Destination: Darjeeling

Queen of The Himalayas

Darjeeling is a British-era hill station in the state of West Bengal. Tea plantations and the steam engine is a heritage of those times. Most famous for its tea, Darjeeling tea gets three-four flushes in a year between March and November. We get a different variety of tea in every flush: Oolong, black, green, and white. Thus Darjeeling tea is also the ‘Champagne of teas.’

When at Darjeeling, be ready for a ‘really’ early morning tour to Tiger Hills at around 04:00 AM to view sunrise over Kanchenjunga Peak. After breakfast, a joy ride on a narrow-gauge heritage train is an experience. This joy ride takes you to another attraction- Ghoom Monastery. Ghoom is a Tibetan monastery with 15 feet statue of Maitreya Buddha. After lunch, a half-day sightseeing of Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park & Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Tenzing & Gombu Rock, & panoramic view of Tea Estate can be enjoyed. Hence we can say that the list of Darjeeling tourist attractions never ends.

Additionally, the vivid landscapes, tea plantations, eternal weather, and slopes make it one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Bagdogra to Darjeeling drive goes via Makaibari Tea Estate. Makaibari is the first tea factory in the world, established in 1859. The elevation of the plantation is around 188 mts above sea level and is which is the best for tea production. Traditional methods of cultivating and hand plucking are used. Although the quantity is less the quality is premium. The tourists in Darjeeling shop for woolen garments, fashion clothes, and shawls.

Places to See in Darjeeling

Flora and Fauna In Darjeeling

Darjeeling is a hot spot for Eco-tourism in India. One can sight a wide variety of animals and plants here. Some of the flora spotted here are the Himalayan newt (a rare species of salamander), mutiac (barking deer), civet cats, the Himalayan Black bear, the Snow Leopard, and around 600 varieties of beautiful butterflies. The flora here encompasses around 139 species of Rhododendrons, magnolia flowers in white, pink, and magenta, and orchids of different varieties.

Tiger Hill

Tiger Hill is a wonderful location in Darjeeling that offers breathtaking views of the sunrise. Attracting tourists in great numbers, Tiger Hill is located at an elevation of 2590 m. 

Tea Gardens

Darjeeling is renowned the world over for its quality tea. Stroll through the tea gardens and smell the aroma of the fresh tea leaves. Enjoy a cup of Darjeeling tea and take back home some packets of tea leaves. There are around 70 tea gardens in Darjeeling and the most famous one is the Happy Valley Tea Estate.

Buddhist Monasteries In Darjeeling

There are several Buddhist monasteries in Darjeeling and the oldest one is the Yiga Chilling Monastery, which is located 8 km from the town. It was built in 1875 and belongs to the Gelugpa Sect. Other monasteries are the Samten Cholling Monastery, the Drukpa Kargyud Monastery, the Dali Monastery, and the Bhutia Busty Monastery.

Museum of Natural History

The Museum Of Natural History houses a rare collection of the fauna of the Himalayan region.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute

Founded in honor of Tenzing Norgay(who conquered Mt. Everest), the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is known for imparting excellent training in mountaineering.

Himalayan Zoological Park and Snow Leopard Breeding Center

These high-altitude wildlife parks are the homes of the Siberian Tiger, Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer, Snow Leopard, Red Panda, Tibetan Wolf, and Himalayan Pheasant.

Lloyds Botanical Garden

This garden is flooded with a rich collection of rhododendron, magnolia, orchids of the Eastern Himalayas, alpine flowers, and medicinal plants.

Adventure in Darjeeling

Offering sheer adventure, the Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway is a must-visit destination in Darjeeling. Enjoy the cable car ride, which passes over the mesmerizing tea gardens and offers captivating views of the mountains. Darjeeling is a wonderful destination for trekking and river rafting.

Top Hotels in Darjeeling

How To Reach

By Air

The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport located 88 km from Darjeeling. The regular flights from here connect Darjeeling with the main cities of India.

By Rail

New Jalpaiguri is the nearest railway station located 88 km from Darjeeling. The railway station is connected to the major cities of India.

By Road

Darjeeling is well connected with the main cities like Kolkata, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Gangtok, Bagdogra, and Siliguri by road.