Chalsa | চালসা | A Surreal Retreat In The Eastern Himalayas

The small town of Chalsa is surrounded by forests, which are home to two important wildlife sanctuaries, namely Gorumara National Park and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. These forests are home to exotic wildlife, including a large number of elephants and rhinos.

Because of its location, Chalsa can be a base for those looking to explore surrounding offbeat, as well as, popular tourist destinations such as Bindu, Dooars, Jhalong, and Jaldhaka, amongst the others. The hamlet of Chalsa is also known for its weekly market at Mangalbari Haat and is a major stopover for buses plying to other regions in Dooars.

Best Time To Visit Chalsa
The best times to visit Chalsa are post-monsoon and winter months. The weather turns pleasant from September and the temperature starts to drop from October. January is the coldest month when the temperature ranges between 10-1 degree Celsius. A visit to Chalsa can, therefore, be enjoyed between September and March.

How To Reach Chalsa
By Road: Chalsa is located about 60 km from Siliguri, a major city in the northern part of West Bengal. The best starting point if you wish to travel to Chalsa by road, therefore, is via Siliguri. A number of buses and taxis are available, additionally, self-drive is another option for those who enjoy driving through beautiful vistas.

By Air: The Bagdogra Airport, located in the Siliguri is about 2 hours away and approximately 75 km from Chalsa. Bagdogra has regular flights to and from cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Chennai, etc. One can hail a cab from the airport or board a state transport bus from Siliguri to reach Chalsa.


By Rail: As Siliguri is the nearest major city with a good connectivity with other cities and states, travelling by train is also a good option. The NJP or New Jalpaiguri Railway Station is a major station with a good rail connectivity with cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, etc. The distance between NJP and Chalsa is about 58 km.

Must-visit Places In And Around Chalsa
Gorumara National Park