Kolkata is a vibrant city with historical landmarks and great places to explore. Popularly referred to as the City of Joy, the city has beautiful hill stations around it. You must explore the hill stations near Kolkata to have a great time in the city. It is a great place for those looking for an exploration of a traditional and contemporary city. Festivals like Durga Pooja are celebrated with great vibrancy in the city. You must plan a trip to the city for great culinary experiences. The contrast and warmth that the city offers are exceptional for one and all.
Top 10 Hill Stations Near Kolkata
It is time to initiate the planning for a great visit by exploring the hill stations near Kolkata.
1. Darjeeling
Photo: Syed Sajidul Islam / Wikimedia Commons
Popularly known as the Queen of the Hills, this place attracts visitors throughout the year. This place has a beautiful climate along with its beauty. The rich heritage that this place offers is exceptional. It is known for its sprawling tea plantations and colonial architecture. You must visit Tiger Hill, Rock Garden and Batasia Loop. The toy train of Darjeeling is a great attraction between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. There are monasteries and spiritual sites like the Japanese Peace Pagoda and Ghoom Monastery.
Distance From Kolkata: 612 km
Major Attractions: Toy train ride, explore the monasteries and photography, visit Nehru Road market, river rafting on the Teesta river
2. Kalimpong
Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons
Located in the northern part of West Bengal, Kalimpong is known for its beauty, colonial architecture and nurseries. It is a great place to explore for those seeking a peaceful retreat. You can visit Tharpa Choling Monastery, Thongsa Gompa to learn more about the Buddhist community. Deolo Hill is another attraction for paragliding, work and horse riding. You must visit Kalimpong Cactus Nursery to learn more about the succulents. Morgan House and Dr Graham’s Homes are two sites with colonial architecture.
Distance From Kolkata: 621 km
Major Attractions: Explore the Flower nurseries, visit Deolo Hill and Tharpa choling monastery
3. Mirik
Photo: Mr. Debapriya Hore / Wikimedia Commons
It is a scenic town in West Bengal which is known for its beautiful lake. It has a garden and stunning views of the Himalayas. It is a lesser-known place and has less crowd. It is a great place to visit for a peaceful retreat in the middle of nature. You can visit the Sumendu lake for paddle boats and rowboats. It helps you connect with nature as you take the trails. Bokar Monastery is a famous place to visit for meditation. You must explore the gardens that have a beautiful backdrop for photography.
Distance From Kolkata: 596 km
Major Attractions: Visit the monastery, Stroll Through the tea Gardens
4. Kurseong
Photo: Pinakpani / Wikimedia Commons
It is popularly known as the land of white orchids. It is present at an altitude of about 4864 feet. This place is famous for its tranquil atmosphere and tea Gardens. It has great viewpoints with a pleasant climate all around the year. This place has more of a laid-back vibe. It is a great retreat providing peace to the visitors. You can visit Eagle’s Crag which has stunning surrounding valleys and hills. The lush green tea gardens allow visitors to observe the tea-making process. You can visit Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose museum as well.
Distance From Kolkata: 584 km
Major Attractions: Explore Eagle’s Crag, tea gardens and Dow Hill.
5. Dooars Valley
Photo: Shankar s. / Wikimedia Commons
This place is famous for its unique flora and fauna. It has GoruMara National Park which is a UNESCO-recognised biodiversity hotspot. You can easily spot elephants, leopards, bison and species of birds at this place. Other than this, the river and landscape of Teesta and Torsa rivers provide a great opportunity for whitewater rafting. It is a great place to visit for adventure enthusiasts. You can also visit Jayanti Village which has a Scenic River bed and a quiet atmosphere.
Distance From Kolkata: 7.5 km
Major Attractions: Birdwatching, white water rafting, animal spotting
6. Ajodhya Hills
Photo: SnehasishAcharjeee / Wikimedia Commons
This place is famous for its stunning landscapes in West Bengal. It is a peaceful retreat for those seeking a getaway from the bustle of city life. If you are a nature lover, you must visit this place for its dense forest and tribal culture. It has a hill dam which is built on the Kumari River. It is a great place for picnics and photography. Other than this, you must visit the mask village, Charida village near it was popular for traditional masks used in the Chhau dance. This place is part of the Dalma Hills which is about 2000 feet in elevation.
Distance From Kolkata: 305 km
Major Attractions: Visit the Ayodhya Hill Dam and explore mask-making at Charida Village.
7. Sittong
Photo: Indrajit Das / Wikimedia Commons
This place in West Bengal has exceptional beauty with Hills and Orange orchards. It is also known as the Orange Village. It is a beautiful escape into rural life in the middle of the Himalayas. You must visit this place in the winter months from November to January to explore the region when the oranges are ripe. Sittong Church overlooking the hills offers a stunning view. Steel Bridge over River Riyang is a great place for picnics and photography. Mahaldiram viewpoint is a great place to get a view of Kanchenjunga Peak on clear days.
Distance From Kolkata: 580 km
Major Attractions: Picnic, nature walk, bird-watching
8. Tinchuley
Photo: Indrani911basu / Wikimedia Commons
It is an important location near Darjeeling in West Bengal. This is famous for tea Gardens and dense forests. This place got its name from 3 chullas, which refers to the three notable hilltops. The viewpoint has a stunning view of the snow-capped Kanchenjunga Mountain. There are sprawling Tea Gardens where you can visit and learn more about the processing of tea. Gumbadara viewpoint offers great views of the Teesta River. There is Tinchuley monastery also, you can visit and offer prayers. Lamahatta Eco Park is a great site for eco-tourism.
Distance From Kolkata: 624 km
Major Attractions: Explore Tinchuley Monastery, photography, and eco-tourism
9. Mongpu
Photo: Bill Boaden / Wikimedia Commons
It is a place which is about 33 km from Darjeeling, West Bengal. It has scenic landscapes and cinchona plantations. This place has historical and natural significance and is present at an elevation of about 3500 feet. This place has Rabindra Bhawan which is also known as Rabindra Nath Tagore’s bungalow where his original belongings are kept. The cinchona plantations and factories produce a medical compound used to treat malaria. There are orchid gardens filled with vibrant colours and fragrant blooms. Namthing Pokhri is a seasonal lake where you can visit with your family and friends and enjoy the nature walk.
Distance From Kolkata: 640 km
Major Attractions: Explore Namthing Pokhri, visit the orchid Gardens, and tour the cinchona plantations.
10. Pedong
Photo: Dinesh Valke / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
This place is present at an elevation of about 1240 m and is a small town in West Bengal. It is situated close to the border of Sikkim and has Damsang Fort which was built in the 17th century. It is one of the oldest forts in the region and was considered an important centre for the Lepcha kingdom. The Tinchuley viewpoint is also close to this place. You can visit the cross Hill which is important for the Christian community as it is dedicated to Father Augustine Desgodins. Pedong Monastery is about 200 years old and is important to the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
Distance From Kolkata: 641 km
Major Attractions: Visit the monastery, picnic, nature walk.
Kolkata is a vibrant place with so much of history attached to it. This is an exciting place to visit on your upcoming vacation. There are exciting places around Kolkata which you can explore with your family and friends. You must visit the hill stations near Kolkata for a fun trip in this region. Schedule a trip to Kolkata with your family and friends and book it today with TripXL.
Cover Photo: Subhrajyoti07 / Wikimedia Commons