meals and starving yourself will only slow down the metabolism of your body, eventually leading to difficulty in managing the weight loss. That apart, it will lead to several nutritional deficiencies too. It is important to feed the body from time to time for a healthy metabolic rate that aids in keeping your weight in check. Just make sure that all your meals are balanced and healthy.

2. Do not take your weight for granted!

After losing a lot of weight and getting a well-toned look, the huge mistake most people make is to take this for granted. They stop exercising and indulge in junk food, and do not weigh themselves regularly. This naturally leads to piling on all the lost kilos, taking them back to where they started! Do not make this mistake of taking your weight for granted, and always be on guard

3. Do not stop exercising!

Ignoring regular exercise after losing weight is the biggest mistake most people make. It is vital for you to understand that being physically active is the only effective way to stay fit and maintain healthy weight. Getting back to the "no exercise" sedentary mode can easily make you pile on all the lost kilos!

4. Indulge in a variety of foods:

Every food item has certain nutrients that it is high in. Having a variety of foods included in your diet is an absolute must to ensure that you get all the essential nutrients. This is also vital to achieve and maintain a healthy weight loss by maintaining a healthy metabolic rate. Make sure your diet includes lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and lean proteins for a healthy, ailment-free body.

5. Always stay hydrated:

Do not stop your “more than 8 glasses of water per day” routine even after you have lost all the excess weight. Not only does it make you feel full, but it also flushes out toxins and keeps your body hydrated. Proper hydration is a must for healthy skin and hair as well. You can suffice this need by adding green tea, fruit and vegetable juices to your diet too

6.  Have small portions:

Your body always signals you to stop when you are full. Never indulge in food more than the body can take and digest. It will store it in the tissues as fats and bring back that extra weight again. And, most importantly, always have small portions of food 5-6 times a day, rather than 2-3 large meals, to keep the metabolic rate high and to ensure easy digestion.

Maintaining the lost weight is not easy, we agree. But it is not that difficult, now is it?

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR AN UPSET STOMACH

All of us have suffered from food poisoning at some point in life. Here are few home remedies to tackle an upset tummy.

You may have had those mouth-watering Frankie’s from the roadside stall, or gobbled down a plateful of golguppas in a go, only to find severe stomach ache and diarrhoea within a couple of days. It’s probably food poisoning you’re suffering from and you’ve caught it at least once in your life, from the deceptively harmless looking contaminated foods.
With symptoms ranging from mild to severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness and dehydration, food poisoning is a condition not to be ignored. Listed below are a few effective home remedies to cure food poisoning, right from grandma’s own medicine chest.

1. Tea with moti elaichi can take care of a bad stomach.

2. The rind of the pomegranate fruit (as well the bark of the pomegranate tree) is an old and well-known remedy used for treating diarrhoea.

3. Brown sugar is a well-known remedy for food poisoning. Usually a bad stomach causes weakness; give the patient 4 teaspoons of sugar to renew his energy.

4. Aloe vera juice is good for treating an upset stomach. 60 grams of aloe vera juice, taken three times a day, can have you feeling good as new the next morning.

5. Curd (or yogurt) is full of mircro-organisms that are beneficial for the stomach and can combat the effect of harmful bacteria that causes food poisoning.

6. The acidic properties in lime kills bacteria, and makes it a great natural remedy for food poisoning. 3-4 glasses of lime juice over the course of the day will ensure you're back to normal the next morning.

7. Mint or pudina is very helpful in treating food poisoning. Mint tea or a paste of pudina leaves will help relieve stomach trouble. Combining it with curd is doubly effective since it uses the beneficial properties of curd as well

8. Ginger: It adds flavour to your dishes, but is also an excellent home remedy for curing almost all types of digestive problems. Take a tablespoon of honey with a few drops of ginger juice to reduce inflammation and pain.

9. Cumin: Cumin or jeera seeds are a good way to soothe the inflammation in your stomach, reduce the tenderness and aid healing. Crush a tablespoon of cumin seeds and add it to your clear soup.

10. Basil: Basil is another excellent home remedy to cure infections of both – the stomach and the throat. Strain the juice of a few basil leaves and add it to a tablespoon of honey. It’s bound to show positive results within a couple of hours.

11. Bananas: Bananas are a rich source of potassium. They aid recovery and reduce the effects of food poisoning to an impressive level. Mash a couple of bananas and apple, or whip up a quick banana shake.

12. Apples: Apples are as effective against food poisoning as they reduce heartburn and acid reflux. Apples are known to have enzymes that inhibit the growth of the bacteria that cause diarrhea and stomach ache.

13. Lemon: The acidity of the lemon juice kills most of the bacteria that cause food poisoning. Squeeze the juice of a lemon and add a pinch of sugar to it. Drink it as you would take any medicine, or you can even add lemon to your tea.

14. Activated charcoal: Activated charcoal absorbs all the unwanted gases and substances that may be harmful to the delicate lining of the stomach, thereby aiding speedy recovery.

15. Water: It is very important to keep yourself fully hydrated during the period of food poising, as your body tends to lose more water through diarrhea. Also, keeping up your water content, rapidly flushes out the toxins and bacteria, which enhances your recovery.

16. Apple cider vinegar: Being alkaline in nature, vinegar, specifically apple cider vinegar soothes the gastro-intestinal lining. Also, it makes the environment of the stomach inhospitable for the bacteria to breed in, which helps speed up the recovery.

17. Peppermint tea: It’s not just aromatherapy. Peppermint oil is known to have a soothing effect, which is extremely beneficial for people suffering from stomach spasms due to food poisoning. Add a few drops to your tea; your cramps will vanish in a couple of hours.

Home Remedies from Your Kitchen

Before you panic and rush to the chemist for first aid, try these quick and ready-to-use remedies from your fridge.

1. To relieve hangover:
Honey is known to keep your blood sugar level fairly constant which is what you need after last night’s party? Take two to six teaspoon full of honey every twenty minutes upon awaking, depending on the severity of the hangover. Once you start feeling better, take four tsp with your first meal. The potassium in the honey helps counteract the effects of the alcohol. In addition, honey contains fructose, a type of sugar that helps your body metabolise alcohol more quickly.

2. To soothe mild burns and scalds:
If you thought onions only had culinary value, you certainly do not know the value of this edible bulb. It also helps treat minor burns and scalds. Cut an onion in half and place it on the spot until the pain subsides. Onion juice has chemicals like sulphur compounds and quercetin that are present in many over-the-counter drugs. Yes, you may have watery eyes due to burning but that's a fair trade-off. Isn't it?

3. To relieve headache and migraine:
Who doesn't experience occasional headaches? Most of us do. Headaches often reflect the kind of lifestyle we maintain; too much stress and not enough rest. People also suffer headaches due to weather changes. Use cold to help numb the pain. Hold a bag of frozen peas on the pain site for 10 minutes. Wait for twenty minutes and then repeat. Frozen peas bag makes a great mouldable and reusable ice pack. The cold compresses blood vessels which eases pain.

4. To reduce puffy eyes:
Puffy eyes are usually the result of staying awake till late in the night, drinking too little water or the natural ageing process. Puffy eyes are caused when fluid is trapped in the tissue under the eye. For any skin swelling, a cold compress is an ideal remedy. After preparing your morning or afternoon cup of tea, place the bags in the refrigerator until chilled. Squeeze out any excess fluid to make sure tea water doesn't drip all over your face while you are trying to relax. Place the bags over puffy, swollen eyes for around 10 minutes. Apart from removing puffiness, it also reduces dark circles and makes you feel fresh.