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West Bengal happily changes to a verdant, rain-drenched jewel during the monsoons, making it the perfect time to discover offbeat travel destinations. Places to visit in West Bengal in August are not just misty monsoons, but also offer an unusual mix of stunning hill stations, amazing forests, heritage towns, and tranquil riverside locations. Natural beauty comes alive and will surely entice nature lovers, photographers, and spiritual seekers. August should be an awakening experience with Kalimpong’s clouds, the rocky cliffs of Gangani, or the piousness of Kamarpukur.
Must-Visit 10 Places In West Bengal In August
Seek the incredible myriads of hill towns, jungles, and cultural sites among the top places to visit in West Bengal in August.
1. Jaldapara National Park
Photo: Jonoikobangali / Wikimedia Commons
Jaldapara National Park, in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal, is an ideal destination for wildlife lovers. The park encompasses over 200 square kilometres and is most well-known for its population of one-horned rhinoceros. Jaldapara has many animals, including elephants, leopards, Indian bison, deer, as well as a lot of birds such as the Bengal florican. You can get a closer experience via a jeep safari or an early morning elephant ride. Visiting Jaldapara in August is a good time to enjoy the verdant scenery and pleasant climate after the annual monsoon season approaches.
Location: Alipurduar district
Entry Fee: ₹120 for Indians & ₹500 for Foreigners
Timings: 9 AM – 4 PM
Top Highlights: Indian one-horned rhinoceros, jeep safaris, Hollong bungalow
2. Kalimpong
Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons
Kalimpong is a quiet village, which is located at 1250 meters above sea level in the Eastern Himalayas region, and has a majestic sight over the Teesta River valley and snow-capped mountains in the distance. A pretty hill town, it is famous because of its architecture in the colonial era, Buddhist monasteries such as Zang Dhok Palri Phodang, and flowered markets. August monsoon endows the countryside with resplendent green that is ideal when the explorer attempts to roam around the quiet Deolo and Durpin Hills. There is an opportunity to paraglide, raft in the river, and those who are fond of nature can take a walk through Pine View Nursery.
Location: Kalimpong district
Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM
Top Highlights: Durpin Monastery, Cactus Nursery, Deolo Hill, tea gardens
3. Mukutmanipur
Photo: Eatcha / Wikimedia Commons
Mukutmanipur, a serene retreat known as a reservoir of freshwater, is in the Bankura district, which lies tranquil because of the convergence of the Kangsabati and Kumari rivers. This is a calm place that nature lovers and loners would love to visit. The best attraction is the Mukutmanipur Dam, which is among the longest earthen dams in India. The perfect view of the setting sun gives a clear view over the serene waters. People also go boating on the reservoir, and it is specifically during the period of monsoon when the lake is full, making the trees in the forests green.
Location: Bankura district
Top Highlights: Kangsabati Dam, boating, deer park, hill viewpoints
4. Bishnupur
Photo: Amartyabag / Wikimedia Commons
The picturesque town of Bishnupur, located in the heart of Bankura district, is another cultural masterpiece known for its sublime terracotta works done by the Malla kings in the 17th to the 18th century. The most well-known Rasmancha and the grand Madan Mohan and Jorbangla temples of Krishna and Ramayana have intricately decorated carvings that highlight the stories of the Ramayana and Krishna. Tourists can also view the prosperous Baluchari saree industry of the town- every silk-weave is decorated with mythological symbols and made in the local villages.
Location: Bankura district
Entry Fee: ₹25
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
Top Highlights: Terracotta temples, Baluchari sarees, Bishnupur Mela grounds
5. Cooch Behar
Photo: Kingshuk Mondal / Wikimedia Commons
Cooch Behar is a town located in the northern part of West Bengal that has a rich royal heritage and architecture. It has the Cooch Behar Palace as the centrepiece, which was commissioned by Maharaja Nripendra Narayan in 1887, and was a European Renaissance inspired building. The beautiful palace has arched verandas, Corinthian columns, and a magnificent Durbar Hall with a huge dome. Adjacent scenic spots are the Sagardighi, a vast waterbody, which is the home to migratory birds, and the Madan Mohan Temple, which is one of the most maintained temples named after the Lord Krishna, and turns out to be the centre of attraction during the Rash Mela, a singing festival.
Location: Cooch Behar district
Entry Fee: ₹25 for Palace museum
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM (Closed on Fridays)
Top Highlights: Cooch Behar Palace, Madan Mohan Temple, Sagardighi Lake
6. Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary
Photo: Amitabha Gupta / Wikimedia Commons
Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary, or Kulik Bird Sanctuary, is located in the North Dinajpur district of West Bengal, close to Raiganj town. Covering 1.3 square kilometres, it is one of the largest bird sanctuaries in Asia. Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for the thousands of Asian openbill storks during the breeding season from June to August, when the storks are present. The sanctuary has the Kulik River that supports it, and the sanctuary is surrounded by trees. Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to egrets, cormorants, and night herons, and there are over 160 species of birds to be found. The sanctuary hosts canals and waterways that provide an ideal wetland for nesting and roosting.
Location: North Dinajpur
Entry Fee: ₹10
Timings: 7 AM – 5 PM
Top Highlights: Asian Openbill Stork, watchtowers, Kulik riverbank walks
7. Joypur Forest
Photo: Pinakpani / Wikimedia Commons
Joypur Forest is a small nature awing travel destination that is very little known but very fascinating to nature lovers and those after quietness. This thick sal forest, which occupies an area of 120 square kilometres, comprises various wildlife such as deer, wild boars, jackals, and a combination of bird species. August is when the forest comes alive, as the monsoon rains give fresh life to the forest, lush greenery, damp soil, and misty tracks just give it its crude, unspoilt beauty. Tourists may stroll around, ride a bike, or sit in a secluded picnic area in the woods.
Location: Bankura
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Top Highlights: Sal forest trails, deer sightings, eco-tourism cottages
8. Gangani
Photo: Pinakpani / Wikimedia Commons
Gangani is composed of vivid laterite structures carved by the Silabati River in a remote area that can be found near Garhbeta in Paschim Medinipur, commonly regarded as the BBC Grand Canyon of Bengal. It can be very dramatic as the ruggedness of the red and ochre cliffs, the deep gorges, and nature-created ravines are a stark contrast to the greenery. Monsoon, particularly in August, further adds to its beauty, whereas rain-fed vegetation mars the sides of the canyon, providing a colourful background to the eroded land. Visitors follow easy walking trails and stone steps that take them down to the river bed, allowing them to view close up the unusual patterns of rocks.
Location: Garhbeta, Paschim Medinipur
Top Highlights: Red soil cliffs, Shilabati River, panoramic viewpoints
9. Jayrambati And Kamarpukur
Photo: Pinakpani / Wikimedia Commons
Jayrambati and Kamarpukur are spiritual places that happen to be located in Bankura and Hooghly districts, respectively, and are all holy places that have a close connection to the person of Sri Sarada Devi and that of Sri Ramakrishna. Her ancestral village of Jayrambati includes the Matri Mandir and the Mayer Dighi, some sacred bathing ghats, and is a peaceful place of devotional experience. A mere 6 km distance, another village, the birthplace of Sri Ramakrishna: Kamarpukur, where Ramakrishna Math was built, his ancestral house was called Haldar Pukur, and several historic temples such as Vishalakshi Mandir are located.
Location: Hooghly district
Timings: 6 AM – 8 PM
Top Highlights: Birthplaces of Sarada Devi and Ramakrishna Paramhansa, temples, and ashrams
10. Neora Valley Buffer Zone
Photo: Saswatamandal / Wikimedia Commons
Neora Valley Buffer Zone is in the Kalimpong district, and it covers the inner zone of the Neora Valley National Park and provides a natural wilderness that is best explored through nature. This green area is covered with forests of oak, bamboo, and rhododendron, and it spans elevation levels ranging from 180 to 3200 meters, and it has its waterfalls (though mist-covered) hidden and scattered between its winding paths. It is the paradise of some rare wildlife such as a red panda, Himalayan black bear, clouded leopard, and more than 260 bird species, including sunbirds and pheasants.
Location: Kalimpong district
Entry Fee: ₹100
Timings: 6 AM – 4 PM
Top Highlights: Nature trails, birdwatching, monsoon mist over forest canopies
August reveals a greener, quieter, and more soulful side of West Bengal. Misty hills, serene forests, and timeless heritage spots come alive in the monsoon magic. The places to visit in West Bengal in August blend natural beauty, culture, and spirituality. Perfect for rain lovers and offbeat explorers, this is the month to wander freely. Embrace the rain-soaked charm—plan your next journey with TripXL today.
Cover Photo: Vikas Singh / Wikimedia Commons
