Located at the northern part of Bengal, close to Bangladesh India border and on the way towards the north-eastern part of the country, Cooch Behar is a popular travel destination. It is often clubbed together with other tourist destinations like Jalpaiguri and Siliguri. Boasting of a rich cultural past and history, Cooch Behar has much to offer visitors within the district and outside. Decent weather conditions and easy accessibility and hassle-free local commute accounts for the popularity of the district. Let us take a quick look at some of the places to visit in Cooch Behar.

The biggest attraction of Cooch Behar is most certainly the Rajbari or Cooch Behar Palace. Constructed in 1887 by Maharaja Nripendra Narayan, the palace was inspired by the Buckingham Palace of London. The entrance is very similar in appearance to St.Peter’s Church in Rome. Also known as the Victor Jubilee Palace, the palace is a stunner. It is a magnificent structure which leaves tourists stunned as they reach. From within and outside it is pure elegance all the way. The rooms are adorned with beautiful paintings as also the ceilings. It is an architectural splendour that continues to dominate the surroundings even till today.

Located at the heart of Cooch Behar town is the extremely popular temple of Madan Mohan which was built during the rule of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan between 1885-1889. The deities of Madan Mohan, Ma Tara, Ma Kali and Ma Bhavani are enshrined here. a four cornered structure with a dome, the temple follows the ‘char chala’ (four roofs) and ‘dalan-mandir’ (temple with verandah) style of temple architecture popular in Bengal. It draws a large number of pilgrims and devotees all through the years and enjoys a huge following. The temple celebrates Rash Mela and Rash Yatra on the occasion of Rash Purnima.

About 10 km from the centre of Cooch Behar town is Baneshwar Shiva Temple. There is a Shivalinga and deity of Ardhanarishwar. Debotro trust is in charge of maintenance of the temple and the pujas that are carried out here. They also organize a Shiva Mela on the occasion of Shiv Chaturdasi. Apart from the local people, a large number of devotees from different parts of the country flock here to pay their homage. Baneshwar is easily accessible by road and rail. The place is also very well known for its tortoises who are locally referred to as ‘Mohan.’

Located at the heart of Cooch Behar town is Sagardighi which is one of the great ponds. The name means ocean-like pond, which may be an exaggeration but is considered very significant. Maharaja Hitredra Narayan has excavated it. It is a frequently visited spot in the town. Bird lovers throng the palace one find a large number of migratory birds here. One can find heritage hotels, a War Memorial and Victor House built around this pond. A leisurely walk along the banks can be refreshing.

There are a number of temples in Cooch Behar which are popular among locals and tourists alike. There is the Siddeshwari Kali Temple that was constructed in 1860 by Maharaja Harendra Narayan. Located 11 km from the town idol of Goddess Siddeshwari is worshipped here. There is Kamteshwar Temple which is a very old temple. The original temple was destroyed and the present temple was built in 1665 dedicated to the Debi. Siddhanath Shiva Temple in Dhaluabari, Siddeshwari Kali Temple is some of the popular temples of Cooch Behar.

Located about 115 km from Cooch Behar, about 2 hours drive from the town is Chalsa. It is a picturesque hamlet situated at the foothills of the Dooars in Jalpaiguri district. It is stunningly beautiful. It has sprawling tea gardens, rivers and vast stretches of forests. The wildlife reserve here has rhinos and elephants that can be found inside. Tourists can take a guided tour of the forests here. Dooars is the home to a variety of deer like spotted, sambar and barking deer. From Cooch Behar tourists can drive down to Chalsa and it is worth all the effort.

If you want a tryst with nature and the wild, then Murti is the place to be. Located about 113 m from Cooch Behar, Murti is a stunner. The region is named after River Murti that flows through it down the hills of Kalimpong. Once here you will want to stay back forever. Murti is being promoted by the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation and accommodations are being provided for the tourists. It is 2 hours drive from Cooch Behar and tourists could give it a shot. Speactacular locales, dense forests, wild animals make Murti a beautiful destination for travellers.