Located on the banks of Mahananda River at the foothills of the Himalayas is Siliguri, the third largest city of West Bengal. It is the city that helps connect North Bengal with other parts of the state. There are three seasons in Siliguri, namely, summer, monsoon and winter. Winter is considered the best time for visiting and exploring the city and the surrounding areas as Siliguri blooms with great weather. Let us see how each season treats the people of Siliguri.

By virtue of lying at the foothills of the Himalayas and not higer up, the city experiences quite a harsh summer. Mercury soars with every passing month and registers a temperature as high as 38°C. Most of the tourists during this time are headed towards the cooler hill stations in search of some relief from the scorching heat of the plains and use Siliguri as a stopover. During summer if you happen to be in the city then use the early mornings and evenings for exploring the area. There is the very famous Hongkong Market that is a shopper’s paradise and is best-visited post-sunset.

The monsoon rains bring the much-needed respite from the scorching heat of the summer months. The city experiences quite heavy showers during these months and the rains continue up to October. Temperatures also dip making it pleasant for the tourists. However this may not be the perfect time for exploring Siliguri or the surrounding areas because of the torrential downpours that are frequently accompanied by landslides which may jeopardize travel plans and could be risky as well.

Winter is the perfect season for paying a visit to Siliguri. The weather is beautiful with clear blue skies and temperatures dipping considerably to hover around the 8°C to 25°C mark. During winter Siliguri becomes the base from where tourists travel to the different hill stations of North Bengal to enjoy the chill and the snowfall. There are some heading towards Kalimpong for paragliding, some undertake treks to Sandakphu, and some visit the Teesta River for rafting. The others are the wildlife enthusiasts heading towards Dooars or tourists who are there for the joy of sightseeing and for enjoying the brilliant weather. Try the toy train ride from Siliguri to Darjeeling during this time. It is a fantastic experience.