The Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal is a hotspot of tourism due to its extensive natural beauty in the form of surrounding hills, dense forests, rolling tea gardens and wildlife. As a district lying in the vast Terai region in the Himalayan foothills, Jalpaiguri is also washed by many rivers and rivulets which increase the fertility of the region. In addition they attract numerous tourists to the region for their natural beauty. Some of the major rivers which vein Jalpaiguri are the Teesta, Torsha, Raidak, Dyna, Jaldhaka, and other small rivulets.
Origin of the Teesta River
Originating in the Himalayan glacier Pahunri, the Teesta River flows through rapids and gorges southwards the Sikkim Himalaya. Here it is joined by the Rangpo River forming a border between West Bengal and Sikkim till the Teesta Bazaar. It meets its major tributary, the Rangeet River a little before the Teesta Bridge where the Darjeeling and kalimpong roads join. From here, the River Teesta flows downwards the plains hitting there in Sevoke, north of Siliguri. From here the river veers towards Jalpaiguri and then towards the Rangpur district within Bangladesh merging at last with the Brahmaputra River.
Teesta River Tourism in Jalpaiguri
The Teesta River is the second largest river after the Ganges in the state of West Bengal. The entire city of Jalpaiguri is on the floodplains of this river. As the Teesta River gurgles through the Jalapiguri district, it leaves beautiful natural picnic spots along its banks, especially where spurs have been built to divert the river course by few kilometers.
In fact, Jalpaiguri is situated on the right bank of the River Teesta. The Jubilee Park in Jalpaiguri is a fine example of a picnic spot for couples and families which is entirely sprawled across the banks of the Teesta river. The gorgeous natural environment makes it a great place for chilling out amidst the beauty of the lush green park refreshed by the cool winds from the nearby river. Watch the sunrises and sunsets from this place.
The soft trilling sound alternating with the gurgling waters of the River Teesta enhances the surrounding beauty of the place encompassed by evergreen tea estates, hills, forests and wildlife. If you take an early morning walk along the banks of the River Teesta, you will be enchanted by the chirping sound of a variety of migratory birds.
The long stretches of the Teesta River offer ample opportunities for white water rafting, an adventure sport lately introduced here. The tourists can try out different water sports like boating, kayaking, sailing and river rating over the lovely ice cold water of the Teesta River. Camping in a tent near the Teesta banks gives you a rare feeling of adventure.
Fishing and boating are other leisure activities which the tourist can enjoy along the Teesta River banks. Recently, the Hilsa Fish festival was started to celebrate rain in the dooars region during which time boating on the River Teesta is offered along with other water sports. For a nature lover, boating in the Karala River till its confluence with the Teesta is the experience of a lifetime.
