The recent natural calamities in the hills don’t seem to be deterring travel-obsessed Bengali travelers heading to North Bengal and the Northeast, making the hill belt a popular destination this winter.
Tour operators said that today, North Bengal is as popular as ever among tourists from and around Kolkata, with traffic steadily growing by about 15% every year. This was not the case, they said, even a decade ago, when large numbers of people also went to seaside destinations, including Digha and Puri. According to them, the explosion in numbers headed for the hills came mainly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There are many factors behind this. First, several families within a family have appeared in mountain villages. Second, people can no longer afford long vacations and go on vacation to distant places; now they take short vacations several times a year, and North Bengal serves as an ideal destination because it is close and yet offers a good vacation. Third, social media – people are attracted to pictures posted by others. Four, more people can now afford a trip to the mountains Alt Rid Holidays. he said.
“The pictures posted by others on social media are too hard to resist,” Mr Datta said when asked why tourists were still heading to north Bengal despite the recent landslides, adding: “Also, the situation is usually not as bad as what you see in the media.”
Many head to Sandakphu in Darjeeling district this winter. “Sandakphu is not just a destination, it is an experience. It is the highest point in West Bengal, perched at a height of 11,930 feet and is known as the ‘Sleeping Buddha’ vantage point because from here you can see four of the five highest peaks in the world – Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and now I want to see the pictures of the Diva I saw Makala there. The Rastogi company, and a young doctor who just completed her M.D. at KPC Medical College in Kolkata, she said.
“I don’t expect luxury or comfort – in fact I expect the opposite. I want to test my endurance, feel the burning in my legs as I climb. I expect to reconnect with simplicity – with walking, breathing and just being,” said Dr. Rastogi.
Soma Roy, who works with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Institute of Natural Fiber Engineering and Technology in Kolkata, is also going to Sandakphu and explains why winter is the best season there. “During this time, the sky remains crystal clear and offers excellent visibility of the entire Himalayan range,” Ms. Roy said, adding, “Sandakphu is considered a beginner-friendly trek suitable for anyone with basic fitness. Tourists have the opportunity to interact with local villagers, gain insight into their culture, traditions and simple mountain lifestyle.”
On the other hand, Debjani Sengupta is going to Nagaland. “What really drew me to it is the Hornbill Festival, which I learned about from my daughter. Often called the ‘festival of festivals’, it showcases the rich heritage and tribal traditions of Nagaland – something I’ve always wanted to explore. Another highlight I’m looking forward to is visiting the Dzükou Valley. This trip has a personal meaning even for the age of 60 years of the trek, which i decided for the first time. It feels like the right time to step out of my comfort zone and experience something new and challenging,” said Ms. Sengupta.
Maitrayee Paul, who works with the West Bengal government and also plans to attend the Hornbill Festival, explained why Bengalis love the mountains. “They are an emotional escape from the plains. The mountains offer not just scenery but perspective. Also Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and later Sikkim were traditional summer retreats for Bengalis. Writers like Rabindranath Tagore, Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay and Sunil Purity a in thesaspecthya have written about of the Himtropadhya universe and a contrast to the chaos of city life,” said Ms. Paul.
Niles Mondal, with the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur currently as a research fellow, is heading to Nepal. “This will be my first visit to the country. I will be visiting the mountain town of Pokhara and have also decided to trek from there to Annapurna Base Camp. I have done several moderate treks in the Indian Himalayas with guides and porters, but it always felt like a hangover from our colonial past. It alone supports the local economy in our hill states, but I wanted to challenge it myself,” said Mr.
Published – 18 Oct 2025 21:54 IST
