FOUR MUST VISIT PLACES IF YOU ARE IN MY HOMETOWN SILIGURI (WEST BENGAL,INDIA)

Siliguri is located in the state of west Bengal,India. It is a second largest city of west Bengal. It is a node city; a city which is a gateway to many neighbouring foreign countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and China. Being a gateway city Siliguri is excellent in terms of trade options and its easy accessibility from across the neighbouring countries as well as states, makes Siliguri the fastest growing city of west Bengal. It also attracts people from across the hill and it's adjoining areas because Siliguri offers good medical facilities in the region of north Bengal.Which, is another reason that draws crowd to this place.

Whatever may be the reason for your visit to Siliguri; if you are here you cannot avoid shopping. It is a little shopping paradise for shopaholics, though the prices of the products may be slightly higher than that of markets of " Kolkata and Delhi", But when compared to the markets of adjoining places Sliguri offers ''wide variety of dynamic goods'' at comparatively cheap rates.

Siliguri (better known as silla; thanks to my facebook friends for popularizing this name) is my hometown. It's been 13 years since my parents migrated due to terror problems from a small town in Assam to Siliguri. Now let’s take of tour of Siliguri through my eyes,Siliguri is a place where my heart and soul lies, It is a place where I got my education and made some friends for lifetime. This town has something that captivates you in such a way that you feel like making this town your own. As it’s in the progress of growth this town is busting with energy. The people of this town are vibrant, helpful and very cordial. In terms of safety quotient it's very safe city.However, for travellers it's advisable for them to carry important phone numbers (police station and helpline numbers), and some safety mechanism like a bottle full of pepper spray. Though Siliguri is lacking in infrastructure and quality in terms of higher education, it’s coping with the pace, as some very good Colleges are being set up every year. So that aspiring students don’t have to leave their home town to pursue their dreams.one of the major reasons for the popularity of this town is because it is 40 km/24.9 miles away from Darjeeling. Tourist’s coming to visit Darjeeling has to go via Siliguri. Tourist coming via train has to get down in New Jalpaiguri  Railway Station (NJP) or if it 's via plane than you need to get down at Bagdogra International airport which is 16 km away from Siliguri. Undoubtedly the beauty of hills (Darjeeling, Gangtok, Mirik) is totally enchanting which is what most of the tourist’s look forward to. But siliguri has its own travelling experiences to offer. So if you are a traveler travelling to Darjeeling and if you have a day or two to spare in siliguri, or if you are travelling generally to siliguri. Then I will guide you to four must visit places in SILIGURI

ISKCON TEMPLE SILIGURI
LOCATION: GITAL PARA, ISKCON TEMPLE ROAD
 

1. ISKCON TEMPLE: Iskcon (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness) popularly known as HARE KRSNA movement’s temple in siliguri is a number one must visit place if you are in siliguri. Lord krishna and Radha is the main deity of this temple. Small temples representing other deities are built around the main temple. As soon as you enter this temple premises your soul will be filled with peace and tranquillity and the aura of divine lord. The Chanting of ''HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA'' can be heard when you enter the main temple complex which soothes you and purifies your inner-self. If you are a spiritual person or if you are someone eager  to learn about the ancient mythological feat of lord KRSNA you can talk to the devotee monks or you can take some books back home, as there is a small shop inside the temple premises from where you can choose items of your choice 

CITY CENTRE
LOCATION: NH31

 2.CITY CENTRE: City centre is a swanky mall with 3.7 lacks sq.feet of retail space( huh!! Sometimes the statistics of our own place seems to astound us).., first of its kind in Siliguri. It's been recently after malls like this have been built up. people of Siliguri got a break-free from their boring and monotonous way of rendezvous.People are slowly soaking weekend culture as a part of their life. Siguri as well its people are going through winds of change.Though mall like this is nothing new to the people living in metros, But if you like the feel of being in the rhythm of your own city. Than city centre is must visit for you. If you have a fetish for branded clothes you can go shopping in stores of your choice ,and if  you are a foodie like me this mall is a heaven :D. There is a multiplex, amusement games for kids and not to forget my personal favourite hangout in this mall KFC,Dominos and of course crossword( though I prefer buying my books online, as it is much cheaper but checking out books is absolutely free which I can't resist when I am in this mall :D :D)

3: HONG KONG MARKET: How can I forget Hong Kong market! A paradise for shopaholic’s like me. If you like to do street shopping and like experimenting with your clothing and accessories, you must definitely visit Hong Kong market in Siliguri. The products are mostly made in china and I can't guarantee you on the durability of the products, but if you are looking for something in vogue at cheap prices than I guess you will be making judicious decision by shopping here.But always remember to negotiate for price of the products,because the prices are not fixed.whenever i go shopping i always agree to pay half of the price asked by the shopkeeper,though the shopkeeper tends to give me some dangerous look initially.But i always win :D.Not only clothing you will get everything here, from a small nail cutter to pen drives you will get it all here. I can't think of anything which you will be getting in a full stocked mall and not in Hong Kong market. There is a street shoe stall just some yards away from Hong Kong market, where you will get beautifully designed flat sandals for as cheap as 60 rupees. Just use it for few days and throw it, a very fair deal, isn't it?

4: Savin Kingdome: Savin Kingdome is a cool place to hang-out with your kids and family. With an amusement park and a water Kingdome inside it, it is an an ideal place for kids as well as their parents to have fun. Not that saving Kingdome is limited to kids, if you want to bring back the child in you, you can have some crazy time here.

Now familiarizing you with the flavours of siliguri's  cuisines. It offers a varied and multi-cultural cuisines inspired by different community of people living here (Bengalis,Nepalese, sikkimese) . A very famous form of foreign inspiration, is reflected in Chinese food (baozi, or jiaozi) well known as momos ,which is  loved and fondly eaten fast food in each and every house hold of north Bengal. Momo got it's serious innovation here, with people trying to adapt it with their own taste, which is why momo is even served with tomato sauce apart from its traditional sauce ,in most of the food stalls here. When you are in Bengal not talking about sweets and fish is a crime, Bengali's are ardent food lover which is reflected in their cuisines as well.There are uncountable number of food from which you can serve yourself. To name a very popular one is illish maach, misti -doi (sweetened form of curd), rosogolla (a sweetmeat  made out of cottage cheese).well siliguri is a smaller replica of Kolkata when it comes to foods, but it has its own taste of  diversity in food inspired by different  communities of people residing here. Now coming to the point of exploring the city, my personal favourite way of exploring the city is by foot. I believe that it's the best way one can absorb the beauty and serenity of any place. If you have never had an experience of sitting in a Rickshaw (three wheeled passenger vehicle, like a tricycle with a seat at the back for passenger that is driven by somebody sitting at the front and pedalling) it is a fun way of exploring the city by having a joy ride in it. 

BENGAL'S DELICACY : ILLISH MAACH (FISH)

                                                                   

MOMO

ROSOGOLLA: SWEATMEAT MADE OUT OF COTTAGE CHEESE

       

MISTI-DOI : SWEETENED CURD

''INDIAN RICKSHAW''

Dear frends,this was a description of my hometown Siliguri through my eyes!!To be more precise about the location of the places you can always refer to google maps and search. I Hope you had lot of fun and excitement while reading it, but to have a real life experience of it, you have to visit Siliguri yourself :).Plz give me your valuable feedback and leave your comments, I will come soon with my next post until then stay updated  byee tk cr :):)