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Sometimes you don’t need a reason to run away to the hills — just an excuse. Mine came wrapped in tired eyes, late nights at work, and a WhatsApp status from an old friend showing a misty toy train crawling up a hill. One look at that photo and my mind was made up: Darjeeling it is. I hadn’t been to Darjeeling in years not since my school days when family vacations meant hot tea and layers of sweaters that never matched. This time, I wanted something different. A solo-ish, soul-ish escape. But planning a hill trip in the middle of monsoon? Not exactly my forte. That’s when Tour and Travellers came into the picture almost by accident, but boy, did they save my chai-loving soul. When Plans Are Half-Baked and Google Overwhelms I remember googling “best time to visit Darjeeling” and falling into a rabbit hole of conflicting blogs, half-updated forums, and reviews that made the monsoon sound like either heaven or horror. Do I pack a raincoat or a prayer? Should I book a hotel near Mall Road or somewhere more tucked away? What about offbeat places — can I squeeze in a day trip? My head spun faster than the wheels on that toy train. A friend suggested checking out Tour and Travellers — she’d used them for a Sikkim trip last winter and swore by their honest guides and hidden gem tips. So I did. One scroll through their website, and I knew I’d found my compass. The Itinerary That Wasn’t Just Copy-Paste What I liked most was how Tour and Travellers didn’t push a ready-made, “Take this, it works for everyone” package. Instead, I found genuine travel guides detailed blogs, local stories, and suggestions that felt like they came from someone who’s actually walked those slopes, not just googled them from an office cubicle. Their Darjeeling travel section covered things I’d never even heard of — quiet monasteries off the main track, local cafés run by fourth-generation tea planters, sunrise spots that aren’t just Tiger Hill (no hate for Tiger Hill though — it’s a classic for a reason!). Their how to reach, where to stay, what to eat guides were so clear that I felt like I was talking to a seasoned travel buddy. Train, Tea, and Toy Trains: Finally There Armed with their tips, I booked my train to NJP, grabbed a shared cab up the winding hill roads, and landed in Darjeeling on a drizzly afternoon. The air was exactly how I’d remembered — crisp, damp, and smelling faintly of wet pine and distant bakeries. I stayed in a cosy little homestay just a short walk from Mall Road — something Tour and Travellers had recommended for people like me who love being near the buzz but far enough for peace. The owner was an old gentleman who made the fluffiest omelettes and had stories about Darjeeling that don’t come up on Google. Sipping Tea Where It’s Born Of course, tea was my non-negotiable. Thanks to Tour and Travellers, I found this small tea estate tour that wasn’t the typical busloads of tourists scene. It was just me, two other curious travellers, and a local guide who walked us through misty plantations, explained how the leaves are plucked, and ended the tour with a tasting that ruined my taste for supermarket tea forever. When The Clouds Become Friends Monsoon in Darjeeling is a moody poet —mist, sudden drizzle, then a burst of sunshine through drifting clouds. I spent mornings sipping tea at Keventer’s terrace, watching the town slowly wake up. I rode the toy train from Darjeeling to Ghum — a short but magical stretch that makes you feel like you’re chugging through a fairytale. One evening, I followed another tip from Tour and Travellers— www.tourandtravellers.com, and wandered off to a lesser-known monastery on the outskirts. No crowds, just monks chanting softly while the prayer flags flapped wildly in the rain-laced wind. I sat there for a good hour, feeling like the world had paused just for me. The Little Things That Make It Yours It wasn’t all fancy sightseeing some of the best bits were small. Like sipping hot thukpa at a roadside stall while rain pattered on my umbrella. Or chatting with a local bookseller who recommended old mountain lore books. Or just walking, aimlessly, along narrow lanes where time feels frozen in black-and-white photographs. Everywhere I went, I found myself thinking, This is exactly what that travel guide said and yet it feels like it’s just mine. That’s the magic of good advice it leaves you room to find your own corners.
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