Darjeeling Tourism

History of Darjeeling and its Tourism

This hill town was developed in the mid-19th century when the British set up a sanatorium and a military depot in Darjeeling. Before this, Darjeeling was the ancient Gorkha capital. Later, the Maharaja of Sikkim gifted Darjeeling to the British.

Culture of Darjeeling

Darjeeling is the home of many mixed immigrants from Bhutan, Sikkim, and Nepal. As a result, you will see a unique and diverse culture. Hinduism is a major religion here. Festivals like Losar, Darjeeling Carnival, MakarSankranti, Chotrul Duchen, etc. are celebrated here.

Tourist Attractions of Darjeeling

The tourism of Darjeeling thriving rapidly due to its countless tourist attractions and sightseeing places. Some of the worth mentioning tourist attractions are:

Darjeeling Toy Train

Apart from its scenic landscape, Darjeeling is equally famous for its unique railway. A visit to the region is incomplete without a Joy Ride in the famous Darjeeling Toy Train.

The toy train is popularly known as Darjeeling Himalayan Railways or DHR. It approximately takes 8 hrs. to reach Darjeeling from Siliguri by riding the famous Toy Train.

Darjeeling Tea Gardens

The lush tea garden dotting the scenic hill station is one of the famous tourist places in Darjeeling. Surrounded by the roaring Teesta River and the Mahananda Rivers, Darjeeling provides spectacular views of the mighty Mt. Kanchenjunga.

The famous Darjeeling Tea is one of the major exports of the city along with tourism, agriculture and forestry being the major source of the Darjeeling's economy.

Darjeeling attracts a huge number of tourists each year with its pleasant climate, luxuriant tea garden, meandering rivers, grandiose waterfalls and the amazing views of the Eastern Himalayas.

Batasia Loop

Situated 5 km away from the main town of Darjeeling, Batasia Loop is a spiral railway track located in a high elevation. The War Memorial of the Batasia Loop, a scenic garden and the breathtaking view of the Mount Kanchenjunga are what attract tourist towards it.

Tiger Hill

Tiger Hill is the highest point of Darjeeling. Just 11 km away from the main town, it is situated at an elevation of 2600 meters. A mesmerizing sunrise looming over the snow-peaked Mount Kanchenjunga is what bewitches many travellers during their Darjeeling tour.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute

Established in 1954, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute encourages mountaineering as an organised sport. It has a Museum which exhibits paintings, sculptures, photographs, autographs, books and mountaineering equipment.

Mountaineering equipment of Tenzing Norgay's first expedition to Mount Everest is safely preserved here. One of the oldest Mountaineering Institute of India, HMI has captivated the minds of many travellers and increases tourism in Darjeeling.

Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park

Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park is one of the reasons for ever-increasing tourism of Darjeeling. It is the natural habitat of many endangered animals such as Red Panda, Snow Leopards, Tibetan Wolf, etc. This park is also known as Darjeeling Zoo.

Ghoom Monastery

Located 8 km away from the main town of Darjeeling, Ghoom Monastery is quite popular for offering exquisite scenic beauty. The beautifully painted construction of the monastery and the buddha statue inside are the prime attraction of it.

Darjeeling Ropeway

Having a Cable Car Ride is the best way to experience a mesmerizing panoramic view of Darjeeling. Started in 1968, the journey above this hilly terrain will offer you a beautiful of the hills, valleys and most importantly the snow-peaked mount Kanchenjunga.

The Rock Garden

Rock Garden is a splendid multi-level picnic garden in Darjeeling. Terraced around a natural fall, the rock garden offers a breathtaking view of the hill stream cascading over the rock and colourful flower gardens. Surrounded by lush greenery all around, Rock Garden is also one of the reasons for Darjeelings increasing tourism.

How to Reach Darjeeling

Darjeeling being a hill station and the official summer capital of the Kolkata is well-connected to all major towns and cities in West Bengal and the neighbouring states. The nearest airport from Darjeeling is Bagdogra Airport (IXB).

The distance between Bagdogra Airport (IXB) to Darjeeling only being 67km. Darjeeling is well-connected with all major railway stations in India through the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP) and has several trains available via Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Kochi.

Tourists can cover this distance of 72km from NJP to Darjeeling by hiring a car from NJP. Buses shared taxis and jeeps can also be availed to reach the Darjeeling from the neighbouring town of Siliguri.

Darjeeling Weather

The weather of Darjeeling stays usually cool and the summer months are quite short. Summer starts in May and ends in June.

Darjeeling Weather in March to April

March to April is the months of spring in Darjeeling. This time, the plenty of flowers blossom, the sky stays mostly clear and you can get a mesmerizing view of the Mount Kanchenjunga. During spring the temperature of Darjeeling stays between 5 degrees to 16 degrees Celsius.

Darjeeling Weather in May to July

May, June and July is the month of summer in Darjeeling. The weather of summer stays quite pleasant and charming. This time the temperature ranges between 10 degrees to 18 degrees Celsius.

Darjeeling Weather in June to September

June, August and September are the Months of Monsoon in Darjeeling. This time the weather stays foggy and the sky stays foggy. You can barely see a clear sky during these months in Darjeeling.

Darjeeling Weather from October to November

The season of Autumn starts from October to November in Darjeeling. The weather again becomes charming and the fogginess fades away. The temperature stays between 7°C to 18°C. During these months, the tourism thrives in Darjeeling and the tourists prefer it as the best time to visit Darjeeling.

Darjeeling Weather in December to February

December, January and February are the months of winter in Darjeeling. During these months, the weather becomes too cold. The temperature goes down to 2 degrees or lowers than that. People usually come here to celebrate Christmas this time.

Best Time to Visit Darjeeling

The weather in Darjeeling constantly stays cool with frequent showers due to the region's proximity with the Bay of Bengal. Every season has its own charm to relish in Darjeeling.

But if tourists want to catch the unhindered view of Mt. Kanchenjunga, October to December is the best time to visit Darjeeling. Apart from witnessing the amazing view of snow-capped Mt. Kanchenjunga during this time of the month, tourists also get to enjoy the soothing weather of Darjeeling before the harsh winter engulf this serene hill station of North Bengal Region.

Things to Do in Darjeeling

Darjeeling, being one of the oldest hill stations in India is always tourists' first choice. Darjeeling is not about just scenic attractions as there are plenty of activities you can do in Darjeeling.

Toy Train Ride in Darjeeling

Darjeeling tour looks pale if you don't have a ride on the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. You can have a fascinating journey towards Darjeeling from Siliguri which enjoying the scenic vista of the Mountain Peaks.

Darjeeling Ropeway Ride

Darjeeling Ropeway Ride will be of the thrilling activities to do in Darjeeling. The Darjeeling Ropeway ticket price or fare is now rs 200 and the timings are from 10 am to 4 pm.

River Rafting in Darjeeling

White water river rafting is an adventurous sport to do in the Queen of Hills. Feel the adrenaline rush in you while riding on the rapids of River Teesta.

Shopping in Darjeeling

Shopping is one of the memorable things to do in Darjeeling. Roam around the shopping malls of Darjeeling and also the famous local markets. There are plenty of things to buy in these markets and shopping malls. Some of the renowned malls and markets are Chowk Bazar, The Mall Road, The Rink Mall, Ghoom Monastery Bazar, Teesta Bazar, Batasia Loop Market, Nehru Road, etc.

Trekking in Darjeeling

Darjeeling trekking is an intense activity to do in this city. There are many trekking places such as Tonglu Trek, Sandakphu Trek, Singalila Trek, Phalut Trek, etc. Trek through the hilly terrains of the city and discover many less trodden destinations.

Accommodation in Darjeeling

There are plenty of accommodation options available in Darjeeling. If your budget is tight, you will find plenty of cheap hotels in Darjeeling. But, if your budget is quite high, you can also choose a suitable one from many luxury or deluxe hotels.

However, with North Bengal Tourism's Hotel Booking service, you can quite conveniently book a cheap, budget or luxury hotels.

Darjeeling Famous Food

Darjeeling is a home of diverse cultures and also known to be a multi-racial region. Due to its diverse cultural mix, Darjeeling offers a mouthwatering cuisine. Some of the famous foods are mentioned below.

• Thukpa: Darjeeling is also known for its delicious foods and Thukpa is one of them. It is a traditional Tibetan meat soup dish made with spring onions and chopped coriander.
• Momo: Momo is a Chinese-Tibetan steamed dish made with meat or vegetable.
• Kwati: Kwati is a delicious dish of Gorkha people made by boiling various beans with masalas. It is a craving dish you should try.
• Sekuwa: Sekuwa is barbecued meat of lamb, chicken, pork, mutton or beef. This mouth-watering dish will be undoubtedly a treat to your taste buds.
• Pork Curry: Pork curry is a delicious cuisine in Darjeeling made by cooking pork with oil and spices.
• Kheer: Kheer is another tasty food in Darjeeling.
• Phambi: Phambi is a delicious cuisine of Mung Beans. You should try it while having a tour to Darjeeling.
• Chicken Curry: Chicken Curry is a mouth-craving food you should try in Darjeeling.

Places to Visit near Darjeeling

Darjeeling is not the only preferable place for tourists as you can visit other nearby tourist destinations near it. Most of the holiday-makers first visit Darjeeling and include other nearby places to have a memorable holiday. Here are some of the places to visit near Darjeeling as mentioned below.

Kurseung

Located just 30 km away from the main town of Darjeeling, Kurseung is a breathtaking tourist destination. Replete with many splendid waterfalls, Buddhist Gombas and lush green forest, Kureseung never disappoints its visitors.

Gangtok

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim is another must-visit tourist destination near Darjeeling. This town's MG Mark, Rumtek Monastery and the spectacular view of Kanchenjunga offering captivate many travellers towards it.

Kalimpong

Just 51 km away from the main town of Darjeeling, Kalimpong is a renowned hill station in the state of West Bengal. The mesmerizing view of the astounding mountains, Buddhist Monasteries and ancient architectures such as Morgan Houses make Kalimpong a worth-visiting Tourist Destination.

Mirik

Mirik is one of the beautiful tourist places near Darjeeling. Just 59 km away from Darjeeling, it looks like a piece of paradise in Earth. The serene Mirik Lake, the crowded Pasupati Market and Orange Orchards are some of the few things to see in Mirik.

South Sikkim

South Sikkim is known for offering many less trodden destinations. Sited amidst the lush green forest and astounding hills, South Sikkim is the place for those who seek tranquillity. Namchi and Ravangla are two of the popular offbeat destinations here.

North Sikkim

If you fall under those who seek adventure amidst the serenity of nature, North Sikkim is the site for you. Just 119 km away from Darjeeling, North Sikkim is far from the bustling crowd of city life. You are undoubtedly going to love the tranquility of Gurudongmar Lake, Lachung and Yumthang Valley of North Sikkim.

Reasons to Visit Darjeeling with North Bengal Tourism

As you can see, Darjeeling with its thriving tourism, astounding hills, scenically blessed places, delicious cuisines and the mesmerizing view of the Mount Kanchenjunga never disappoints its visitors.

So, explore Darjeeling with North Bengal Tourism without worrying about accommodation, cars and meals. Explore and enjoy the serenity of Darjeeling with your loved ones after choosing a tailor-made Darjeeling Tour Package from North Bengal Tourism.