Darjeeling
The journey from the plains to Darjeeling itself is a
great attraction for tourists. Whether you set out on a
hired car or a bus which take about three hours to cover
the winding roads up the mountains from Siliguri or the
century old heritage toy train from New Jalpaiguri which
takes most of the day to leisurely climb up the hills,
you will begin to realize why Darjeeling, the abode of
thunderbolts, is often referred to as the Queen of the
Hills even on your way up. Hidden away from the plains
by commanding mountain ranges at an altitude of
approximately 7,000 feet, this picturesque town which
has grown in many times its former size during the
recent years, is a different world altogether for its
splendid location and unique culture.
Look north, and you will see a panoramic view of the
snow-capped Kanchendzonga, the third highest peak in the
world and perhaps one of the most difficult ones to
climb. Walking through the narrow streets in the bazaar
or the outskirts of the town, you might catch a glimpse
of its snow-laden slopes between the houses and
tin-roofs. At spots like the "Back Mall" or "Shrubbery",
you will be able to see the entire range before you
without any obstruction. And a visit to Tiger Hill to
see the sun light up the southern face of Kanchendzonga
at daybreak has over the years become customary for most
of the tourists.
Sometimes you wake up to find the green and blue
mountains partly hidden veiled by the mist, partly lit
up by the sunlight, almost like a Chinese watercolour
sketch. After sunset, the hills light up like a cluster
of stars spreading its arms in many directions. The
headlights of a car negotiating a bend somewhere on
another mountain ridge suddenly flashes sweeping an arc
of light across the slopes. You become aware of cottages
and tall conifers all around you and then it is dark
again.
In the silence, you can hear the crickets, smell the
resin of the Cliptomeria Japonica or the Dhuppi trees,
as they are known locally, even hear someone strumming
the guitar and singing a folk tune.
No wonder some people come back here as often as once
every year. And some just spend time idling around the
Mall or doing some shopping in the Bazaar. But there are
lots of other things to do in Darjeeling!
Visit the Zoo to see some of rare species of Himalayan
wildlife like the Yak and the Red Panda. The Himalayan
Mountaineering Institute is for
mountaineering-enthusiasts. Besides these, you may also
take a ropeway ride down the slopes to Singla and be
back in the evening.
Darjeeling also has numerous other places you might like
to visit: museums, monasteries, curio shops, tea estates
... Besides these, Darjeeling is an excellent base to
start off on a trekking route or go for adventure sports
like rock climbing and river rafting around the region.
Places of Interest
01.The Observatory Hill
02. Bhutia Busty Monastery
03. Victoria Falls
04. Ava Art Gallery
05. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
06. Rangit Valley Passenger Ropeway
07. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
08. Natural History Museum
09. Darjeeling Peace Pagoda
10. Dirdham Temple
11. Lloyd Botanical Garden
12. The Lebong Race Track
13. Ghoom Yiga Choling Monastery
14. Dali Monastery
15. Batasia Loop and War Memorial
16. Senchel Lake
17. Tiger Hill
Photo Gallery
Client Testimonials
Dear Zigmee
Thanks for a fabulous time in North Sikkim, highlight of the trip were staying with Chopal and sonam lachenpa in lachen and the journey to Gurudargma (well worth the many hours in the jeep and the cold air). It wasn't hard to imagine just being over the border in
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