From hills to beaches, long-weekend vacationers take over tourist spots

Darjeeling/Bolpur/Digha: Tourists made the most of the first long weekend of the year, heading out in large numbers to hills, beaches and cultural hubs, giving a timely boost to the travel and hospitality sector in Bengal. With Republic Day falling on a Monday, the extended break triggered a surge in short-haul leisure travel, even as several destinations remained officially in the off-season.Darjeeling witnessed a noticeable uptick in tourist activity, with stakeholders calling the steady footfall encouraging. Tour operators said the hill region is currently receiving around 250 tourists per day, which is significant for a period typically marked by low arrivals. Samrat Sanyal, general secretary of the Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network, said expectations were higher due to the long weekend, but the consistent inflow remained a positive indicator. "The weather is pleasant, which is positive for Darjeeling. With stronger marketing and promotional efforts, tourist arrivals can improve further," Sanyal said.
Off-beat destinations around Darjeeling, however, are performing better. Echoing similar views, Pradeep Mitra, general manager of Club Side Tours and Travel, said tourism momentum picked up after an initially dull off-season. "We are now receiving at least 50 tourists per day, which is a positive sign," he said.Tourists cited the long weekend and favourable weather as key motivators. "Darjeeling is an emotion for Bengalis—it's not just a destination," said Priyanka Das from Jadavpur, who planned the trip around four consecutive holidays. Anwesha Mukherjee from Behrampore said the cool weather and short travel time made it an easy choice for a quick getaway.High-altitude Sandakphu saw an even sharper turnaround. The Singalila range destination is fully booked until Sunday. "Till Thursday, there were hardly any tourists. From Friday until Sunday, we are completely booked," said Chandan Pradhan, president of the Singalila Land Rovers' Owners Association. Around 35 vehicles departed for Sandakphu on Friday, with nearly 200 tourists staying in Tumling. Santiniketan, too, has been bustling. With Palash flowers set to bloom soon, tourists have flocked in during the five-day holiday. "It's much quieter now, and that's exactly why I came," said Abhijit Panja from Barasat. Resort owner Raja Ghosh said properties are almost fully booked, attributing the sudden influx to the extended break.Coastal destinations like Digha and Mandarmani reported near-full occupancy, with hotels witnessing a surge from Saturday onwards. "Digha has become a year-round attraction after its beautification," said Bipradas Chatterjee of the Digha Hoteliers Association, noting that over 800 hotels across Old and New Digha ensured ample accommodation. The Jagannath Temple emerged as a major draw, recording heavy footfall during the long weekend."The long weekend has been a big boost before exams begin and travel slows down," said Anil Punjabi of the Travel Agents Federation of India. MakeMyTrip data confirmed Mandarmani, Digha, Darjeeling, Goa and Santiniketan as the top weekend destinations from Kolkata.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Republic Day Wishes, Messages, Quotes and speech!