Jalpaiguri, July 26 (Siliguri Chronicle) – The Jalpaiguri district administration has launched a new initiative called Sampriti Paryatan (Harmony Tourism) to highlight the region’s religious and historical landmarks.
As part of the campaign, a promotional video has been released showcasing temples, mosques, churches, and Buddhist sites across the northern part of the district. The aim is to encourage tourism while celebrating Jalpaiguri’s cultural and religious diversity.
“We plan to introduce this new concept of tourism, which would draw pilgrims as well as general tourists to the district. They will be taken to different religious places, which also have historical significance, by bus. The idea is to promote these sites,” said Shama Parveen, the district magistrate of Jalpaiguri.
According to officials, a second promotional video for the tour will be released soon on social media. To support the initiative, the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC), a state-run transport service, has been roped in to provide transportation for tourists joining the tour.
As per the itinerary, the tour will begin around 7 a.m., with a bus taking tourists to several key sites within Jalpaiguri town, including Jogomaya Kalibari, St. Michael’s & All Angels Church, and the historic Baikunthapur Palace. From there, the journey will continue to the Devi Choudhurani Temple located at Goshala More on the town’s outskirts.
Next, the tour will head to the Mainaguri block, where visitors will explore the Jatleshwar, Jalpesh, and Bateshwar temples—significant religious landmarks in the region.
The route also includes a visit to the well-known Tinbigha Corridor. Tourists will then cross the Joyee Bridge over the Teesta River to reach Haldibari, and from there, proceed to Trisrota Mahapeeth at Satkura in South Berubari.
On the return leg to Jalpaiguri, the group will stop at a temple in Dhologram, Malkani. The tour will conclude with a visit to Kalu Sahib’s mazar, a revered old shrine located in the town.
“The initiative was taken on June this year with the motto of amity and peaceful coexistence of different religions. Due to certain reasons, it took time to finalise the tour. But the basic planning has been carried out, and it will be launched soon. Some more locations are likely to be included in the trip,” said a source.
“Food and refreshments will be provided during the trip. The cost of the tour will not be exorbitant and will be finalised soon,” the source added.
Sabyasachi Roy, an advisor to the Jalpaiguri Tour Operators’ Welfare Association, welcomed the initiative, calling it a positive step toward boosting tourism and showcasing the district’s cultural heritage.
“It is an important initiative to increase the footfall of tourists in Jalpaiguri. We also want to introduce a similar tour on our own and hope the administration will cooperate with us,” said Roy.
