Darjeeling, also fondly known as the "Queen of hill stations", is
nestled in the Himalayas and is famous for its tea production and the
Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage
Site.
Darjeeling - what bells does it ring - Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, exotic tea flavors, imprints of Victorian Age - all this and more in the land of non-elusive Nirvana.
Do not forget to pinch yourself if the sight of tea estates from the windows of first class coach belonging to Toy Train looks too good to be true. The playing children with their parents carrying the huge basket meant for collecting delicate tea leaves might catch fancy as the wish of being there in the first place crosses mind. After all, joy is what is much looked for in a hill station as old and as amusing as Darjeeling.
By Train
The nearest Broad gauge railway station to Darjeeling is at New Jalpaiguri. Trains from all over India reach this station. Following is a list of trains which reach this station from major cities of India.
By Road
Darjeeling has a strong road network and is well connected by regular buses to neighbouring cities like Siliguri, Kurseong, Gangtok and Kalimpong.
By Air
The nearest airport to Darjeeling is Bagdogra near Siliguri, which is located at a distance of 68 km from Darjeeling. This airport is connected by regular flights to Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati.
Situated 1 km away from the town of Darjeeling, the Happy Valley Tea Garden is located on the Lebong Carter Road and provides a peaceful and relaxing getaway from the hustle and bustle of tourist-y Darjeeling
Also known as the "Toy Train", the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway plies between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling and is a narrow gauge railway.
This railway is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers beautiful views of the scenic mountains on its way to Darjeeling.
Tiger Hill
Category : Nature
Situated at an altitude of 2590 meters, Tiger Hill is located 11 km from Darjeeling and presents a spectacular view of Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga.
It is advised to go to Tiger Hill early in the morning and watch the sun rise over the mountain peaks.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
Category : Wild Life
Established in 1958, this zoo is dedicated to the memory of Padmaja Naidu, the former governor of West Bengal.
Among one of the best zoos in the country, this is one of the only zoo which raises wild wolf in captivity. The zoo is also home to endangered species like the Red Panda, Siberian Tiger and the Snow Leopard.
Dhirdham Temple
Category : Religious
Travel to any part of the Indian Sub-continent, one thing is for sure, you are going to find at least one ancient Shiv Temple every where. Located just above the Toy Train Railway Station, Dhirdham Temple is one of the most beautiful temples I have ever come across.
This colorful temple complex is the home of the most popular Hindu deity, Lord Shiva. It is one of the oldest temples in the town of Darjeeling.
Observatory Hill
Category : Nature
This place has a religious significance to both Hindus and Buddhists. The Mahakal Temple which stands on this hill, is supposed to be a personification of Lord Shiva.
The Bhutia Busty Gompa was earlier located here, before it was relocated. Hence the Observatory Hill is frequented by both Hindus and Buddhists.
St. Andrew's Church
Category : History & Culture
St Andrew's is an old Anglican church, built in 1843 and is named after the patron saint of Scotland, St. Andrew. Early worshippers at this church were Scottish soldiers and tea planters.
The church was seriously damaged in an earthquake and had to be re constructed in 1873.
Peace Pagoda
Category : History & Culture
The Japanese Peace Pagoda was constructed by a Japanese Buddhist order by the name of Nipponzan Myohoji.
.JPG "Inner Part of Peace Pagoda")
The Pagoda is located on the slopes of the Jalapahar Hill and can be reached on foot or by taxi.
Other traditional items one can pick up in Darjeeling are Tibetan masks, local jewellery items, woolen items, shawls and pashminas. Tirupathi Handloom Emporium is a good place to pick up shawls and jackets at a fixed price. Before leaving don't forget to pick up a few packets of the world famous Darjeeling tea, which can be purchased from a popular store by the name of House of Tea.
Offering an eclectic mix of local fare and international cuisines, the restaurants in Darjeeling will surprise you with the variety and taste of the food on offer. Whether it is sampling delicious cakes and sipping tea at a bakery or gorging on pasta, ravioli, lasagne, or even chicken biryani at a multi-cuisine restaurant, Darjeeling's eateries will cater to all your culinary cravings. Here are some of the best restaurants scattered around the hill town, that will give you a taste of Darjeeling's vibrant food culture.
Darjeeling - what bells does it ring - Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, exotic tea flavors, imprints of Victorian Age - all this and more in the land of non-elusive Nirvana.
Do not forget to pinch yourself if the sight of tea estates from the windows of first class coach belonging to Toy Train looks too good to be true. The playing children with their parents carrying the huge basket meant for collecting delicate tea leaves might catch fancy as the wish of being there in the first place crosses mind. After all, joy is what is much looked for in a hill station as old and as amusing as Darjeeling.
How to Reach Darjeeling
Being a popular tourist destination, Darjeeling is well connected to
other parts of the country. Here is how one can reach Darjeeling.
By Train
The nearest Broad gauge railway station to Darjeeling is at New Jalpaiguri. Trains from all over India reach this station. Following is a list of trains which reach this station from major cities of India.
From Delhi :
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From Mumbai :
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From Kolkata :
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From Chennai :
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Darjeeling has a strong road network and is well connected by regular buses to neighbouring cities like Siliguri, Kurseong, Gangtok and Kalimpong.
By Air
The nearest airport to Darjeeling is Bagdogra near Siliguri, which is located at a distance of 68 km from Darjeeling. This airport is connected by regular flights to Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati.
Best Time to Visit Darjeeling
Choose any time of the year and that will be engraved on mind
forever. Monsoons can be avoided by elderly as winters by individuals of
fragile health; otherwise the place is ideal anytime one decides to
visit.
Things to Do in Darjeeling
Darjeeling is known for trekking adventures that start from one point
and end at other but not without making visitors turned trekkers
realize that they are watching exquisiteness of Nature at its best. Some
of the well known trekking trails include Singalila Ridge, Darjeeling
to Sandakphu, Kalimpong Relli, etc, where Darjeeling might not
necessarily be the beginning or ending point. Other adventurers can look
for Mountain Biking options present in the area, a pollution-free in
addition to being challenging activity to indulge in.Places to Visit in Darjeeling
The game is on, the platform is set and the tour has been begun. Take
the way of divine in the worship places to auspiciously initiate what is
about to be a travel indelible from the memory lanes. Followed by what
is more than just an inviting tale of Nature catching hold of the minds
always on distraction spree, the anticipation is often rewarded by
'more'
Darjeeling is a travellers delight and is frequented by tourists year
after year. Apart from the pleasant weather and scenic beauty, there is a
lot to see and do in Darjeeling.
Category : Garden
Situated 1 km away from the town of Darjeeling, the Happy Valley Tea Garden is located on the Lebong Carter Road and provides a peaceful and relaxing getaway from the hustle and bustle of tourist-y Darjeeling
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Category : Fun & EntertainmentAlso known as the "Toy Train", the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway plies between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling and is a narrow gauge railway.
This railway is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers beautiful views of the scenic mountains on its way to Darjeeling.
Tiger Hill
Category : Nature
Situated at an altitude of 2590 meters, Tiger Hill is located 11 km from Darjeeling and presents a spectacular view of Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga.
It is advised to go to Tiger Hill early in the morning and watch the sun rise over the mountain peaks.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
Category : Wild Life
Established in 1958, this zoo is dedicated to the memory of Padmaja Naidu, the former governor of West Bengal.
Among one of the best zoos in the country, this is one of the only zoo which raises wild wolf in captivity. The zoo is also home to endangered species like the Red Panda, Siberian Tiger and the Snow Leopard.
Dhirdham Temple
Category : Religious
Travel to any part of the Indian Sub-continent, one thing is for sure, you are going to find at least one ancient Shiv Temple every where. Located just above the Toy Train Railway Station, Dhirdham Temple is one of the most beautiful temples I have ever come across.
This colorful temple complex is the home of the most popular Hindu deity, Lord Shiva. It is one of the oldest temples in the town of Darjeeling.
Observatory Hill
Category : Nature
This place has a religious significance to both Hindus and Buddhists. The Mahakal Temple which stands on this hill, is supposed to be a personification of Lord Shiva.
The Bhutia Busty Gompa was earlier located here, before it was relocated. Hence the Observatory Hill is frequented by both Hindus and Buddhists.
St. Andrew's Church
Category : History & Culture
St Andrew's is an old Anglican church, built in 1843 and is named after the patron saint of Scotland, St. Andrew. Early worshippers at this church were Scottish soldiers and tea planters.
The church was seriously damaged in an earthquake and had to be re constructed in 1873.
Peace Pagoda
Category : History & Culture
The Japanese Peace Pagoda was constructed by a Japanese Buddhist order by the name of Nipponzan Myohoji.
The Pagoda is located on the slopes of the Jalapahar Hill and can be reached on foot or by taxi.
Shopping in Darjeeling
There's plenty to keep shoppers happy in Darjeeling. Head to Nehru Road
and then to Chowrasta, which are dotted with shops from where you can
purchase souvenirs and gift items. Some popular local, handmade items in
Darjeeling are the Khukri, which is essentially a curved knife with a
decorative handle.Other traditional items one can pick up in Darjeeling are Tibetan masks, local jewellery items, woolen items, shawls and pashminas. Tirupathi Handloom Emporium is a good place to pick up shawls and jackets at a fixed price. Before leaving don't forget to pick up a few packets of the world famous Darjeeling tea, which can be purchased from a popular store by the name of House of Tea.
Eating out in Darjeeling
People native to Darjeeling enjoy eating rice with beef and lentils. Other popular local dishes are Momos (dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables), Thukpa (a thick soup made with meat and noodles), Gundruk (fermented mustard leaves) and Chang (local beer).Offering an eclectic mix of local fare and international cuisines, the restaurants in Darjeeling will surprise you with the variety and taste of the food on offer. Whether it is sampling delicious cakes and sipping tea at a bakery or gorging on pasta, ravioli, lasagne, or even chicken biryani at a multi-cuisine restaurant, Darjeeling's eateries will cater to all your culinary cravings. Here are some of the best restaurants scattered around the hill town, that will give you a taste of Darjeeling's vibrant food culture.
Darjeeling Restaurants
When in Darjeeling don't forget to sample the many delicious local
dishes, here are a few restaurants you can enjoy some local as well as
other interesting cuisine.
Hasty Tasty
Aptly named, this eatery is always packed with people enjoying a wide
variety of snacks and dishes from its extensive menu. Serving Indian,
Chinese and continental food at pocket-friendly prices, the vegetarian
restaurant is popular for its thalis, dosas, biryanis and spicy
north-Indian vegetables complimented by the eatery's famous lassi.
Located on Nehru Road, the eatery might look chaotic at first since it
has a self-service policy. Sip in your favourite Darjeeling
tea or order a cup of black coffee while you take in stunning views of
the surrounding valley and the bustling town from the eatery's massive
windows.
Gatty’s Cafe
With its brick walls, dim lighting and large menu board, this
multi-cuisine cafe combines spunk and warmth. Its extensive menu
includes pastas, ravioli, lasagne and French fries that can be clubbed
with a wide range coffees and desserts.
Watch a movie with your friends
in the cafe's lounge, and if you're lucky, you might witness a karaoke
or a live-music gig too. Frequented by travellers from across the globe,
Gatty's is located on Zakir Hussain Road, near Sonam's Kitchen. The
cafe also offers bikes on rent for visitors who want to explore the hill town and its nearby getaways.
Sonam’s Kitchen
A short walk uphill from the Chowrasta leads you to a tiny eatery called Sonam's Kitchen. Only serving breakfast
and dinner, the kitchen is closed in the afternoon hours. Serving
English breakfast for 13 years, the restaurant will keep you coming back
for its French toast, pancakes and the extensive morning spread.
Other
specialities include hash brown potatoes, fried eggs with roasted
tomatoes and the special ginger lemon tea. The owners here go beyond
just bringing your food to your table and also assist you with your treks and hiking plans.
Kunga Restaurant
Share your travel stories with other travellers while you enjoy the
delectable Tibetan fare at the Kunga restaurant in Darjeeling. Take a
walk on the Mall Road towards Goodricke Tea Shop and you will find Kunga
Restaurant located right beside Dekeling hotel on Gandhi Road. With its
large food
portions and affordable prices, the restaurant is packed with diners at
all times of the day.
Once here, do not step out without trying popular
dishes such as fried sausages, wanton soup, and of course, momos. The
16-year-old eatery is open from early morning till late in the night,
and is also a popular pick for its pocket-friendly breakfast spread.
Glenary’s
Popular for its baked items, tea and cakes, Glenary's is arguably the most iconic bakery
in town. Take in majestic views of the mountains while you settle in
your chair and sip your coffee or gorge on cakes and pastries.
One of
the oldest eateries in Darjeeling,
it also has a restaurant on its mezzanine floor that serves a wide
range of scrumptious dishes including continental sizzlers, beef steaks,
pork patties, chocolate eggs and tandoori snacks. If you're visiting in
winter, do not miss out on the rum balls here. A cosy ambience and
wooden flooring only enhance the experience.
Hotels in Darjeeling
Every visitor feels special once landing on a place like this,
surrounded by sheer opulence of Nature and to make it better there are
accommodations suiting to all types of budgets projected by groups /
individuals on a holiday trip to Darjeeling. The deluxe ones are
elaborate in their services as well as appearances, where as the budget
hotels will do everything to appeal individuals who are trying to make
the optimally utilize every penny in their pockets.
Budget Hotels
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2 Star Hotels
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3 Star Hotels
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4 Star Hotels
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5 Star Hotels
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Tourist Map of Darjeeling
