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Darjeeling Travel Guide
It is undoubtedly one of the beautiful hill stations of the country that promises you a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. Darjeeling is a perfect destination for honeymooners. This place is located at a height of 2050 meters and has a cool climate throughout the year. It is famous for its tea gardens, which produce the world-famous ‘Darjeeling Tea’. However, another famous thing here is the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which was established in the year 1881. It has been conferred the title of World Heritage Status by UNESCO. The train starts its journey from the plains and offers spectacular views of the mountains to the tourists. Some of the most popular spots to explore in Darjeeling include botanical gardens, the zoo, the toy train, monasteries, etc.
Best Places to Visit in Darjeeling
Some of the worth-seeing places in Darjeeling are:
Darjeeling Peace Pagoda
This place is situated on the slopes of the Jalapahar hills. The Japanese Peace Pagoda is built to promote unity and harmony among people of different religions. You will get the beautiful views of snow-covered peaks here, which make it the best place for nature lovers. This structure was designed by Dr. M Ohka of Japan. The height of this pagoda is 28.5 meters. You will see the 4 avatars of Lord Buddha here in sitting, standing, sleeping, and meditating positions.
Happy Valley Tea Estate
This tea estate is spread over an area of approximately 437 acres. It is one of the oldest tea estates in Darjeeling. Happy Valley Tea Estate is a must-visit place for tourists. The tea estate offers breathtaking views of the Himalayan foothills. This is the best place to visit for nature lovers.
Nightingale Park
Situated in Darjeeling, Nightingale Park is one of the most visited places in Darjeeling. A large number of tourists come here to see the beautiful views of the Kanchenjunga range. This is an ideal place for nature lovers. During the British rule, this park was the courtyard of the Bungalow of Sir Thomas Tartan and was called ‘The Shrubbery’.
Darjeeling Observatory Hill
Located above Chowrasta Square, this observatory hill is approximately 2 km away from Darjeeling Himalaya Railway Station. It is a popular place to visit in Darjeeling as it offers you spectacular views of mountains and other Hindu and Buddhist Temples such as Mahakal Temple, Kanchenjunga Temple, and Tibetan Memorial Shrine.
Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park
This is also one of the most visited places in Darjeeling. You can see a wide variety of animals here, such as barking deer, red pandas, Asiatic black bear, Eastern Pangolin, and blue and yellow Macaw. Whether you are a nature lover or a wildlife lover, you will love being at this place. This park was established in the year 1958. This zoological park is located at an elevation of approximately 7000 feet. It is popular for its captive breeding programs for the red panda, Himalayan wolf, and snow leopard, etc.
Ghoom Monastery
Established by Lama Sherab Gyatso in the year 1850, Ghoom Monastery is one of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries in Darjeeling. This monastery is located at a height of 8,000 feet. You will find a 15-foot high statue of Maitreyi Buddha in the Central Hall, which is made with the help of clay that was brought from Tibet. The statue was set up here during the tenure of Lama Domo Geshe Rinpoche. You will find a variety of Buddhist manuscripts within the premises of this monastery.
Tiger Hill
Located at a distance of approximately 13 km from Darjeeling, Tiger Hill offers you breathtaking views of snow-covered mountains. You will be able to experience the beautiful sunrise once you are here. The sight of snow-covered peaks in the middle of clouds attracts tourists from all over the country.
Best Time to Visit Darjeeling
April to June is an ideal time to visit Darjeeling. During this time, the weather is pleasant, which provides ease to the travelers while exploring this hilly station. Some people also visit it in the winter. This is also a good time to visit Darjeeling as the temperatures drop by 2 to 7 % in winter. It is a good time to explore Darjeeling for the honeymooners. Monsoon season in Darjeeling starts from June and ends in September. However, you should not visit Darjeeling during this time as there are higher chances of landslides during this period.
Shopping in Darjeeling
Darjeeling never disappoints the shopaholics, as there are many markets you can explore here. Some of them include:
Ghoom Monastery Market
If you do not want to miss the breathtaking views of sunrise and sunset, you must visit Ghoom Monastery in the early mornings or evenings. You can shop for a number of items here, such as singing bowls, bags, prayer wheels, etc.
Teesta Bazar
This is also a great place to shop for tourists. Some of the unique range of articles that are available in this market include wall paintings, crockery, hunting equipment, lanterns, copper wares, etc.
Nehru Road
You must visit this market if you want to buy art and craft articles in Darjeeling. You will also find Handicrafts Emporium here, which is established by the State Government.
The Mall Road
It is one of the best markets to explore if you are a shopaholic. You will get a wide variety of clothes here, such as hats, jackets, woolen clothes, scarves, shawls, etc. Apart from that, you can also buy many jewelry items in this market, such as Tibetan masks, handmade souvenirs, and fancy jewelry.
Batasia Loop Market
Batasia Loop is one of the popular markets in Darjeeling. It offers a wide variety of clothes to tourists. You can also eat many delectable food items here. You will find many items here at the best rates.
How to Reach Darjeeling?
Darjeeling is connected to all the major cities of the country by road, rail, and air. However, the easiest way to reach here is from Siliguri. From this place, you can catch a bus or hire a taxi to reach Darjeeling. On the way, you can enjoy beautiful tea gardens and charming villages. This route is highly comfortable for you if you are visiting Darjeeling with your family.
How to Reach Darjeeling by Road?
You can easily reach Darjeeling by road from different regions of the country. The best route to Darjeeling is NH 110, which connects Darjeeling to Siliguri. This route is full of scenic spots that will leave you in awe during your Darjeeling tour. You can explore many hillside villages, forests, and tea gardens during your trip.
How to Reach Darjeeling by Train?
The nearest railway station to Darjeeling is New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, which is approximately 88 km away from Darjeeling. Regular trains run between the major cities of the country to New Jalpaiguri. Thus, you will not face any problem in reaching Darjeeling by train, whether you are coming here from Mumbai, Delhi, or Kolkata. After reaching New Jalpaiguri railway station, you can hire jeeps and taxis to reach Darjeeling.
How to Reach Darjeeling by Toy Train?
Travelers can also reach Darjeeling by Toy Train. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Darjeeling Himalayan Railways operates a narrow-gauge mountain railway line which connects Darjeeling to New Jalpaiguri. This train route offers breathtaking views to the passengers and leaves them amazed.
How to Reach Darjeeling by Bus?
Many buses run from Siliguri to Darjeeling. These buses are being operated by West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC) and private bus operators. A bus journey will be a highly economical option for those who are short of budget. However, buses might take a long time to take you to Darjeeling.
How to Reach Darjeeling by Flight?
The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport, which is approximately 68 km away from Darjeeling. This airport is connected to all the major cities of the country, including Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, etc. Regular flights are being operated by Jet Airways, SpiceJet, Indigo, Air India, etc. Once you reach Bagdogra airport, you can hire a taxi to reach Darjeeling.
Getting Around Darjeeling
It is easy to get around Darjeeling due to the availability of various means of transport. You can get around Darjeeling in the following ways:
Darjeeling Toy Train
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, provides you with a nostalgic journey through tea gardens and picturesque hills.
Shared Taxis
These taxis are great for covering short distances within Darjeeling. These jeeps and small cars run from Darjeeling to other surrounding towns such as Mirik and Kalimpong.
Private Taxis
You can also hire a private taxi to travel around Darjeeling. They offer you and your family a comfortable ride.
Hiring a Bike
You can also hire a bike to get around Darjeeling. This is a great way to enjoy the natural scenes in Darjeeling.
Walking
Another way to explore Darjeeling is by walking. This will let you witness the beauty of this place. You can communicate with the locals if you want to while exploring Darjeeling on foot.
