The settlement in Siliguri started with tea plantation and in 1907 it acquired the status of sub-division with the establishment of junction station to the Toy train in Darjeeling in 1880. In 1947 with the independence, the town witnessed an inflow of refuges from then East Pakistan. Siliguri is also the most vulnerable nodal point in the narrow corridor linking north eastern states with rest of India. In 1951, Assam rail link and broad gauge link with New Jalpaiguri in 1962 established Siliguri as an important trading centre for Assam, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Eastern Nepal. Today, Siliguri has gained considerable importance.

Siliguri is famous for handmade wooden crafts which are beautifully crafted. Apart from this, cane furniture, terracotta, kantha patched cloth embroidery is some of the known handicrafts in the region.