Balurghat is the headquarters of the Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal. River Atreyee runs across the city.

Balurghat is appreciated for its clean and unpolluted environment, along with its numerous picnic spots and dense forests. The major picnic spots in the town are Doghachii and Raghunathpur that are easily accessible from the town. The Balurghat Museum is another major tourist attraction, which features varied coins, artefacts, sculptures and ornamental stones.

Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Saraswati Puja and Biswakarma Puja are widely celebrated at Balurghat. Bolla Kali Puja is celebrated at Bolla, approximately 15 kilometres from Balurghat, in end-November each year.

The best time to visit Balurghat starts post monsoon, from October through November. Winter months between December and February are also considered suitable for visiting the town.