DARJEELING

Darjeeling is a Himalayan town in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is internationally renowned as a tourist destination, along with for its tea industry and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the headquarters of Darjeeling District. The average altitude of the Darjeeling town is 6,710 ft (2,050 m).The development of the town dates back to the mid-19th century, when the British set up their Summer Capital and a military depot. The British developed the town as a Summer retreat & also developed the connection of Railway. Subsequently, extensive tea plantation was done in the region, and tea growers developed distinctive hybrids of black tea and created new fermenting techniques. The resultant distinctive Darjeeling tea is internationally recognized and ranks among the most popular of the black teas.

Interesting to See at Darjeeling :

Lloyd Botanic Garden in Darjeeling : It seems in the character of Britons to create botanical gardens wherever they happily settle. And so they created the Lloyd Botanical Garden in Darjeeling, which offers a protected habitat for many species of Himalayan trees and plants. The Garden is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except for the main conservatory which is closed on Sundays. A popular tourist attraction of more recent origin is the Rock Garden which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Darjeeling Himalayan Zoological Park : Adjacent to the Mountaineering Institute, on Birch Hill, is the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, which has attracted world attention by successfully breeding endangered species like the snow leopard and red panda. The Zoo houses several other rare Himalayan animals.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway : The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (The DHR), known to generations of local school children as "The Toy Train", is the world's most famous, two feet gauge railway. It is a masterpiece of 19th century engineering, a product of the world's first industrial revolution. In the year 1999 UNESCO declared the DHR a World Heritage Site. Tourist can take a joy ride from Ghoom to Darjeeling if they want.

Ghoom : Two kilometers from Darjeeling is the town of Ghoom which is the highest railway station in the world. It also has a monastery and is definitely worth a visit to all those visiting Darjeeling. 

The Dhirdham Temple : Near the railway station, the temple is built in the style of Katmandu's Pashupatinath temple. It adds to the varied religious architectural styles of Darjeeling. 

Tiger Hill : A visit to the Tiger Hill before dawn is a must for all Darjeeling visitors who want to see sunrise over the Mt Kanchenjungha. Tiger Hill is 2590 m above sea level and 15 kms from town (45 min). Tiger Hill is the highest point in the area which provides the most exotic view of the Kanchenjunga peaks. From this place the other peaks of the Eastern Himalayas can be seen. On a clear day the sight of Mt. Everest is just enthralling.

The Mall & Chowrasta : The Mall road originates and culminates at the Chowrasta, the hub of Darjeeling town, a square on the ridge of Darjeeling town and a good place to sit and relax. It is ideal for a leisurely walk around a setting that is perfect. A walk around the Mall at just any time of the day is pleasant with the view of the mountains at the back drop, valleys with rhododendron trees and old houses. 

Batasia Loop, Darjeeling : This railway loop is an interesting example of engineering. At this loop the toy train takes a very unique turn. This loop is just five kilometer from the main town of Darjeeling. This place also has a very good market where you can buy the purses, bags and other decorative items made by the local women at very reasonable price.
Happy Valley Estate, Darjeeling : We all start our day with tea but we seldom know how the tea is processed. Here one can watch the tea from the gardens being processed. One can spent a few hours here. Entry is only allowed to persons who have permission from any officer of the estate.
Natural History Museum, Darjeeling : A great place to be at, for all those who have great interest in knowing about the history. The museum has a collection of over 4300 specimen . Established in 1903, this natural history museum packs in its folds a rich collection of fauna found in the Himalayas and in Bengal. Among the attractions are included the estuarine crocodiles. This unique museum also has a good collection of butterflies. The mineral forms of various stones are displayed in a very attractive manner in the museum.
Kanchenjunga View, Darjeeling : From Darjeeling one can have the best, uninterrupted view of the world third highest peak. Bhan Bhakta Sarani provides one of the enthralling views of these snow capped peaks. The Chowrasta also gives you a good sight to the Kanchenjunga peak.

Observatory Hills, Darjeeling : This point provides one of the breathtaking views of Kanchenjunga peaks. This place is also very sacred for the Hindus and the Buddhists as there are temples and monasteries at this place. The Kali temple is decorated with the colorful flags. Be aware of the monkey groups as some them are very aggressive.

Ghoom Monastery : The most famous monastery around, also known as Yogachoeling Gompa, enshrines an image of Maitrey Buddha (the coming Buddha), it is about 10 km from town.

How to Reach :

By Air : The nearest airport is Bagdogra (IXB) about 94-96 kms away from Darjeeling.

By Rail : The closest Railway Station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station about 88 kms away from Darjeeling.

By Road : After arrival at Airport  / Station tourist can hire a car to reach at Darjeeling.

Accommodation : “Eco Trails” deals with some of the best Hotel and Resort in Darjeeling. Darjeeling provides a delightful alternative in the form of its numerous tourist resorts and hotels. Depending on your budget you can chose Heritage, Deluxe, Super Deluxe and Standard Hotel. Many budget hotels are also have available offer in suites, deluxe/ semi-deluxe/ budget rooms and make you enjoy a reasonable and comfortable stay.

 

Food : You can choose your own Food Plan in your trip to Darjeeling. There are 04 optioned are available – i) European Plan ( EP ) – Room Only Basis. ii) Continental Plan ( CP ) - Room including with Breakfast only basis. iii) Modified American Plan ( MAP ) – Room including with breakfast and either lunch or dinner. iv) American Plan ( AP ) - Room including Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. 

Activities : Heritage Walk, Darjeeling Sight Seeing, Toy Train Ride, Shopping Experience, Bird Watching, Tiger Hill Visit, Nature Walk, Tea Garden Visit

Attraction : Lloyd Botanic Garden,Darjeeling Himalayan Zoological Park,Darjeeling Himalayan Railway,Tiger Hill,Ghoom Monastery,The Mall and Chowrasta,Batasia Loop,Happy Valley Tea Estate,Natural History Museum,Kanchenjunga View,Observatory Hills,The Dhirdham Temple,Bird Watching,Shopping,Local Culture,Nature Walk,Tea Garden