Major city · India
Siliguriশিলিগুড়ি
Treat Siliguri as a transport base, not a sight: 1 night before or after Darjeeling, Gangtok, Bhutan or the Northeast. Skip it as a destination on its own.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- INR
- Best months
- Oct–Mar; winter mornings are cold and fog-prone, so treat Bagdogra flight times as check
- avoid Jun–Sep (severe monsoon, 80% of annual rain)
- Airport
- IXB
- Nights
- 1
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.
Siliguri is the largest city in north Bengal and the gateway to the Darjeeling Hills, Sikkim, Bhutan and Northeast India. Almost everything worth seeing sits outside the city, so most travellers use it for a single night between a flight or train and the hills. Its own draw is monasteries, malls, tea shopping and cheap food.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Siliguri, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.India-wide
- SIM or eSIMJio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.India-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.India-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.India-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/M. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.India-wide
- SafetyThe walkable core is safe by day and after dark.
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages.India-wide
- Emergency numbers112 All services (police, fire, ambulance) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysThe Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays; many museums close on Mondays; banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays…India-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportIXB Bagdogra International Airport (About 14 km from the city centre; taxi to Siliguri roughly ₹500 (≈ US$6).IXB Bagdogra International Airport (About 8.7 mi from the city centre; taxi to Siliguri roughly ₹500 (≈ US$6).
- Getting aroundShared e-rickshaws (totos) and vans run fixed routes at about ₹20 (≈ under US$1) per person (₹10 (≈ under US$1) short, ₹30 (≈ under US$1) long).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealTea stall cup of chai₹10–20 (≈ under US$1)
- Museum or sight ticketBengal Safari Park entry₹200 (≈ US$3) (half hour), ₹400 (≈ US$5) (one hour)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person₹500 (≈ US$6)
- Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per room₹2,500 (≈ US$30)
- High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per room₹5,000 (≈ US$60)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,200 (≈ US$14) · Mid ₹3,000 (≈ US$35) · High ₹6,000 (≈ US$70)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- IXB Bagdogra International Airport (About 14 km from the city centre; taxi to Siliguri roughly ₹500. Flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Guwahati; some Bangkok connections.)IXB Bagdogra International Airport (About 8.7 mi from the city centre; taxi to Siliguri roughly ₹500. Flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Guwahati; some Bangkok connections.)
Weather and climate
Siliguri: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
22°C72°F
11°C52°F
2 rd
Feb
25°C77°F
13°C55°F
3 rd
Mar
29°C84°F
16°C61°F
4 rd
Apr
31°C88°F
20°C68°F
7 rd
May
30°C86°F
22°C72°F
13 rd
Jun
30°C86°F
24°C75°F
18 rd
Jul
29°C84°F
25°C77°F
22 rd
Aug
30°C86°F
25°C77°F
20 rd
Sep
29°C84°F
24°C75°F
15 rd
Oct
29°C84°F
20°C68°F
6 rd
Nov
26°C79°F
15°C59°F
1 rd
Dec
23°C73°F
12°C54°F
1 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Shared e-rickshaws (totos) and vans run fixed routes at about ₹20 per person (₹10 short, ₹30 long). App cabs on Uber, Rapido and Yatri Saathi cover longer hops. The core around Bidhan Road and Hill Cart Road is walkable. NJP station is 20–30 min from the centre by bus or taxi.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Darjeeling
overnightDoor to door: 2.5–3.5 h by road; 7–8 h by toy train
Shared jeep or bus from Tenzing Norgay terminus, or the DHR toy train from NJP/Siliguri Junction
The classic onward leg; sleep in Darjeeling, not Siliguri.
Kurseong
goDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h
Shared jeep or bus on Hill Cart Road, or the toy train
Halfway up the hill line; tea estates and a quieter bazaar.
Mirik
goDoor to door: About 2 h
Shared jeep or bus from the terminus
Lake and tea gardens; doable as a long day or a night.
Sevoke
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Local bus or auto toward the Teesta
Coronation Bridge and river views; short trip.
Sukna
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus or taxi on the Sevoke road
Forest edge and Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary access.
Mangpoo
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Shared jeep on Hill Cart Road
Tea estate country on the hill line; route and journey time are check.
Panitanki
cautionDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Bus or taxi to the Nepal border
Border crossing to Kakarbhitta; bring your passport and check visa rules first.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Hill Cart Road / Pradhan Nagar
Hotels, the Tenzing Norgay bus terminus and the Tourism Centre; best for one night with bags and early buses.
Sevoke Road
Malls, banks and upscale shops; 10–15 min by auto from the centre.
Bidhan Road / Bidhan Market
Street markets and cheap eats; walkable core, close to Siliguri Town and Siliguri Junction stations.
Near NJP station
Only if you have a very early train; otherwise it is a 20–30 min ride from the centre.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₹1,200–2,500 (≈ US$14–30) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₹2,500–5,000 (≈ US$30–60) excl. bed
- High
- ₹5,000 (≈ US$60)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range double room1 × 1 night × ₹2,500 | ₹2,500 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₹3,000 | ₹6,000 |
| Bagdogra airport taxi to the city centre, one way1 × ₹500 · check | ₹500 |
| Shared e-rickshaw ride2 × ₹20 · check | ₹40 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹800 | ₹1,600 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₹1,060 |
| Trip total≈ ₹5,850 per person per day, bed included | ₹11,700≈ US$140 |
2026 estimate in rupees; flights and hill transport excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Tea stall cup of chai | ₹10–20 (≈ under US$1) |
| Thali or momos meal | ₹80–250 (≈ US$1–3) |
| Auto or toto across the centre | ₹20–60 (≈ under US$1) |
| Taxi NJP → city centre | ₹300–500 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Bengal Safari Park entry | ₹200 (≈ US$3) (half hour), ₹400 (≈ US$5) (one hour) |
| Darjeeling tea, 100 g retail | ₹150–600 (≈ US$2–7) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Monsoon June–September brings heavy rain and local flooding; hill roads and flights are disrupted.
- Bagdogra airport sits in the Terai fog belt: winter morning flights are often delayed.
- Darjeeling Himalayan Railway toy-train seats sell out in peak season; book ahead.
- Touts at NJP and Bagdogra offer 'fixed' taxi rates — use the pre-paid booth opposite NJP's main entrance.
- The Nepal border at Panitanki: entry rules for foreign passport holders are check — confirm with official Indian and Nepali immigration before travelling.
Emergency numbers
- All services (police, fire, ambulance)
- 112
Pocket card
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Siliguriশিলিগুড়ি
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
এই ঠিকানায় নিয়ে চলুনTo this address, please
Emergency
- All services112
Embassy
No embassies in Siliguri; consulate locations for US, UK and other countries are check. Carry your passport for the Nepal border at Panitanki.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bagdogra → Siliguri centre, taxi: about ₹500 (≈ US$6), 25–35 min
- NJP → city centre, shared bus: ₹20–40 (≈ under US$1), 20–30 min (check)
- Siliguri → Darjeeling, shared jeep: ₹250–400 (≈ US$3–5), 2.5–3.5 h (check)
Say or show
- নমস্কার — Hello / Namaste (nomoshkar)
- ধন্যবাদ — Thank you (dhonnobad)
- কত টাকা? — How much is it? (koto taka?)
- বাস স্ট্যান্ড কোথায়? — Where is the bus stand? (bus stand kothay?)
- এই ঠিকানায় নিয়ে চলুন — Please take me to this address (ei thikanay niye cholun)
- দরকার নেই, ধন্যবাদ — I don't want it, thank you (dorkar nei, dhonnobad)
Bengali and Hindi are the main languages; English works in hotels, malls and with app cabs.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Siliguri. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Mar; winter mornings are cold and fog-prone, so treat Bagdogra flight times as check · avoid Jun–Sep (severe monsoon, 80% of annual rain) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for IXB: taxi fares field-checked, fog-season fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Hill Cart Road, Bidhan Market, Sevoke Road, Salugara monasteries.
- Place pages with verified hours (Bengal Safari, North Bengal Science Centre, Salugara Monastery) and eat pages with last orders.
- Monsoon and fog fixtures so gates A–D can go green.