| Mention Darjeeling and it evokes many images- | | | | known for the Yiga Choeling Monastery that |
| Queen of the Hills, lush green tea gardens, the | | | | dominates this small hilly place. |
| Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, sturdy Gorkhas and | | | | Darjeeling-Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway |
| amazing views of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Going beyond | | | | The first ropeway in India and the longest in Asia, |
| these images, Darjeeling has much to offer in | | | | Darjeeling-Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway |
| terms of its cultural diversity, education and | | | | offer spectacular views. It is located at North |
| exciting opportunities for lovers of adventure | | | | Point about 3km from the town. A shaerd taxi |
| sports. Like most other hill stations in India, the | | | | service is available to reach here. It is not too far |
| British developed Darjeeling as a respite from the | | | | from the zoo. |
| oppressing summer heat in the Gangetic plains. | | | | |
| Located in the lower Shivalik Hills region of the | | | | Go on a tour of tea estates |
| Himalayas at a height of 2,134m above sea level, | | | | All the hills around Darjeeling produce the |
| Darjeeling toll the initial years of the 19th century | | | | world’s finest tea. Darjeeling’s tea |
| was a part of Nepal and Sikkim. After a lease | | | | gardens are a picturesque sight, covering terraced |
| agreement with the Chogyal of Sikkim in 1835, | | | | hill slopes, upto an altitude of 1,950m. While in |
| the British started developing Darjeeling as a hill | | | | Darjeeling, you should seize the opportunity to |
| station. | | | | tour some reknowned tea estates. You can walk |
| After independence, Darjeeling became a part of | | | | through the estates, explore a tea factory and |
| the state of West Bengal. | | | | see how moisture is extracted from tealeaves |
| MUST TO SEE | | | | and how they are rolled and withered, sifted, |
| Chowrasta and the Mall | | | | fermented, dried and sorted. |
| Like most other hill stations developed during the | | | | What to Eat |
| British era, the Mall in Darjeeling is the centre of all | | | | A fairly good number of Tibetans and Nepalese in |
| the action. It is the place around which you will | | | | Darjeeling ensure that you will get delicious |
| find most of the tourist amenities including hotels, | | | | momos and hot steaming thukpas everywhere, |
| restaurants, souvenir shops, banks, ATMs, post | | | | more so at the Mall Road and Chowrasta. But |
| offices and street vendors selling sweaters, | | | | momos and thukpas are not the only dishes you |
| paintings and imitation Jewellery. | | | | can relish. Try local delicacies like Wai Wai and |
| Observatory Hill | | | | Churpee while here. Wai Wai is a thick noodle |
| Or a splendid view of the snow-clad | | | | eaten in soup of dry. |
| Kanchenjunga, walk up to Observatory Hill, which | | | | What to shop for |
| is located near Chowrasta or the Mall. | | | | The Mall and Chowrasta are choc-a-bloc with |
| Lloyd’s Botanical Garden | | | | shops selling all kinds of curios, sweaters, |
| Many of the plant species native to the Darjeeling | | | | cardigans, pullovers and other winter garments. |
| Himalayan hill Region can be seen at Lloyd’s | | | | You can buy local handicrafts as souvenir. We |
| Botanical Garden. | | | | have a list of some important shops and markets. |
| Karma Dorjee Chyoling Monastery (Bhutia Busty | | | | But the first thing on your list of shopping items |
| Monastery) | | | | should be Darjeeling tea. |
| First built in 1765 on Observatory Hill by Lama | | | | BEST TIME TO VISIT |
| Dorje-rinzing, the Bhutia Busty is the oldest | | | | June to September are the monsoon months |
| monastery in Darjeeling. | | | | hence avoid travelling to Darjeeling then. The best |
| Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) | | | | time to visit Darjeeling is from mid-September to |
| The Government of India established the | | | | mid-December and from mid –march to mid |
| Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) in 1954 | | | | –June. |
| to give a fillip to this adventure sport in the | | | | HOW TO REACH |
| country. | | | | By Air: Bagdogra is the nearest airport to |
| Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park | | | | Darjeeling. Two main domestic carriers, Indian |
| Established in 1958 by the state of West Bengal, | | | | Airlines and Jet Air, operate from Bagdogra. |
| Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park | | | | By Rail: Visitors may also travel to Darjeeling |
| specializes in captive breeding of alpine animals like | | | | from NJP, by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. |
| Snow Leopards and Red Panda. | | | | This famous journey lasts 7 to 8 hours. |
| Ghoom | | | | Alternatively, you may travel by road to |
| Ghoom hosts on of the world’s highest | | | | Darjeeling, from New Jalpaiguri, by a scenic rout. |
| railway stations at an altitude of 2,225.7m and is | | | | |