Siliguri itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Siliguri

1. 01

   Day 1: Stupa, sanctuary edge and a bridge

   Start at Salugara Monastery in the morning, when the stupa is quiet and the light is soft. If you have energy, drive on to Ewam India Buddhist Monastery, which is a short distance further north. Lunch in town and a rest. In the afternoon, drive out to Coronation Bridge at Sevoke and the Sevoke Kali temple above the Teesta, which suits late light. Return before dark, as the road is busy with trucks.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Salugara Monastery (Tashi Gomang Stupa)	45–75 minutes	Easy	Morning, or late afternoon in winter
   Ewam India Buddhist Monastery	About 1 hour	Moderate	Morning or early afternoon on a weekday
   Coronation Bridge (Sevoke Bridge)	20–30 minutes	Easy	Morning or late afternoon

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Ewam India Buddhist Monastery: The building is tall but the main shrine areas can be seen from the lower floors. Expect steps and raised thresholds, and a narrow, bumpy approach road. Take a car, and rest at the entrance if you do not want to climb.

Plan 02

2 days in Siliguri

1. 01

   Day 1: Buddhist Siliguri and the markets

   Salugara Monastery first, then Ewam India Buddhist Monastery. Return for lunch and rest. In the late afternoon, walk around the Hong Kong Market and nearby bazaars on Hill Cart Road for woollens, bags and Tibetan and Nepali goods, and have a simple dinner nearby.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Salugara Monastery (Tashi Gomang Stupa)	45–75 minutes	Easy	Morning, or late afternoon in winter
   Ewam India Buddhist Monastery	About 1 hour	Moderate	Morning or early afternoon on a weekday
   Hong Kong Market	1–2 hours	Moderate	Late afternoon or early evening

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Ewam India Buddhist Monastery: The building is tall but the main shrine areas can be seen from the lower floors. Expect steps and raised thresholds, and a narrow, bumpy approach road. Take a car, and rest at the entrance if you do not want to climb.

   With parents at Hong Kong Market: Narrow, crowded lanes with uneven footing and little seating. Pavements are busy and traffic is heavy outside. Take a short stroll rather than a long walk, and use a rest stop at a nearby cafe.

2. 02

   Day 2: Bridge, temple and wildlife

   Go to Coronation Bridge and the Sevoke Kali temple in the morning. Return via the city for lunch. In the afternoon, choose between the North Bengal Wild Animals Park (Bengal Safari) or the North Bengal Science Centre, depending on whether your group prefers animals or a cool, indoor visit.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Coronation Bridge (Sevoke Bridge)	20–30 minutes	Easy	Morning or late afternoon
   North Bengal Wild Animals Park (Bengal Safari)	Half a day	Moderate	Morning on a weekday; cooler months
   North Bengal Science Centre	1.5–2 hours	Easy	Weekday mornings; rainy or hot afternoons

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at North Bengal Wild Animals Park (Bengal Safari): Most of the park is seen from a vehicle, so walking is limited, but the entrance and enclosure paths can be long. Seating and shade are limited, and the vehicle ride can be bumpy. Carry water and a hat.

Plan 03

3 days in Siliguri

1. 01

   Day 1: Monasteries and ISKCON

   Visit Salugara Monastery and Ewam India Buddhist Monastery in the morning, rest after lunch, then see the ISKCON temple around its evening programme. Keep dinner simple.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Salugara Monastery (Tashi Gomang Stupa)	45–75 minutes	Easy	Morning, or late afternoon in winter
   Ewam India Buddhist Monastery	About 1 hour	Moderate	Morning or early afternoon on a weekday

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Ewam India Buddhist Monastery: The building is tall but the main shrine areas can be seen from the lower floors. Expect steps and raised thresholds, and a narrow, bumpy approach road. Take a car, and rest at the entrance if you do not want to climb.

2. 02

   Day 2: Teesta valley

   Spend the morning at Coronation Bridge and the Sevoke Kali temple, then continue to the Gajoldoba barrage on the Teesta in the afternoon if you like birds and quiet river views, especially from November to February. Return before dark.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Coronation Bridge (Sevoke Bridge)	20–30 minutes	Easy	Morning or late afternoon

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

3. 03

   Day 3: Forest and shopping

   Take a morning at Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary from Sukna or at the North Bengal Wild Animals Park, then return for an unhurried lunch. In the afternoon, visit the toy train terminal at NJP if you are leaving by rail, or spend time at Hong Kong Market for last-minute shopping before your onward journey.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary	Half a day	Moderate	Winter mornings, November to February
   North Bengal Wild Animals Park (Bengal Safari)	Half a day	Moderate	Morning on a weekday; cooler months
   Hong Kong Market	1–2 hours	Moderate	Late afternoon or early evening

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary: Most of the visit is by vehicle on rough forest tracks, which can be bumpy for people with back or hip problems. There is little seating and few facilities. Short stops are possible, but you should not expect long walks.

   With parents at North Bengal Wild Animals Park (Bengal Safari): Most of the park is seen from a vehicle, so walking is limited, but the entrance and enclosure paths can be long. Seating and shade are limited, and the vehicle ride can be bumpy. Carry water and a hat.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Siliguri trip for parents and children

• Do not plan a hill transfer on the same day as a late arrival. Rest in Siliguri first; the road to Darjeeling and Kalimpong takes hours, and fatigue makes hill roads feel longer.
• Book your hill car in advance with a reputable operator or your hotel, and agree the vehicle type, luggage and route before you set off.
• Salugara Monastery and the science centre are the most level sights. Sevoke Kali temple has steps, and the forest sanctuary and safari park involve bumpy vehicle rides.
• Travel on the day itself with a margin of at least an hour for traffic. Siliguri's roads are congested, and Sevoke Road in particular has heavy truck traffic.
• Keep medicines and a day's change of clothes in hand luggage, since your main bag may be in a different vehicle or the hotel luggage room.
• In the monsoon, hill roads can be affected by landslides. Check with your hotel or driver before leaving, and keep a spare day in the plan.

Siliguri with elderly parents: the full guide →