On the second day, I headed to the Peace Pagoda and the Japanese temple, where huge tall trees lay the way in. With the clouds in and no sign of sun, the place appeared no less than a mystic land. The upper level of the temple houses a prayer hall where one can sit back and tune along with the monks to chant the holy mantra 'Om Mani Padme Hum'. A walk through the beautiful garden leads one to the Peace Pagoda where is a stark white structure amidst tall haunting trees in the background.
If you are up for a hike, then the Peace Pagoda and Japanese Buddhist Temple make for an interesting one. Nestled a few hundred feet above Darjeeling and virtually away from the crowds, the temple complex is a quiet escape from the town's bustle.