Darjeeling, North Bengal – An internationally known charming hill resort

Darjeeling has an international reputation for being a charming hill resort. This Himalayan town of North Bengal still remains in the lead as an attractive tourist destination. Tourists from all corners of the world make a visit to this place throughout the year. Darjeeling is located at an altitude of 6,710 ft, in the Lesser Himalayas. The most popular tourist spots in Darjeeling is the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Zoo. A trip to nearby Tiger Hill to watch the beautiful sunrise over Mt.Kanchenjunga is also a lifetime experience. You must carry your umbrella in Darjeeling because it rains here suddenly and stops abruptly.

Places to see in Darjeeling: The hill resort of Darjeeling is always adorable to the tourist. The place is pristine with diverse tourist spot. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, which was established by the late Tenzing Norgay is the most popular spot. Norgay is renowned for conquering the Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary. In this institute, the equipments utilized in that ascend are displayed. Another tourist spot is the Japanese Peace Pagoda, built by the Japanese Buddhist Nipponzan-Myohoji Order. Make a visit to the Himalayan Zoo also. A trip to the Tiger Hill early in the morning, to watch the mesmeric sunrise on Mt.Kanchenjunga, is a feast of the eyes. The mountain shimmers in the rays of the sun. One of the oldest sightseeing locations of Darjeeling is the Observatory Hill, which is locally called “Makal-Babu-Ko-Thaan.”

Nearby attractions of Darjeeling:  There are some major tourist attractions, nearby too.  You can organize a day trip to the MirikLake, located at a height of around 5,800 feet. This hill-resort offers a visual delight with its picturesque natural backdrop. The prime feature of the spot is a natural lake, fed with rainwater and perennial springs. Barbotey Rock Garden, located 10 km from Darjeeling is a charming picnic spot admired with natural waterfalls. You will truly enjoy the mesmeric sight of the natural waterfall.

You can also visit to HappyValley tea estate, located 3 km away from the heart of the town (Chowk Bazar). Enjoy a trail along the vast stretch of the estate and also take a look at the procedure of tea picking and manufacturing at the site. Most of the tourists buy packs of tea from this location.

Things to do in Darjeeling: Darjeeling is an ideal site to hike and trek. The most popular trekking destination of Darjeeling is the SingalilaNational Park. The park is accessible from Maneybhanjang. You can also access it from Rimbik or Bijanbari.

The prime attraction of the tourist is the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, popularly called “Toy Train,” which is still powered by steam engine. The exciting toy train trip, from Siliguri to Darjeeling is truly a wonderful experience. If you have an adventurous bend of mind, try out mountain biking along the exciting tracks, which is the perfect way to explore the serene natural beauty of Darjeeling

Those addicted to shopping will really have a nice time while enjoying shopping at the location. The world famous tea of Darjeeling renowned for its aroma and exclusive taste is a must buy for all tourists. Move around the mall area to locate some tea selling outlets. You can also shop some curio items like garments manufactured from yak wool and Thangkas from the destination. You will also find an array of handicrafts like wooden or metal statues, ethnic garments and footwear, artificial jewellery, furnishings, singing bowls displayed in the shops. There are also many bookshops housing an excellent collection of books. You can also collect some amazing picture postcards from Darjeeling.

Best time to visit Darjeeling: You can travel to Darjeeling any time of the year. However, it is better to avoid the monsoon for landslides often block the roads during this time.

How to go ?

You can avail a number of options to reach Darjeeling. The Bagdogra Airport, located at a distance of around 96 km from Darjeeling, is the nearest airport of the destination. The airport is well connected with direct flights to Kolkata. Direct taxis to Darjeeling are available from the Bagdogra Airport. You can also reach Darjeeling by roadway via Siliguri from Kolkata in buses. Buses and Taxis are available in Siliguri to reach Darjeeling.

Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan is also connected with Darjeeling by roadway. The nearest railhead of the destination is the New Jalpaiguri rail station, which is directly connected to Kolkata with a number of trains. You can hire the direct taxis to Darjeeling available from the New Jalpaiguri Station.

Where to stay ?

You will find many accommodation facilities offered by several hotels and lodges in Darjeeling. The location also has a number of forest guesthouses. Decent dining facilities are offered in most of the hotels. There are also Government Tourist Lodges. Some options are:

Mainak Tourist Lodge:  (0353) 2512859
Maple Tourist Lodge:  (0354) 2252813
Darjeeling Tourist Lodge:  (0354) 225412

For Reservation and Detailed Information contact
Tourism Center (Kolkata)
3/2, B.B.D. Bag (East), Kolkata – 700001
Phone: 033 – 22437260, 22488271, 4401 2659/60/61/62
Mobile: 09836769196, 09874026914.
Website: www.wbtourism.gov.in

Note : Phone numbers given above are according to the information available with us. If you find any contact number/s given above is/are incorrect or not in use, please let us know.