Tucked in the lap of Himalayas, Darjeeling is a hill station that attracts travellers from all over the world. Mesmerising beauty of Mt. Kanchengungha and pleasant weather throughout the year makes it a must visit place. Darjeeling was equally well-liked during the British era as it is today. When the summer heat became unbearable, the British Viceroys would flee to the picturesque hill station. The town of Darjeeling is a popular tourist destination because of its distinct colonial atmosphere and picturesque mountain setting.
How to reach:
By Flight: The closest airport to Darjeeling is Bagdogra, which is about 90 kilometres away and is serviced by flights from major cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, and Guwahati. After arriving at the airport, you will be able to rent a cab to drive you to Darjeeling, which will take approximately three hours of your time.
By Rail: New Jalpaiguri railway station is 62 kilometres from the main town. It connects all of India's major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Cochin, and Chennai. Traveling to Darjeeling from New Jalpaiguri on the famous toy train service operated by Darjeeling Himalayan Railways will take about 7 hours.
By Road: Darjeeling is about 70 kilometres from Siliguri, and there is frequent bus service between the two cities. There are additional bus routes from neighbouring cities like Kurseong and Kalimpong. From Siliguri, Kalimpong, or Kurseong, you can take a car to get to Darjeeling, which is a convenient alternative. The road network is pretty good, with magnificent mountain views.
The Tea Gardens, Toy Train and Other Things to do in Darjeeling.
Best time to visit:
The appealing climate of Darjeeling is another major draw for visitors. Many visitors come every year because of the pleasant climate. The temperature in Darjeeling is ideal year-round. The best times to visit are spring and autumn, but summers are moderate and nice as well. In these two seasons, sightseeing is a wonderful experience. Darjeeling is appropriately named the "Queen of the Hills" due to the abundance of rhododendron blooms and crystal clear skies that can be found there. Travelers were drawn to Kanchenjunga for its beautiful scenery and pleasant climate. Due to its historical significance and the high demand from tourists, many tourist attractions have sprung up in the area around Darjeeling.
This Offbeat Stay near Darjeeling Is Best Place to Enjoy the Tea Gardens and Hills
Top Places to visit in Darjeeling:
Here is a list of the best tourist places in Darjeeling that you might not want to miss on your trip. Let’s check out what fun things can be done in these tourist places in Darjeeling while holidaying in Bengal’s favorite summer getaway.
1. Darjeeling Mall:
The chowrasta or Mall is the heart of the Darjeeling town. Located on the top of Nehru Road this place is one of the famous tourist places in Darjeeling and a popular spot for the residents to assemble, leisure or just stroll in the tranquility of nature. It is another great place for shopping. Some of the old and heritage stores are lined up here. Also, the small shops near the mall offer a variety of items.
2. Observatory hill and Mahakal Mandir:
Located directly behind the mall, Observatory Hill is an excellent vantage point for taking in a panoramic view of the city area. It is situated atop the hill that overlooks Chowrasta square, which can be reached by travelling a distance of two kilometres from the Darjeeling Himalaya train station. From the top of the Observatory Hill, one may get views of snow-capped mountains, including Mount Kanchenjunga. Originally, this spot served as the site of the Bhutia Busty monastery. Now the hill has the temple of Mahakal which is another important places to visit in darjeeling.
3. Darjeeling zoo & Himalayan Mountaineering Institute:
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is a zoo in the town of Darjeeling. The zoo was opened in 1958, and with an average elevation of 7,000 feet, is the largest high altitude zoo in India. This zoo is internationally recognized for its conservation breeding programs of Red Panda, Snow Leopards, Tibetan Wolf and other highly endangered animal species of Eastern Himalayas. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is housed in the Zoo complex and was established in 1954. It is one of the oldest mountaineering institutes of the country. The main aim of setting up the institute was encouraging mountaineering as a sport in India. The institute was also set up to commemorate Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary's conquest of the Everest in 1953. Here, one can spot all the equipment used especially in Mt. Everest expeditions by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
Check out Riyanka's experience of exploring Darjeeling, here.
4. Ghoom Railway Station and Railway Museum:
“Ghoom” is India’s highest railway station which is at an altitude of 2,258 metres. It is also counted as the 14th highest railway station in the world. The UNESCO accepted Darjeeling Himalayan Railway toy train that passes from here as a world heritage site. The train makes steep climbs through a number of reverses and loops promising an enthralling view. Ghoom Museum is one of the three museums of Darjeeling Himalayan Railways. It's located at the Ghoom railway station premises. If you plan to take the Toy Train Joy Ride from Darjeeling which comes to Ghoom and goes back, then this DHR Ghoom Museum will be part of the ride.
5. Ghoom Monastery:
Ghum Monastery, also known as Yiga Choeling is probably the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the region. Ghoom Monastery houses a 15-foot high Maitreya Buddha statue that captivates the surroundings with its aura. Built in 1850 by Lama Sherpa Gyaltsho, a Mangolian Monk, it is famous for its beautiful Thangka on the walls, fancy bells, and drums. This attraction in Darjeeling is a storehouse of Tibetan translations of popular Sanskrit works.
6. Shakya Guru Monastery:
Shakya Guru Monastery is located at about 8 kilometers from Darjeeling and is the age-old monastery of the Ghoom area. This monastery is a significant and historic monastery which was built around 1915 and has been supporting the monastic community all these years. In this monastery the prayer hall can accommodate about 60 monks. One can witness excellent view of Mt. Kanchenjunga from this monastery.
7. Batasia Loop:
The Batasia Loop is a spiral railway created to lower the gradient of ascent of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in Darjeeling. Batasia Loop attracts tourists for spectacular view of Mt. Kanchenjunga & other snow-capped Himalayan Peaks and to watch the remarkable engineering marvel of Darjeeling Himalayan Railways. At the centre of Batasia Loop a War Memorial stands. This memorial was constructed by the District Sainik Board, Darjeeling in commemoration of the brave Gorkha Soldiers, who sacrificed their life to protect the sovereignty of the Nation since independence.
8. Tiger Hill:
Tiger Hill is located 11kms from Darjeeling town and above Ghum. It's the highest point in Darjeeling hills at an altitude of 8482 feet. Tiger Hill is eminently known for its splendid sights of the early morning sunrise where you can witness a panoramic view of Mount Everest and Mount Kanchenjunga together. At sunrise, the peaks of Kanchenjunga are illuminated before the sun is seen at lower elevations.
9. Peace Pagoda:
Situated on the slopes of the Jalapahar Hill, Peace Pagoda is a symbol of peace and unity in Darjeeling. Built during 1885-1985 by a Japanese Buddhist monk Nichidatsu Fuji, the Japanese Peace Pagoda is a part of 30 such structures across the world. The Buddhist shrine is located amidst some really enticing locations and is built in a beautiful white structure with golden colored sculptures. You can find here 4 avatars of Buddha.
10. Rock Garden:
Rock Garden, around 10 kilometres from Darjeeling, is a picturesque terraced picnic spot with a natural fall called as Chunnu summer fall. The Barbotey Rock Garden features a lovely hill stream and a hillside covered with unique flower beds and sitting arrangements of varying heights, earning it the alternative name "Rock Garden." Traveling to Darjeeling Rock Garden is a treat in itself, as it takes visitors on a winding road through a landscape of rocky hills and verdant valleys, marked by tight hairpin turns and dizzyingly high elevation gains.
11. Singalila National Park:
Singalila National Park is the highest national park of India located on the Singalila Ridge at an altitude of more than 7000 feet above sea level, in Darjeeling. It is well known for the trekking route to Sandakphu that runs through it. It is home to the exotic red panda and Himalayan black bear, on a clear day one can enjoy the breathtaking view of Kanchenjunga from here.
12. Happy Valley Tea Estate:
At a distance of 2.5 km from Darjeeling Railway Station, Happy Valley Tea Estate is a vast tea garden located in Darjeeling town of West Bengal. The tea estate is located at an altitude of more than 2000 meters and covers planted area of approximately 100 hectares and is one of the highest tea garden in India. Walking through the tea garden on the gentle hill slopes of Darjeeling and seeing the tea processing is definitely an experience to remember from your Darjeeling trip.
For An Idyllic Experience Of The Himalayas, Head To This Gorgeous Tea Estate In Darjeeling
13. Bengal Natural History Museum:
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling houses Bengal Natural History Museum. It has a great collection of fossils and natural artefacts. The museum is divided into two sections: one on the ground floor and one in the basement. The first segment at ground level is about birds. Himalayan Brown Wood Owls, Northern spotted owlets, Northern Brown Fish Owls, pheasants, fly catchers, woodpeckers, and more can be seen. A variety of birds, including pelicans, jungle birds, and others, are displayed in the basement against different West Bengali landforms.
14. Darjeeling Ropeway:
One of the best way to witness the panoramic view of Darjeeling town is to take a ropeway ride. Darjeeling ropeway started in 1968 and is the first cable car system in India. It is also called the Rangeet Valley Cable Car because of the spectacular view of the valley around the river Little Rangeet.
15. Nightingale park :
Nightingale Park is a public park area in the enchanting hill station of Darjeeling that is favoured by tourists and locals for its breathtaking views of the Kanchenjunga peaks. It is a wonderful area for relaxation and rejuvenation, surrounded by rich vegetation and gentle breezes. During the British era, this park was known as "The Shrubbery" when it was the private courtyard of Sir Thomas Tartan's Bungalow. The entrance to this oval-shaped park is flanked by covered arches and leads to cobblestone pathways. Since Nightingale Park is situated on a slightly elevated ground, you must ascend a few stairs to reach its entrance.
16. Glenburn Tea Estate:
The Glenburn Tea Estate in Darjeeling is a family-owned and -operated business that features hundreds of acres of rolling tea gardens nestled on the side of a hill slope. Additionally, the estate is traversed by two river streams. The tea estate features a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding valley and mountain range, which includes the mystical Kanchenjunga and the Sikkim hills. The magnificent estate is excellent for a get-away for a long weekend, and it will help you relieve the stress of work so that you can go back to it feeling refreshed.
Here's Gaurav's experience in Darjeeling.
17. Senchal Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary
A visit to Darjeeling wouldn't be complete without making a stop at this stunning location, where fans of flora and fauna may enjoy nature at its most beautiful. It is one of India's oldest wildlife sanctuaries, and it is about 40 km2 in size. Here, you can see animals that live at high altitudes, such as the Himalayan black bear, the rhesus monkey, the barking deer, the Himalayan flying squirrel, and many birds. Water from Senchal Lake is used to supply the entire hill town, which is itself part of a wildlife sanctuary.
So are you ready to explore the best of Darjeeling ? Make your trip and add these Darjeeling tourist places in your itinerary for having a joyous holiday. Think we missed out on something? Tell us about it in the comments below. Or write about it here on Tripoto and earn Tripoto Credits!