Mainak Tourist Lodge

Siliguri & New Jalpaiguri


State-government-run Mainak is in the (gradual) process of renovating its rooms; the completed ones are pleasantly bright, with splashes of colour, good beds and pine furnishings, and tea/coffee gear. There's a restaurant and a large airy lobby, and it's well set back from the busy road, 800m north of the Central Bus Terminus.

Unrenovated rooms are just worn and old-fashioned versions of the renovated ones – still adequate (but no discount).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Siliguri & New Jalpaiguri attractions

1. Salugara Monastery

3.41 MILES

About 7km north of central Siliguri, this brightly coloured Tibetan-style monastery is crowned with an imposing 30m tall chorten (Tibetan-style stupa).

2. Makaibari

12.87 MILES

If you like tea, you should visit this celebrated organic and biodynamic Darjeeling tea estate. Walk-in visits to the processing factory, with huge…

3. Ambootia Tea Estate

14.09 MILES

The organic and biodynamic Ambootia Tea Estate, down in the valley on Kurseong's west side, welcomes visitors to its aromatic factory and is a good…

4. Tiger Hill

19.76 MILES

To watch the dawn light break over a spectacular 250km stretch of Himalayan horizon, including Everest (8848m), Khangchendzonga (8598m) and two more of…

5. Durpin Gompa

21.35 MILES

Kalimpong’s largest monastery, formally known as Zangtok Pelri Phodang, sits atop panoramic Durpin Hill (1372m) and was consecrated by the Dalai Lama in…

6. Ghum Museum

21.45 MILES

This museum inside Ghum station has a collection of memorabilia and photos from the bygone days of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. In an outer courtyard…

7. Guru Sakya Gompa

21.55 MILES

This fortress-style Sakya-school monastery, established in 1909 and with a big new temple consecrated in 2015, conducts prayer sessions between 5.30am and…

8. Yiga Choeling Gompa

21.61 MILES

Yiga Choeling Gompa, the Darjeeling area's most famous monastery, founded in 1850, houses up to 40 monks of the Gelugpa school. The serene temple has…