West Bengal · India
Malda travel guide
Malda is a city in West Bengal, India, home to about 206,000 people.
- Best months
- December to February
- Nearest airport
- RJH79 km · Shah Makhdum Airport
- Currency
- INRIndian rupee
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Language
- English, Hindi
About
About Malda
Malda, also known as English Bazar, is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the sixth largest city (urban agglomeration) in West Bengal.
Malda (Bengali: MAHL-daw-hoh or MAHL-dah) is an important junction and entry point to North Bengal from South Bengal, as well as a gateway to historic sites like Gour, Pandua and Jagjivanpur. Malda town is officially called "English Bazar" (Ingrejbājār). The name is a corruption of the Persian name Angrezābād (انگریزآباد), meaning "English City". The name was due to the fact that the British built various factories across the Mahananda River in the 17th century.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Malda
See
- Malda District Museum
- Nimasarai Minar
- Subhankar Sishu Udyan
- Manaskamana Mandir
- Ramkrishna Mission Ashram
Do
The folk culture of gombhira is a feature of Malda, being a unique way of representation of joy and sorrow in daily life of the common people, as well as the unique medium of presentation on national and international matters.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Malda
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Malda are December to February. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; July is the wettest, with about 363 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Malda: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Shah Makhdum Airport (RJH), about 79 km from the city centre in a straight line; Saidpur Airport (SPD, 114 km) is also within reach.
RJH · Shah Makhdum Airport
SPD · Saidpur Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Malda
Eat
Some eateries in Malda are: Rajani Ganhdha (Continental Lodge), Purbanchal, Fiza (Kalinga Hotel), Rojgere Ginni (Chanakya Hotel), Payel restaurant. Malda is famous for special varieties of mango that are available in summer. Also, there are two special variety of sweets available only in Malda, naming Kansat Chamcham and Rosokadamba. One can try Aamsattwa made from mango, the most famous being that made from Gopalbhog mango.
Drink
Almost all brands of drinks are easily available. Quite a few liquor shops are available selling varieties of drinks. Normally drinks are available in the hotels but those who are particular about it should preferably carry it.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Malda: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Malda?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Malda are December to February. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; July is the wettest, with about 363 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Malda?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Shah Makhdum Airport (RJH), about 79 km from the city centre in a straight line; Saidpur Airport (SPD, 114 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Malda?
Indian rupee (INR).
Nearby
Destinations near Malda
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.