What do you do when you have only one day at hand and a long list of places to visit? You need to pick and choose and that's where this post can help you. Read along to know the places you must and can squeeze in a day in Darjeeling.
You need to start your day very early to witness this mesmerizing sunrise. Make sure you reach early enough to get the best spot, else the place gets extremely crowded later. Your patience will pay off when you see the magical sight of sunrise and the mighty Kanchenjunga shining in the golden sun rays. Entry Fees - INR 50 per person.
Visit the famous Ghoom Monastry which holds the statue of 'Maitreya Buddha'. It will also give you an essence of Buddhist religion and culture.
The Batasia Loop gives a 360 degree view of the town. Apart from being a war memorial, this place has also been developed as an Eco Garden. Soak into the local culture by wearing the traditional attire of Darjeeling. Entry Fees - INR 20 per person. Rent for the traditional costume - INR 50
How can you miss the one important thing Darjeeling is famous for - the Tea Estates. Blankets of tea plantations and lots of greenery along with tasting some delicious tea flavors will make for a perfect combination.
The Peace Pagoda is built accross multiple cities in India as a symbol of peace. Its an architectural marvel in plain white color that instantly makes the place feel calm and peaceful.
You will be able to finish all the above sights by afternoon and post lunch, you can proceed to the Rock Garden which is a 30 minute drive from the main area. This place is generally not a part of any itinerary but I personally feel this was the best of all. You will be welcomed by a beautiful waterfall and can hike all the way to the top to get an aerial view of the Rock Garden and some stunning views of the natural beauty around it.
Your evening has to be reserved for the Mall Road. There are some beautiful Cafes you can visit and of course try some of their famous teas. You can also take home some souvenirs and buy some woollens for yourself from the narrow by-lanes of the Mall Market.
Now why have I not mentioned the iconic Toy Train in my list and there are two reasons for that - The train ride takes up almost 2 hours of your time and the traditional Steam Engine ride costs you INR 1500 which is not worth it for the ride. The views are going to be the same even when you travel by road. So I gave it a miss but you can give it a try if you wish.
I hope this gave you an idea of what can be done in Darjeeling if you have just one day to spare. Also watch a detailed video on this on my YouTube channel -
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