11 Spectacular Weekend Getaways from Coochbehar (2024)
When it comes to the historical cities of West Bengal, Coochbehar cannot stay behind. Apart from being the headquarter to the district by the same name, Coochbehar holds great importance to India’s history. The entire region was the centre of attention to the country in the 11th and 12th century. Even now, while exploring the city, you will see shreds of evidence of the powerful dynasties of Palas and Senas that ruled the area. Throughout Coochbehar, you will explore different monuments and religious centres built by the said reigns.
Apart from historical aspects, Coochbehar is famous for its natural beauty as well. As it lies pretty close to the beautiful Chilapata forest, the greenery surrounding the state is immense. Moreover, Coochbehar is the paradise of bird lovers. You will get to see a wide number of birds that are endangered and mesmerizingly pretty throughout the area. Although Coochbehar as a town is full of tourism potential, today we are not here to talk about it. In this blog, we are going to talk about the best weekend destinations near Coochbehar.
As this district and the city are close to some great states and even the country, many fantastic destinations can be reached pretty easily. States, including Assam, Meghalaya, and Sikkim are so close to Coochbehar that going on a short trip to these states’ famous sites is not a big deal. Moreover, the proximity of this city to Bhutan is one of the main reasons it is so popular among tourists worldwide. By reading this blog, you will get a thorough knowledge regarding the places near Coochbehar.
Reaching Coochbehar is pretty easy. The nearest airport from the town is located in Bagdogra. You will find different flights that will take you to Bagdogra quite easily. In case you want to go there by availing trains, you are in luck as the New Coochbehar railway station is well-connected to India’s rest.
11 Spectacular Weekend Getaways from Coochbehar
The places mentioned in the following part of the blog are all famous among tourists worldwide.
1. Punakha
Located 72 km from Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan, Punakha, is an exceptionally beautiful city. We include this site in the list of best weekend destinations from Coochbehar because it is accessible from the city. Even though it is in a foreign country, tourists go there with ease from Coochbehar. Punakha is so naturally beautiful that travellers often go there, multiple times in their lives. Mostly known for being the home to the second oldest dzong in Bhutan, Punakha is full of wonder.
As this town is located right at the confluence of breathtakingly beautiful rivers Pho Chu and Mo Chu, its scenic view is fantastic. Many adventure enthusiasts prefer Punakha to go trekking in its different trails. As this town’s altitude is 11,154 feet, the trekking trails from there are comparatively easier to the other mountain paths. There are many sites to see in Punakha that are of both historical and cultural significance to Bhutan.
Distance from Coochbehar: 285 km.
Time to reach: By driving, you will reach Punakha within seven and a half hours from Bhutan. Due to the smooth roads, reaching there in the said time is not a big deal.
Places to see: Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery, Punakha Dzong, and others.
Best time to visit: March to July.
2. Lachung
Located in North Sikkim, Lachung is paradise on earth. Despite its difficult terrain, tourists cannot seem to stop going there due to its enchanting ambience and spectacular natural views. With an altitude of 9,600 feet, winters in Lachung can get intense. This tiny town is situated at the confluence of Lachen and Lachung rivers and the area surrounding the rivers are breathtakingly beautiful. Joseph Dalton Hooker, the famous British explorer, explained Lachung to be the “most picturesque village in Sikkim,” in 1855. When you reach there, you will understand why people are so obsessed with this region.
With majestic mountains, lush greenery of thick forests, and hospitable people, Lachung is a must-see place to see in India. Even though it would take almost a day to reach Lachung from Coochbehar, we suggest you take this trip. You can start your exploration from the following day, and you can return to Coochbehar the next evening.
Distance from Coochbehar: 310 km.
Time to reach: It would take you nine hours to reach Lachung from Coochbehar.
Image Source
Places to see: Mount Katao, Lachung Monastery, Chopta valley, Yumthang valley, and others.
Best time to visit: October to June.
3. Mangan
Located at the elevation of 4000 feet, Mangan is a relatively unknown hill station in Sikkim. Despite its ethereal beauty, not many tourists know about this site. Even though it is the headquarter of North Sikkim, people seldomly stay for the night to explore it. Throughout the city, you will see the impact of Tibetan culture on the city. With beautiful monasteries and colourful flags, Mangan is a great place to embrace India’s Tibetan society. Apart from the cultural aspects, Mangan is a gorgeous town itself.
With Eastern Himalayan mountain ranges and bubbling streams of rivers, Mangan will offer you a magical stay for a few days. As this site can be reached from Coochbehar within some hours, we have included it in this list. Moreover, the journey from Coochbehar to Mangan is also mesmerizingly beautiful. Anyone who loves road trips will appreciate the journey even more.
Distance from Coochbehar: 260 km.
Time to reach: By car, you would reach Mangan from Coochbehar within seven and a half hours.
Image Source
Places to see: Labrang Monastery, Singhik, Rong Lungten Lee, and others.
Best time to visit: April to July.
4. Thimpu
The capital of Bhutan, Thimpu, is on the bucket list of several wanderlust travellers. Luckily this site can be reached from Coochbehar within a few hours. There are so many things about Thimpu that makes it spectacular that it is not possible to express them in this blog. With Buddhist Institutes, gorgeous mountain ranges, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant people, Thimpu is not merely a tourist destination. Still, it is a great experience that everyone must participate at least once in their lives. Apart from the monasteries, scenic views, and other aspects, Thimpu as a city is quite interesting.
As this city belongs to a foreign country, you will see the difference between it and other cities in the world quite vividly. There is a beautiful uniformity to everything in the town that sets it apart from any other capital in the world. Visiting Thimpu will be a life-changing experience for you.
Distance from Coochbehar: 219 km.
Time to reach: It would not take you more than six hours to reach Thimpu from Coochbehar.
Image Source
Places to see: National Memorial Chhorten, Tashichho, Changkha Lhakhang, Buddha Dordenma, and others.
Best time to visit: October to December.
5. Cherrapunji
Located at the altitude of 4500 feet, Cherrapunji is one of the wettest places on earth. Even a few years back, it was the place that accumulated the largest volume of rainfall, but now that aspect has changed. The intense rainfall contributes a lot to Cherrapunji’s beauty. Due to the gushing rain, you will be able to notice tiny rivulets covering the entire town. The sound of the babbling brooks amid the green wilderness of Cherrapunji makes it even more enchanting. This town in Meghalaya is famous throughout the world.
When you visit there, you will understand the reason behind its popularity. The green mountain ranges will mesmerize you. There are many tourist sites in and around the town that can be visited in a day. If you take a train from Coochbehar, you will reach Cherrapunji on the same day. Visiting Cherrapunji will be one of the fondest memories of your life.
Distance from Coochbehar: 417 km.
Time to reach: To reach Cherrapunji from Coochbehar, you will have to train to Guwahati. The time any train will take to get you to Guwahati from Coochbehar is four hours. After getting to Guwahati, you will reach Cherrapunji within three hours by car quite easily. So, the entire trip from Cherrapunji from Guwahati can be covered in a day.
Image Source
Places to see: Krem Mawmluh cave, Nohkalikai falls, Seven Sister Falls, Krem Phyllut, Eco-park, and others.
Best time to visit: October to February.
6. Sylhet
One of the main reasons tourists so favour North Bengal throughout the world is its proximity to India’s multiple neighbouring countries. Like, Bhutan, Bangladesh is also located pretty close to Coochbehar. Sylhet is one such city in Bangladesh that can be reached in a day from Coochbehar. If you are a lover of a long drive, you can drive yourself up to Sylhet pretty easily. Sylhet is famous for being the richest city of Bangladesh and famous for being a fantastic tourist location. Surrounded by Tripura, Khasia, and Jaintia hills, this city’s scenic view is quite enthralling.
Moreover, the Kushiara and Surma rivers in the city make the region even more beautiful. The region is also home to many tribal communities. As it is the most prosperous city in the country, exploring the different sightseeing spots of Sylhet is pretty easy. With a good transportation system, Sylhet makes travelling quite easy.
Distance from Coochbehar: 500 km.
Time to reach: It would take you around 16 hours to reach Coochbehar to Sylhet by car.
Image Source
Places to see: Greeva Peet, Lawacherra Rain forest, Tamabil Jaflong, Sree Mangal, and others.
Best time to visit: December to February.
7. Mawlynnong
Referred to as “God’s garden,” Mawlynnong is a mesmerizingly beautiful village located in Meghalaya. Surrounded by East Khasi Hills, this area is a picturesque spot beloved by tourists across the globe. Apart from natural beauty, eco-friendliness is the main reason behind Mawlynnong’s popularity. When you explore the village, you will notice its impeccable cleanliness. Each villager must clean their surroundings. That is why it has been accoladed with the title “the cleanest village in Asia,” in 2003 and 2005.
Another astonishing fact about this village is that it has a 100% literacy rate. By visiting the village, you will gain a new perspective on life. As this village is located in Meghalaya, you will get to reach there in a day from Coochbehar. Tourists usually explore the entire area within two days and get back to Coochbehar after the weekend.
Distance from Coochbehar: 480 km.
Time to Reach: It would take you around 12 hours to reach Mawlynnong if you drive from Coochbehar. That is why taking a train to Guwahati would be a better idea. It would not be an issue to find cars from Guwahati station to take you to Mawlynnong.
Image Source
Places to see: Church of the Epiphany, Living Root Bridge, Balancing Rock, Byrdaw falls, and others.
Best time to visit: June to September.
8. Jakar
Jakar is one of the most beautiful places located in Bhutan. This town is commonly known as “Little Switzerland,” due to its similarities to the gorgeous European country. The vast expanse of greenery of Jakar will take you to another realm. With a population of only 5000 people, Jakar is a fantastic site in Bhutan to collect your thoughts and get rejuvenated. The most important monument in the town is the Jakar Dzong. This structure was built in the 1600s and had a great religious impact over Buddhist people. One of the main reasons this site is so sacred to Buddhist people is the Guru Rinpoche, and the Buddhist leader visited Jakar.
Surrounded by green mountains, Jakar is mesmerizingly beautiful. Even though the winters can be harsh over there, tourists visit there throughout the year. This site can be reached within a day from Coochbehar.
Distance from Coochbehar: 460 km.
Time to reach: It would take you around ten hours to reach Jakar from Coochbehar.
Image Source
Places to see: Jakar Dzong, Kurje Lhakhang, Jambev Lhakhang, Tamshing Gompa, and others.
Best time to visit: April to September.
9. Buxa Tiger Reserve
Located extremely close to Coochbehar, Buxa Tiger reserve is an excellent destination for you if you are a wildlife lover. This is the 15th tiger reserve of India, and it is spread over an area of 745 square km. Apart from the majestic Royal Bengal Tigers, this national park is also home to other wild animals including Asian elephants, Hog deer, Wild buffalo, wild dogs, etc. Exploring different parts of the forest is an unforgettable experience for tourists. The forest of Buxa is famous for the Buxa fort as well. This fort is mostly famous for being the detention place for Indian freedom fighters during the British era.
Before the British era, the fort was the conflict between the Koch and the Bhutan Kings. As this area is located by the bank of Jayanti river, its scenic view is breathtakingly beautiful. Moreover, the surrounding hills make this region one of the most beautiful places near Coochbehar.
Distance from Coochbehar: 40 km.
Time to reach: It would take you only an hour to reach Buxa from Coochbehar.
Image Source
Places to see: Buxa fort, Jayanti, Mahakal Cave, and others.
Best time to visit: October to May.
10. Guwahati
Being the largest city of Assam, Guwahati has always been one of India’s most popular tourist destinations. As this site is located not that far away from Coochbehar, we included in this list. The history of Guwahati transcends back to the 4th century. Traces of civilization have been found in the region from the said time. With the Brahmaputra river by its side, Guwahati is full of scenic views that most tourists fail to notice. Apart from natural views, Guwahati is mostly famous for the Kamakhya temple.
This temple is one of the 52 Shakti Peeths in India.
There are other sightseeing spots in Guwahati that make the trip worthwhile. If you go there, do not forget to do some shopping. Assam tea is the most popular thing to shop in Guwahati. Also, it would be best if you did not miss out on the exceptionally beautiful handicraft items.
Distance from Coochbehar: 326 km.
Time to reach: It would not take you more than seven hours to reach Guwahati from Coochbehar by car. If you go there by train, it will take you only four hours.
Image Source
Places to see: Uma Nanda Temple, Guwahati planetarium, Kamakhya temple, Navagraha temple, and others.
Best time to visit: October to February.
11. Tawang
When it comes to North-East India’s beauty, Arunachal Pradesh’s name is mentioned right at the top. Tawang is mesmerizingly beautiful places in Arunachal Pradesh that can be reached from Coochbehar in a day quite easily. This hill station is mostly known for its breathtakingly splendid views. With the beautiful Madhuri lake, Gorichen peak, and other ethereal spots, Tawang is an excellent place to soak in the beauty of nature for a few days.
Apart from Madhuri lake, some other lakes are glacial. Some of them are Sela and Sangetser. The turquoise blue colour of these lakes will make you fall in love with the region. Moreover, while exploring the region, do not forget to see the famous Tawang monastery.
Distance from Coochbehar: 650 km.
Time to reach: By train, it would take you around ten hours to reach Tawang from Coochbehar.
Image Source
Places to see: Tawang Monastery, Sela Pass, Nuranang Falls, Madhuri Lake, Gorichen Peak, and others.
Best time to visit: Throughout the year, except for the monsoons.
All the destinations mentioned in this blog are located at a day’s travel from Coochbehar. By starting your journey on Friday, you will get the entire weekend to explore all the sites pretty easily. Coochbehar allows you to explore these regions in one weekend. If it were any place else in India, you would not have been able to explore them over the weekends.
In case you are planning on visiting some sites of Bangladesh or Bhutan, research about the visa structure to enter the countries in details before visiting there. By studying this blog, we hope you got a lot of new ideas to plan a weekend trip for Coochbehar!