Places to visit around Bagdogra

• The Dooars: From Bagdogra airport, head east, past Siliguri, and you will arrive at The Dooars, the floodplains of the Brahmaputra where you either take in a safari or two or relax at one of the verdant forest resorts.
• Darjeeling: Head north, like most tourists, drives from Bagdogra to Darjeeling—by road, it is a 3-hour uphill journey. En-route, make time for a stopover at Kurseong to sample one of the world's most expensive teas at Makaibari Tea Estate. This is one of the best places to visit in Bagdogra, or if you love tea, you can even bed down at their charming but straightforward homestay. You can also visit the Glenburn Tea Estate, approximately two hours from Darjeeling. But if you have time on hand, skip the road and take the Darjeeling Himalayan Mountain Railway from New Jalpaiguri. The narrow-gauge train service has been in operation for over 120 years and is easily among India's most beautiful train journeys and has earned the UNESCO World Heritage status.Tip: You can also hop on for a simple joyride. Take the three-hour jungle safari train from Siliguri to Rangtong and back, which cuts through the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. Alternatively, it is a two-hour, 14km round trip from Darjeeling to Ghum, which covers some rather beautiful sights and stops.

Tip: You can also hop on for a simple joyride. Take the three-hour jungle safari train from Siliguri to Rangtong and back, which cuts through the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. Alternatively, it is a two-hour, 14km round trip from Darjeeling to Ghum, which covers some rather beautiful sights and stops.

• Kalimpong: Barely an hour from Darjeeling is Kalimpong, another north Bengal hill station, where you can get your first real taste of Buddhist culture through its monasteries and food. Tourists particularly enjoy the Kalimpong Cactus Nursery, with a mindboggling variety of cacti.
• Mirik: Nearby, Mirik is an even more beautiful hill station, which is (thankfully) not big on the tourist map yet. Drive further east, and you will arrive in Sikkim, the 'valley of rice', orchids and the omnipresent Kanchenjunga.
• Gangtok: Arrive in Gangtok, which will serve as the base for a few days of adventure. From here, you can drive up to the surreal Tsomgo lake and continue up to the Indo-Tibetan border (permits required). If you're physically fit and the weather's good, head to the Yumthang Valley, a high-altitude Himalayan meadow.

Street shopping in Bagdogra

From Bagdogra to Gangtok, many itsy-bitsy markets will tempt you. In Makaibari, you must return with a box of tea as it makes for an excellent gift. Darjeeling's street markets around Chowrasta can dazzle you with their knick-knacks. If you want authentic Tibetan artefacts (and want to aid a good cause), try the Tibetan Refugee Self-help Centre, where you can pick bags, clothes and home décor pieces. Further up in Gangtok, while the New Market on MG Road has your regular touristy fare, it is the Sunday fair at Lal Bazaar that you should aim to visit. Offering everything from cheese to handcrafted chessboards, it is a shopper's delight.

• Salugara Monastery: Located about 13k away from the city, tourists can visit the Salugara Monastery which is beautiful tourist spot. This monastery, popular for the stupas was built by Buddhist monks who are the followers of His Holiness- The Dalai Lama. The most popular attraction here is the Stupa which is 110 feet tall and was founded by the Tibetan Lama, Kalu Rinpoche. A large number of people visit this place to witness the beautiful relics and idols of the monastery.

• The Himalaya World Museum: The Himalaya World Museum has been conceived, designed and curated by Professor Omprakash Bharti, an eminent ethnomusicologist and dramaturge. It can be called a unique International Museum of India, where about 500 artefacts of the Himalaya regions of India and other countries have been displayed. The Museum has been maintained and administrated by the Himalayan Heritage Research & Development Society (HHRDS), a Sikkim- based national NGO.

• Dreamland Amusement Park: Dreamland Amusement Park is located in the city of Bagdogra which has a variety of things to explore. It is one of the finest amusement parks in the city where tourists can spend a fun-filled day.

• If you're going towards the Dooars, Kalimpong or Sikkim, you will most likely see the brilliant blue Teesta river. Head to Teesta Bazaar (1.5hours from Darjeeling), from where you can go white-water rafting down the Teesta river. 

• If you want to waste no time getting to Gangtok, hop into a heli-taxi from Bagdogra airport. The helicopter will take you to Gangtok in 35 minutes flat; services and seats are limited, so plan. But the views from the chopper are worth all the effort.

• Try your luck! Sikkim is among the few states in India where gambling is legal. Head to one of the casinos in Gangtok and test your skills.

• Are you feeling even more adventurous? Darjeeling has a range of tattoo studios you can pick from to give yourself a permanent travel souvenir.

The locals celebrate a number of festivals with enthusiasm and zest. Some of the most popular and vital festivals include Kenduli Mela, Jalpesh Mela, Gangasagar Mela, and Naba Barsho (the Tibetan New Year). During these festivals, tourists get to witness the rich traditional heritage of the beautiful city of Bagdogra.