Darjeeling in India

About Darjeeling
One of India's finest hill stations, Darjeeling is strategically located near the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders in eastern Indian state of West Bengal. The natural beauty of this hill station is truly mesmerizing. Many opine that in Darjeeling, nature is at its best. Be it the snow capped Himalayan mountain ranges surrounding Darjeeling, the rich flora of the place or the breathtaking sunrise and sunset views, Darjeeling is a captivating destination from all aspects. Lush green tea gardens planted at high altitudes in the mountain slopes further adds colour to the Darjeling landscape. Coupled with the beauty of the place is the hospitality of Darjeeling's smiling resilient people which is sure to fill the heart of every tourist with great warmth.

Till the early 19th century, Darjeeling was a small village with a population of few hundred people. It was established in the form of a town by Dr.Campbell and Lieut. Napier, two officers of the British government. Thereafter, the infrastructure of Darjeeling developed rapidly and different groups of people migrated to the place. After independence, Darjeeling has been a part of West Bengal. The Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council was established in late 1980's and given wide ranging administrative powers to accelerate the development of the region.

Climate
Located in very high altitudes, Darjeeling is a cold place. Temperatures in summer remain in the range of 15-20 degrees. But winters are very cold with chances of temperature falling to 0 degrees also. Heavy rains during the June-September monsoon period sometimes results in landslides also.

Best Time to Visit
March-May and September-November.

How To Reach
By Air : The nearest landing facility from Darjeeling is Bagdogra at a distance of 90 kms. Direct flights are available to Bagdogra from New Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati. Bagdogra is a small airport but crucial for connecting the hilly regions of Darjeeling and Sikkim with rest of the country.

By Rail : New Jalpaiguri is the nearest railhead at a distance of 88 kms from Darjeeling. Trains coming from all parts of the country to Assam halt at New Jalpaiguri. The 8 hour journey in the famous toy train from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling is another great option worth exploring.

By Road : There are direct bus and jeep services to Darjeeling from New Jalpaiguri and destinations of Sikkim. As the terrain is hilly, reaching Darjeeling normally takes more time.
Places Where You Can Stay
Accommodation is not at all a problem in Darjeeling. There are many good hotels, lodges and guest houses in the budget and mid-range categories. The best hotels in the star category are Cedar Inn, Mayfair Hill Resort, Mohit, Sinclairs and Garuda.

Tourist Attractions in Darjeeling
Ghoom Monastery : A visit to Darjeeling generally begins with the Ghoom monastery. The monastery has an imposing 4.5-metre tall image of the Maitreya Buddha. The monastery has also preserved some rare handwritten Buddhist manuscripts. Ghoom, at an altitude of about 2,407 metres, offers a spectacular view of Darjeeling town .

Bhutia Busti : Situated at the backdrop of the Kanchenjunga, this beautiful Gompa has an impressive collection of Buddhist texts in its library. The Gompa is a branch of the Nyingmapa sect's Phodang Monastery in Sikkim. Tastefully decorated, the Gompa also has a copy of the Tibetan Book of the Dead in its library.

Dhirdham Temple : The Dhirdham Temple is situated at the centre of Darjeeling town. The temple is similar in its architecture to the famous Pashupatinath Temple of Kathmandu. Centrally located, the temple attracts tourists in large numbers basically for its architecture.

Tiger Hills : Tiger hills are located at an altitude of 2590 metres above the sea level. Tourists throng the Tiger Hill from very early morning to have a glimpse of the spectacular sunrise. On a clear day, views of snow-capped Mt. Kanchenjunga is also available from the hills.

Batasia Loop : Batasia is a railway loop and a fine example of modern railway engineering. The toy train of Darjeeling takes a very unique turn at this point. A spectacular view of the low lying areas of Darjeeling is available from this place.

Observatory Hill : The Observatory Hill is famous for magnificent views of Mt. Kanchenjunga and the entire landscape below. There are some temples and monasteries atop the hill also. The hills are also inhabited by some aggressive monkey species who love to play hide-and-seek with tourists visiting the place.

Zoological Gardens : Situated on the outskirts of Darjeeling, Darjeeling zoo houses some rare varieties of Himalayan flora and fauna species. This is the only zoo in India having the Siberian Tigers. The rare Red Panda is another attraction of the zoo. Snow Leopards, Great Grey Birds and Snow Yaks could also be seen in good numbers.

Natural History Museum : A popular place to visit in Darjeeling, the Natural History Museum has an impressive collection of over 4300 specimen . They include a rich collection of fauna found in the Himalayas and in Bengal. The museum also has a good collection of butterflies and the estaurine crocodile. Also on display are mineral forms of various stones.

Excursion Places near Darjeeling
Kalimpong : The picturesque hill station of Kalimpong is situated across the Teesta River between the Dedo and Durbindra Hills. At altitudes over 1,250 meters, Kalimpong is famous for beautiful flower nurseries and monasteries. A small handicrafts industry is also flourishing in the place. The distance of Kalimpong from Darjeeling is 51 kms.

Kurseong : Located at a distance of 32 kms from Darjeeling, Kurseong is another small hill station at an altitude of 1,458 metres. The serene ambience and scenic beauty of this place attracts tourists to this place.

Mirik : Midway between Siliguri and Darjeeling lies the beautiful hill resort of Mirik. Mirik is famous for its lake, boating facilities and plantations of oranges, cardamom and pine. There are many varieties of fishes in one portion of the lake whose numbers are so high that they are easily visible from the sides. The exact distance of Mirik from Darjeeling is 49 kms.

Takdah : Tourists interested in seeing rare varieties of Himalayan orchids can go to Takdah, a place at a distance of 26 kms from Darjeeling.There are many nurseries in the place growing these orchids. To watch these orchids in full bloom during the April-May season is a great sight that many nature lovers eagerly wait for.

Shopping in Darjeeling
Darjeeling is a nice place to buy decorative items. The roadside bazaars of this hill station come alive with a wide variety of products in the evening. The main shopping areas are Chowrasta and Nehru Road.

Among the best buys of Darjeeling are thangkas, brass statues, religious objects, jewellery, wood carving, woven fabrics and carpets. It may be mentioned that there is a strong Tibetan influence over the products of the place.

Darjeeling in India Tours

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