The town lies on the banks of the Teesta River, possibly the second largest river in West Bengal after the Ganges. A mass flood in 1968 nearly flattened out the town and huge spurs had to be built and the river diverted to some kilometers outside the town to avoid the same carnage as it caused. Other than Teesta, there are three other rivers passing by the town: Karala, Dharala and Panga.
The tiny River Karala flows through the middle of the town bisecting the town into two halves, thus prompting the remark, 'theThames of Jalpaiguri'. Karala meets the Teesta some five kilometres south of the town
