Kolkata is witnessing an unprecedented surge in travel demand as a combination of an extended Eid weekend, school summer vacations, and a growing appetite for quick getaways drives bus fares to north Bengal to levels comparable with air tickets. Luxury bus fares on the Kolkata-Siliguri route, typically ranging between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500, have skyrocketed to Rs 4,500-Rs 5,500. Buses are running fully packed with advance bookings for the holiday stretch from May 27 to May 31.
Holiday Rush Across Destinations
With Eid falling on Thursday, many Kolkatans have taken advantage of the occasion by taking leave on Friday to create a long weekend. From the hill stations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong to the coastal resorts of Digha and Mandarmani, and the cultural hubs of Santiniketan and Purulia, nearly every popular destination is experiencing a surge in occupancy rates.
Darjeeling Overflows with Tourists
Pradip Lama, general secretary of the Darjeeling Association of Travel Agents (DATA), noted that Darjeeling is overflowing with tourists almost throughout the year. The rush has intensified traffic jams but has not slowed down tourist influx. “This long weekend is one of the heaviest in terms of tourist volume Darjeeling is witnessing. Everything is 95% booked till the second week of June,” Lama said.
Kalimpong and Dooars Attract Adventurers
Bhaskar Mukhopadhyay (77), a trekking and camping enthusiast, left for Kalimpong on Thursday with a younger group of travellers. Many others are turning to the forests of Dooars for a quieter retreat. Pinaki Biswas, owner of Unique Holiday Resort in Lataguri, reported a significant jump in bookings for the weekend. “There has been almost a 60% rise in bookings for the extended weekend. We are fully booked between May 27 and 31,” Biswas said. Rooms at the resort are currently priced at Rs 4,500 per night, including breakfast.
Mandarmani Sees Spot Bookings
Mandarmani continues to attract steady crowds despite growing competition from newer resorts and hotels. Deb Dulal Das, owner of Tarangamala Resort and secretary of the Mandarmani Hoteliers Association, observed that tourists are increasingly opting for spot bookings instead of reserving rooms in advance. “All major hotels are running packed over the weekend,” Das said.
Santiniketan Expects Full House
Saurabh Mondal of Shantobitan Tourism Property (formerly Santiniketan Tourist Lodge under the Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd) said, “Weekends usually see nearly an 80% surge in bookings. Occupancy during weekdays remains around 50%, but rooms start filling up from Friday onwards. This weekend, however, we witnessed a surge in advance bookings and we are expecting a full house.”
