Ban lifted, Darjeeling And Kalimpong Now Open For Tourists

The West Bengal Government has decided to open Darjeeling and Kalimpong , the popular hill stations , for tourists after being shut down for almost six months due to covid-19 induced lockdown.

According to latest report, the West Bengal state government has permitted hotels to recommence the service in Darjeeling and Kalimpong in line with social distancing norms. However, hotels in containment zones have not been allowed to resume their operations.

Sangey Tshering Bhutia, President of Darjeeling Hotel Owners’ Association, said, “Now that the hotels have opened up we are optimistic that tourists would start arriving and the tourism industry would roll back to normal in a phased manner. We are expecting tourists soon.”

Hoteliers said that they have drawn up plans on how to sanitize hotels and maintain hygiene when tourists start flocking in.

“Once a guest checks out of the room it would be sanitized and would be kept vacant for at least three days before allotting to another guest. There would be no buffet system, body temperature of guests would be checked when they check in and all hotel staff would be wearing masks and gloves. The entire hotel would be sanitized regularly,” reports the Hindustan Times quoting Diamond Oberoi, Managing Director of a prominent hotel.

Public transport connecting New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri with the hills stations of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and other places have already started, the report said.

“As many tourists prefer to take shared jeeps and buses to the hills from Siliguri bus stand and NJP railway station the drivers would maintain social distance among the tourists while ferrying them to their destination. They would be taking only half the passengers they used to take during pre-COVID times,” shared S N Pradhan, president of Himalayan Transport Coordination Committee, according to the Hindustan Times.

So far around seven long distance trains are running via New Jalpaiguri railway station including Agartala-Delhi Rajdhani Express, Brahmaputra Mail and Padatik Express.

Subhanan Chanda, Chief Public Relations Officer of North East Frontier Railway said that more trains are expected to ply from September 12, the report said.