Darjeeling

The land of 86 tea estates

History 

Darjeeling is an odyssey of spectacular tea gardens, rhododendrons and orchids. The colonial beauty is a land of slow travel. It was once the summer capital of India during the reign of the British Raj. Presently, the youthful charm of the land has made it the perfect spot for photography tours. Globally known as the tea tourism hub, Darjeeling has a lot more to witness! A fun fact about Darjeeling is that it was used as a health resort in the 1800s by the Britishers.

Geography & Connectivity 

Darjeeling is located at an elevation of 2045 m above sea level. It has cold winters and mild summers. It experiences heavy rainfall during the monsoon months. During winters the temperature ranges 5 to 7 degree Celsius. The summers are pleasant with temperature spikes recorded at a maximum of 25 degrees.

The best time to visit Darjeeling is during the summer season from April to June. September is the month to witness the greenery of Darjeeling at its best. During the winter season, October, November and December are ideal times to visit. It is advised to avoid planning a trip to Darjeeling during the monsoon season as road blockages are common around this time.

Road connectivity to Darjeeling is very good and convenient, complimentary with amazing views. Darjeeling is around 80 km from Siliguri and there are regular buses and hired cab services. There are also direct commutes available from nearby tourist spots like Kalimpong and Kurseong. The most famous and in-demand ride is the toy train ride from Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri. It takes about seven hours from Jalpaiguri to reach Darjeeling. Officially, it is known as the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The nearest airport is Bagdogra. It takes about three hours to reach Darjeeling from the airport. 

Nature & Wildlife 

Water rafting in the Triveni and Teesta Rivers is a fun sport in Darjeeling. The river turns into foaming white water as it flows down the mountains making it an ideal spot for rafting. Moreover, there are multiple trekking spots. It begins in Darjeeling and ends in Phalut via Tonglu, Maneybhanjang and Sandakphu.

Padmaja Naidu Zoo is the only home of the Siberian Tigers in India. The tigers also share their habitat with Himalayan black bears, red pandas and snow leopards, just to name a few. The Bengal Natural History Museum located in the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park exhibits over 4000 specimens of exotic flora and fauna. Darjeeling has one wildlife sanctuary, Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and Singalila National Park. The best way to visit these wildlife habitats is through safari tours. In the Singalila National Park, one can see the red panda in their natural habitat.

People & Community 

The land is inhabited mostly by Lepcha, Gorkha and Tibetan immigrants. It is a melting pot of cultural tourism. The toy train has received UNESCO's World Heritage Status. It was established in the year 1881 to improve connectivity of the heritage travel hub with the rest of India. The Victorian glamor of the land is still visible in its historical landmarks and that is what makes it a conservation travel hotspot as well.

Darjeeling seems like a beauty spot in a snow-cladded Kanchenjunga painting with the pine trees, bright rhododendrons and aesthetic magnolias in its foothills. Perfect for a romantic getaway, Darjeeling is one of the top choices among newlyweds. However, the versatility of tourists visiting the ecotourism hub cannot go unnoticed.

Food & Culture 

Even though the 'Queen of Hills' has been graced by modernity, its identity has never been compromised. The tea gardens, Darjeeling Tea and the picturesque hamlets of the land keep it alive through its rural tourism. Darjeeling is also recognized for its orange cultivation, floriculture and cardamom production. The sustainable tourism of the land is very promising.

The town offers a delectable array of culinary delights. Darjeeling's food scene is a treat for the taste buds from the world-famous Darjeeling tea to mouthwatering momos, thukpa and traditional Nepali and Tibetan dishes.

Rituals & Festivals 

There are many unexplored places in Darjeeling that are yet to present themselves to the world. Coming to celebrations, Darjeeling hosts many festivals throughout the year like Buddha Jayanti and Losar Festival. The Losar festival is celebrated on the occasion of the Tibetan New Year. The festivities take place during February. The Tibetans perform Cham and the yak dance dressed in their traditional attire. 

Travel attraction 

Darjeeling showers a deep level of satisfaction on the tourists upon their return. The sites alone are enough to help make memories to cherish for a lifetime. The toy train ride as it passes through the vast green nature amidst the hills, especially the Batasia Loop, is a sight to behold. Witnessing the sunrise at Tiger Hill is another bucket-list item. Located near Tiger Hill is the Senchal Lake. It is the main source of water supply in Darjeeling. The view of the tea gardens from above while enjoying the cable car ride is surreal.

A visit to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is a must to understand the responsible tourism aspect of Darjeeling. Established in 1954, the main purpose was to establish mountaineering as one of India's organized sports. Near the famous Mall Road are the Bhutia Busty monastery, the Mahakal temple and Observatory Hill which are must-visits! Tourists enjoy Darjeeling's pleasing spiritual experience by visiting Yiga Choeling and witnessing the 15-foot clay statue of Maitreyi Buddha and the rare Buddhist manuscript Kangyur.

The giant statue of Lord Shiva in Nightingale Park, Barbotey Garden, Peace Pagoda and the destination of Tinchuley are some of the highly-rated tourist attractions in Darjeeling. Tinchuley has a fascinating history behind its name. Located close to the West Bengal-Sikkim border, the three hills of the land resemble mud ovens. 'Tin' means three and 'Chula' means oven. Hence, the name came to be Tinchuley. Lamahatta and Lepchajagat are the other tourist-favorite scenic hamlets of Darjeeling.