North West Bengal

dcamrass1 · Jul 18th, 2009, 14:43

Hi All
Wife and I

want go to the north part of West Bengal come October this year.
Apart from the "search" that we have done in the IM we would like some more help.
As my wife broke her ankle

in January and now has some more weight added to her in the form of nuts and bolts (to make the metal detectors buzz!) and has difficulty in going up a lot of stairs or long inclines.
As the topographic maps are are not clear we would be grateful for any advice regarding which towns, places to visit,chill out for a few days (last year had a few days in Murshidabad and was great) transport or the opposite what to avoid, extremely hilly towns or places of interest that there is a lot of climbing, like will Darjeeling be diffcult? or for that matter Sikim?
Any help will be most welcome.

Elinor & David

dcamrass1 · Jul 18th, 2009, 14:53

Forgot to mention in previous post that we plan to take the train from Delhi to Siliguri and start from there
David

palerider · Jul 18th, 2009, 15:19

I can't think of many places in west bengal hills that are flat, or Assam for that matter. You can travel a lot by bus/sumo etc, and cut down the walking considerably. But Darjeeling is a lot of hills, it's on the ridge of a mountain, like a real ridge, twenty foot wide, then straight down the side.
Shillong was the same.
Sikkim, Gangtok are fairly hilly.

indracal · Jul 23rd, 2009, 18:20

David, I presume you are aware of the political unrest at Darjeeling hills?

See this thread - Darjeeling Strikes

dcamrass1 · Jul 23rd, 2009, 20:47

Intend to go about mid October,how long can this politcal unrest contiue?
I know it is not West Bengal but does it affect Sikkim?
Many Thanks

indracal · Jul 24th, 2009, 16:16

'How long' is really anybody's guess! The local party officially said that they will continue till Darj and related areas are a different state!

But the local economy is heavily tourism dependent, so there must be huge pressure on the calling party.

Sikkim is affected because the only way to access Sikkim is through North Bengal (via Siliguri).

The airport (Bagdogra - IXB?) is also within W. Bengal, so that's not much relief either

dcamrass1 · Jul 24th, 2009, 17:20

Just booked train to New Jalpaiguri from Delhi 12 October. We intend to end up in Kolkata before heading back to Delhi around the 20 November any suggestions would be welcome if Darjeeling and Sikkim are "out of bounds" as to other places going southwards.
Many Thanks

theyyamdancer · Jul 24th, 2009, 17:23

How about The Sunderbans? Or maybe you've already visited there?

sarkar · Jul 24th, 2009, 17:25

Elinor & David - Darjeeling in a Hill Station and only Jeep or Bus works here. North Bengal Plains ends at a place called Dooars where there is a wild life sanctuary. Beyond which Hills starts.

All about hills and no plains makes a state Sikkim.

Though Sikkim is a beautiful and more eventful place than Darjeeling you wife may find it difficult walking in those high slopes.

Sundarban(Mangroove forest) and Digha beach are two great places to Visit in West Bengal(South).

I think you should wait for her to recover completely and then plan your journey. Darjeeling and Sikkim in winter(Dec and Jan) becomes very cold but a great place to enjoy. Hope she gets well quickly.

dcamrass1 · Jul 24th, 2009, 17:27

Last year travelled up from Vizag thro Orissa to Kolkata including Sunderban so thinking mainly north of Kolkata

dcamrass1 · Jul 24th, 2009, 17:38

Sarkar
As time is moving on..... we try and not postpone travelling as who knows how things will be next year.Do not intend to rush from place to place so we are hoping it will be O.K.
Also hope that when we are there - mid Oct. still wont be that cold and will be moving soutwards and hopefully less cold allthough last year in the Sundebans we froze at night!

Indizen · Jul 24th, 2009, 17:53

You can visit the Neora Valley National Park near Kalimpong town.

palerider · Jul 24th, 2009, 21:00

I was in Darj. last year in the middle of a bandh. it wasn't total, so if they lift the total Bandh by October, might be worth considering. It really is something to see.

wonderwomanusa · Jul 25th, 2009, 00:15

Kolkata and Dhaka (Bangladesh), last October, were about 30C and very humid.

indracal · Jul 28th, 2009, 03:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by indracal

David, I presume you are aware of the political unrest at Darjeeling hills?

See this thread - Darjeeling Strikes

See the above thread - bandh is withdrawn!

Jul 18th, 2009, 14:43	#1
dcamrass1 Senior Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kibbutz Hamadia. Israel Posts: 229	North West Bengal Hi All Wife and I want go to the north part of West Bengal come October this year. Apart from the "search" that we have done in the IM we would like some more help. As my wife broke her ankle in January and now has some more weight added to her in the form of nuts and bolts (to make the metal detectors buzz!) and has difficulty in going up a lot of stairs or long inclines. As the topographic maps are are not clear we would be grateful for any advice regarding which towns, places to visit,chill out for a few days (last year had a few days in Murshidabad and was great) transport or the opposite what to avoid, extremely hilly towns or places of interest that there is a lot of climbing, like will Darjeeling be diffcult? or for that matter Sikim? Any help will be most welcome. Elinor & David

Jul 18th, 2009, 15:19	#3
palerider this is Brad. He's cute Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Armidale, N.S.W., Australia Posts: 2,226	I can't think of many places in west bengal hills that are flat, or Assam for that matter. You can travel a lot by bus/sumo etc, and cut down the walking considerably. But Darjeeling is a lot of hills, it's on the ridge of a mountain, like a real ridge, twenty foot wide, then straight down the side. Shillong was the same. Sikkim, Gangtok are fairly hilly. __________________ I always wanted to be someone when I grew up, I realise now that I should have been more specific.

Jul 23rd, 2009, 18:20	#4
indracal Wanderlust - but bills bug! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 514	David, I presume you are aware of the political unrest at Darjeeling hills? See this thread - Darjeeling Strikes __________________ Did you wear the other person's shoe today?

Jul 24th, 2009, 17:23	#8
theyyamdancer lost in Mechuka member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete Posts: 4,423	How about The Sunderbans? Or maybe you've already visited there? __________________ "Wandering seemed no more than the happiness of an anxious man." - Albert Camus

Jul 25th, 2009, 00:15	#14
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 4,261	Kolkata and Dhaka (Bangladesh), last October, were about 30C and very humid. __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Jul 18th, 2009, 14:53	#2
dcamrass1 Senior Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kibbutz Hamadia. Israel Posts: 229	Forgot to mention in previous post that we plan to take the train from Delhi to Siliguri and start from there David

Jul 23rd, 2009, 20:47	#5
dcamrass1 Senior Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kibbutz Hamadia. Israel Posts: 229	Intend to go about mid October,how long can this politcal unrest contiue? I know it is not West Bengal but does it affect Sikkim? Many Thanks

Jul 24th, 2009, 16:16	#6
indracal Wanderlust - but bills bug! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 514	'How long' is really anybody's guess! The local party officially said that they will continue till Darj and related areas are a different state! But the local economy is heavily tourism dependent, so there must be huge pressure on the calling party. Sikkim is affected because the only way to access Sikkim is through North Bengal (via Siliguri). The airport (Bagdogra - IXB?) is also within W. Bengal, so that's not much relief either

Jul 24th, 2009, 17:20	#7
dcamrass1 Senior Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kibbutz Hamadia. Israel Posts: 229	Just booked train to New Jalpaiguri from Delhi 12 October. We intend to end up in Kolkata before heading back to Delhi around the 20 November any suggestions would be welcome if Darjeeling and Sikkim are "out of bounds" as to other places going southwards. Many Thanks

Jul 24th, 2009, 17:25	#9
sarkar -(!)- Eve -[^!^]- Wall-E Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shyamnagar, India Posts: 127	Elinor & David - Darjeeling in a Hill Station and only Jeep or Bus works here. North Bengal Plains ends at a place called Dooars where there is a wild life sanctuary. Beyond which Hills starts. All about hills and no plains makes a state Sikkim. Though Sikkim is a beautiful and more eventful place than Darjeeling you wife may find it difficult walking in those high slopes. Sundarban(Mangroove forest) and Digha beach are two great places to Visit in West Bengal(South). I think you should wait for her to recover completely and then plan your journey. Darjeeling and Sikkim in winter(Dec and Jan) becomes very cold but a great place to enjoy. Hope she gets well quickly.

Jul 24th, 2009, 17:27	#10
dcamrass1 Senior Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kibbutz Hamadia. Israel Posts: 229	Last year travelled up from Vizag thro Orissa to Kolkata including Sunderban so thinking mainly north of Kolkata

Jul 24th, 2009, 17:38	#11
dcamrass1 Senior Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kibbutz Hamadia. Israel Posts: 229	Sarkar As time is moving on..... we try and not postpone travelling as who knows how things will be next year.Do not intend to rush from place to place so we are hoping it will be O.K. Also hope that when we are there - mid Oct. still wont be that cold and will be moving soutwards and hopefully less cold allthough last year in the Sundebans we froze at night!

Jul 24th, 2009, 17:53	#12
Indizen Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 2,507	You can visit the Neora Valley National Park near Kalimpong town.

Jul 24th, 2009, 21:00	#13
palerider this is Brad. He's cute Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Armidale, N.S.W., Australia Posts: 2,226	I was in Darj. last year in the middle of a bandh. it wasn't total, so if they lift the total Bandh by October, might be worth considering. It really is something to see.

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