Tour to Darjeeling

A Veritable Paradise - Darjeeling

Darjeeling was a part of the independent kingdom of Sikkim. It consists of thousands of people belonging to different creeds and races. It is a place renowned for its hills, monasteries, toy trains, parks, etc. If you travel to Darjeeling you can experience the magic of the land.

Getting to Darjeeling

Darjeeling is well connected to Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and all of its surrounding hills. However, the major access to Darjeeling is via Siliguri which is again connected to all the major cities. This makes the travel to Darjeeling easy for tourists. You can even travel to Kolkata from Darjeeling.

History of Darjeeling

Darjeeling has a history of its own. It was in the year 1814 that the British East India Company involved in the war between the Nepalese and Sikkimese. The Nepalese were repulsed in the war that was fought. As a result the king of Sikkim was reinstated in possession of his kingdom. At this point of time Sikkim, including Darjeeling became a buffer state between Nepal and Bhutan.

How to Reach Darjeeling by Air

You can travel to Darjeeling by taking the rail route or by a car or taxi. The nearest airport to Darjeeling is Bagdogra which is about 94-96 kms away from it. There are direct flights to Darjeeling from Delhi, Calcutta and Guwahati.

How to Reach Darjeeling by Road

Besides, tourists can take direct taxis/cabs to Darjeeling from Bagdogra. You can also come to Siliguri first and then travel to Darjeeling as there is the facility of transport from here. You can reserve a taxi or choose to go by paying per head which is around Rs. 80 from the bus stop.

How to Reach Darjeeling by Rail

The nearest railway station of Darjeeling is New Jalpaiguri (NJP). Darjeeling has direct railway connections with Calcutta, Delhi, Guwahati, Varanasi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and other major cities of India. Taxis are available from NJP. One can even opt for an auto-rickshaw or rickshaw up to Siliguri and then proceed to Darjeeling. Thus, the major access to Darjeeling is via Siliguri which is connected to all the major cities.

Tourist Attractions in Darjeeling

Once you travel to Darjeeling, you cannot miss its various attractions. Tiger Hill is the most favored site which nobody misses. It is situated at an altitude of 2590 meters (8482 ft.) and is 15 kms. from Darjeeling town. A trip to the Tiger Hill bets to be a unique experience. Watching the sunrise from the Himalayan range is a must. The Observatory Hill also commands magnificent view. It has great religious importance as a revered temple complex for both the Hindus and the Buddhists. Tour to Darjeeling

The Toy Train is part of the fun when you travel to Darjeeling. The toy train is an original steam engine. The loops and the zigzags along the route are remarkable feats of engineering. A ride in the toy train is quite a pleasant experience.

You should also visit the Batasia Loop and the War Memorial. It is about 5 kms. from Darjeeling. This war memorial was built in the memory of the soldiers of Darjeeling who died for the country since Independence in 1947.

While in Darjeeling a visit to a Tea Garden is mandatory. You can buy tea from here as some of the Tea Gardens sell their packet teas. There are about 70 tea gardens in this hill region. The most accessible one is the Happy Valley Tea Estate.

Moreover, Darjeeling is also a place of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. The oldest one is called the Yiga Cholling Monastery which is situated about 8 kms. from the town at Ghoom. It portrays an image of 'the Coming Buddha' or the Maitriya Buddha. You must also go to the Japanese Peace Pagoda. The Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist inaugurated the Japanese Peace Pagoda in 1992. The Dhirdham Temple which is another unique architectural example is a structural replica of the famous 'Pashupatinath' temple of Kathmandu, Nepal.

When you travel to Darjeeling do not forget to go to the Mall road and Chowrasta. These are good places to sit and relax and for leisurely walks. At this time make sure that you visit the Natural History Museum. This museum exhibits a unique collection of the fauna of the Himalayan region especially of the Eastern Himalayas. Visit must also be made to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute which was founded in 1954 when Tenzing Norgay (Sherpa) from Darjeeling and Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand laid their foot on the Himalayas.

Do not miss the Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway. This Ropeway is one of the most beautiful parts of the town. It is situated at North Point about 3 kms. from the town. The cable car ride is the fun element of your travel to Darjeeling.

Flora and Fauna in Darjeeling

Travel to Darjeeling must also include trips to the Himalayan Zoological Park and Snow Leopard Breeding Center. These parks home the Siberian Tiger, Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer etc. It is a treat for all wild life enthusiasts. Lloyds Botanical Garden must be a part of the itinerary. It has a varied collection of rhododendron, magnolia, orchids, etc. of the Eastern Himalayas.

Handicrafts in Darjeeling

Witness carpet weaving at the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center. It is ideal for people who like to see and buy items of handicrafts. It promotes Tibetan handicrafts and Tibetan woolen carpet is very popular here. The Hayden Hall which is a Roman Catholic social service center also has a handicraft section. It helps the poor people. In Darjeeling, certain handmade items are also available for sale at reasonable prices. The Manjusha Bengal Emporium offers prominent hill handicrafts, handloom and silk products of West Bengal for display and for sale. It is situated at Nehru Road. Gram Shilpa is another showroom that displays Khadi handloom. For the art lovers there is Ava Art Gallery that houses fine art and embroidery work of Mrs. Ava Devi.

TSI Holidays.com offers online information on Travel to Darjeeling.