Dhak drums thump under hundreds of Durga Puja pandals each autumn, and whole neighborhoods stay out late, walking from one glowing marquee to another. A few weeks later, families stand at the riverbanks for Chhath at dawn, while out at Salugara, monks walk around a tall white stupa as prayer flags snap in the wind.
Between festivals, Siliguri is a crossroads. Hong Kong Market packs its lanes with gadgets and jackets, and the toy train starts its climb toward the hills. Winters are dry and mild, and the monsoon brings heavy rain from June to September. A Local Friend can lead you into a neighborhood puja committee's pandal or a family kitchen you would never have walked into alone.
