Jalpaiguri At a Glance > District Headquarter Jalpaiguri > Total Area 3,457 Sq Km > Population 23,70,863 (Ref: Census 2011) > Best time to Visit September to March Wild Life Santuary is closed from15 June - 15 September > Average Rain Fall 3160 mm > Language Bengali (Prime), Hindi & English (Alternative), Sadri, Rava, Mech (Local) > Festivals Jalpesh Mela, Karam Puja, Teesta Burir Puja > Places of Interest Jalpesh Temple, Murti Lataguri, Mongpong, Chapramari, Chalsa, > Special Feature Gorumara National Park Best Places to stay * Mongpong (WBFDC) # Malbazar (WBTDC) Murti (WBTDC) Why go? Rarely can one find a place like Jalpaiguri that is so potentially rich in tourism. But a major part of it still remains to be exploited. Turbulent rivers battling out of the steep gorges, the vast stretches of forest cover, the undulating span of Tea Estates and the panoramic grandeur of the Himalayas are only a few jewels that made ‘the British ground their roots deep into the heart of this land. Just drive around or take a hike, never will your eyes feel to rest. If a tourist is a nature lover or an admirer of Wild Life there cannot be a better place than this for him. One can run wild in the various Sanctuaries, National Parks & Tiger Reserves that are on offer. Garumara N.P,, Jaidapara W.LS. etc. are only a few. The more adventureres ones may prefer to trek to Rupang Valley & Buxa-Duar in Buxa Tiger Reserve. Apart from these, there are very old tempies like the Jalpeshwar and Jatileshwar. Jalpaiguri is well connected with Kolkata by bus Via Siliguri and train. Jalpaigur is situated some 45 km away from Siliguri which is said to be the Gateway of North-East India. By Bus: Almost all the NBSTC and others pvt. buses between Siliguri and Jalpaiguri. By Train: There are number of train services both from Sealdah and Howrah Railway Station to Jalpaiguri Railway Station.History The name Jalpaiguri came from the word "jalpai’ means ‘olive" which grew in the town and were seen even in 1900. The suffix "guri" means a place. The name as well is associated with Jalpesh, the presiding deity (Shiva) of the entire region. The name of the city Jalpaiguri actually comes from the Bhutanese term je-le-pe-gu-ri meaning a place where warm clothes are traded, suggesting a trading center. Geography and Topography The district situated in the northern part of West Bengal has international borders with Bhutan and Bagladesh in the North and South respectively and borders with Assam and Darjeeling hills in the East, West and Northwest. The entire topography is crisscrossed with rivulets, rivers and hills. The district is primarily rural with more than 80% of rural population. It has also high percentage ‘of SC/ST population. Relatively sizeable population resides in Tea Gardens and Forest villages which are isolated and mostly inaccessible. The district is the gateway to the entire North-Eastern States and Bhutan. It has the district of Alipurduar in the east and Darjeeling in the West.Having high percentage of migrated population different cultural groups (Ranjbanshi, Ravas, Mech, Santhals, Madasia and Oraons) have created a unique cultural harmony which is rarely seen in other districts of West Bengal. The entire topography is crisscrossed with rivulets, rivers and hills. Jalpaiguri with its myriad and verdant, undulating and plain beauty soothes the heart of travellers & nature lovers. Veined by mighty rivers like the Testa, Torsa, Jaldhaka, Raidak, Dyna, Neora, Sankosh, Murti etc. this piece of land has been aptly named as the land of "Tea’, ‘Timber’ and ‘Tourism’. A major stretch of area is bordered in the north by Bhutan and hence the name Dooars/Duars which means -Door of Bhutan. Jalpaiguri BHUTAN Windows of North Bengal | Jalpaiguri 55Culture and Festivals h Mela, one of the main fairs in Jalpaigur district, takes place on the occasion of Shivratri in the months of February and March. The age old Shiva. temple is the main attraction of the mela and the mela takes place round this ‘temple. Not only local people but people from different parts of the country come to take part in the fair which is the meeting place of various cultures. Karam Festival is celebrated by the Santhals in the month of Aswin (September- October) in order to have increased ‘wealth and progeny’ and to get rid of evil spirits. During this festival, two youths after being purified, fetch two branches of Karam tree from the forest and plant them just outside the house. The head of the household offers rice beer and other articles to 56 Windows of North Bengal | Jalpaigurl Manjhi Haram and Maran Buru and pray for the prosperity of the house. This worship is followed with singing, dancing and playing of instrumental music. All those present there, are given rice-beer. The traditional dress of Santhal women is called Pandhat, which is a covering from the chest to the foot. Bow and arrows are the favourite weapons of Santhals. Though different varieties of races and their cultures got intermingled in the ‘same land; each individual race retained their individual culture and heritage over the ages. Thus the phenomenon of ‘Combined Culture’ never got a chance to bloom here. In the serenity of the forests, beyond the misty curtain of the hills or by the gushing streams here and there developed and prospered various culture like - the Bhotia Culture, the Rajbanshi Culture, the Ler imbu Culture together with the Cultures of the Co : Majority of tribal cultures are Folk Cultures. Folk dance, Folk songs and Folk lores form an integral part of these cultures. And then there are festivals. Many festivals are common to both the Bengalees and the Rajbangshis whoconstitute the bulk of Jalpaiguri's population. Apart from the major festivals like the Du ja and the Kali Puja, thereis the ia epitomising the Life line of this region the Teesta River; an occassion observed by the Bengalees and the Rajbangshis alike. Manosha Pula or the worship of the Serpent Goddess is another important festival of this region. Many Village Fairs and stage dramas commemorate this event. Then there are rituals for 'Good Crops' and 'Good Rain’; the later is known as ‘Hutt Ghur ta Burir Pt Weert Folk Culture Jalpaiguri's very own Folk form is the vor Chunni. Dharm Gaan is another popular folk song of Jalpaiguri. It evolves round the rise and fall mythological characters. Bhawaiya the folk song of the Rajbangshis, depict the love of both God and Man. Another populer folk culture of Rajbangshi’s is Dhol-Sanai, an instrumental performance by Rajbangshi artists, a must for marriage ceramony. Bisha-Hara Pala is another very popular stage drama of Jalpaiguri. It reveals the story of Devi Manosha - the Serpent Goddess and Behula - a pious wife who had lost her husband - Lakhindar due to snake bite on her marriage night. It depicts the confrontation of Man and God. Karom, Bishua, Jitia, Bandna and Gaburdeb are some of the festivals of other Tribes. Rava songs and Dance are gaining popularity these days. Windows of North Bengal | Jalpaiguri 57Art & Handicrafts Jalpaiguri streets are shopper's delight with its range of traditional handicraft items, jewellery, dress materials and fabrics, furniture and electronic goods which embellish the city’s major commercial zones. Jalpaiguri is famous for its traditional handicrafts especially cane and bamboo: crafts. Other materials which you can. cary back as souvenirs and gifts include ‘wall hangings, jute and wooden anworks and other traditionally made jewellery. Since the Jalpaiguri district is one of the prominent places for tea cultivation, tea produced in Jalpaiguri or nearby, Darjeeling is a must carryback option. Some of the noted shopping attractions in Jalpaiguri include wood products, jute products, pottery, leather products, silk and other fibre textiles, plastic products and rubber, bevarages, wool knitted items, electronic goods from the nearby Siliguri Hong Kong market and many others. Food & Drinks Belakoba is famous for chumchum, kalakand, rosogolla and doi. Metli, Chalsa, Malbazar are famous for orange market. Pineapple is found all through the district besides coconuts, betel nuts, jackfruit and kalojaam. Boroli/Boiral fish, the mineral rich diet found in Teesta is a delicacy. Dhupguti and Moinaguri are famous for shutki (dried) fish. 58 Windows of North Bengal | Jalpaigurl