Cooch Behar

Cooch Behar is a town in northern West Bengal, India, known for its rich cultural heritage and remnants of its royal heritage. It has been declared a heritage town, housing the Cooch Behar Palace and Madan Mohan Temple.

Cooch Behar has a moderate climate with heavy rainfall during monsoons and slight rainfall from October to March. The daily maximum temperature is 32.2°C in August and minimum 9.4°C in January. Intense thunderstorms occasionally occur in March and April.

As in most of West Bengal, Bengali is the main language. However, the rural dialect known as Rajbanshi or Kamtapuri differs from Standard Bengali, using different pronouns like 'muĩ' for 'I' and 'hām' for 'we'.

Getting around Cooch Behar can be hectic. Options include rickshaws, buses, rental cars, and electric rickshaws known as toto. Toto rides cost ₹15-20 per person (2024) but drivers may overcharge tourists. Walking is safe and cycling is possible but not like Copenhagen.

Key attractions include the Cooch Behar Palace (Italian Renaissance style, entry ₹20-25), Madan Mohan Temple, Baneswar Shiva Temple, Rail Museum (₹20), Sagardighi pond, Sal Bagan park, Baradebi Bari, Madhupur Satra, and Siddheswari Temple.

Activities include visiting Narendra Narayan Park (toy train, boating), watching movies at Bhavani Cinema (₹50-100), Jaya Cinemas (₹110-260), New Cinema Hall (₹50-100), or SVF Cinemas (₹70-180).

Cooch Behar has educational institutions like Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, A.B.N. Seal College, Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Medical College, and Cooch Behar Government Engineering College.

Economic development has created job vacancies. Foreign travellers can help NGOs and educational institutions.

Shopping options include traditional markets like Bara Bazaar and Cooch Behar Bazaar, malls like PRM Market City and City Mall, and stores like Laxmi Narayan Bastralaya for garments. ATMs are widespread; one foreign exchange at HDFC Bank.

Restaurants offer Bengali, North Indian, South Indian, Chinese cuisine. Notable places include Mitali Restaurant (famous for Mughlai Parantha), Samrat Sweets (samosas), Food Trucks area at Sagardighi (5-9PM), Golpo, Mio Amore, The Aromas of Punjab, KFC, Domino's, Restaurant Monarch, Restaurant Tara, and Royal Palace Restaurant.

Cafés include The Table Talk Cafe & Bistro and The Hot Box (hookah lounge). Beer and other drinks available at bars, but drinking in public is frowned upon. Tea and soft drinks are widely available.

Hotels range from budget (Hotel Mayur from ₹69, Hotel Subharup) to mid-range (Hotel Royal Palace ₹650-3000, Hotel Ellora ₹600-3500). Others include Hotel BD, Hotel Maharani Palace, Hotel Green View, Hotel Yubraj. Book online to avoid scams.

Summer (late April to early July) is very sunny; stay hydrated and cover yourself. Drink only bottled water and eat well-cooked food. Avoid unhygienic street food.

Cell coverage is excellent with Airtel, VI, and Jio; Airtel is recommended. Internet is unreliable in some parts. Railway stations have high-speed Wi-Fi but require Indian mobile number for OTP.

Power outages are common, especially in summer. Most hotels have backup. For power issues, contact helpline 19121. Google Maps is reliable for navigation.

Nearby destinations include Jaldapara National Park (second-largest one-horned rhino population), Gorumara National Park, Alipurduar (gateway to Bhutan), Jalpaiguri (handicrafts), Phuentsholing (Bhutan border town), and Siliguri (shopping and tea gardens).