THE QUEEN OF THE HILLS
Draped over a steep mountain ridge, surrounded by tea plantations and backed by splendid Himalayan panorama, the archetypal hill station of Darjeeling is rightly West Bengal's premier draw card. The development of the town dates back to the mid 19th Century when the colonial British administration set up sanatorium and a military depot. Subsequently, extensive tea plantations was done in the region, and tea growers developed hybrids of Black tea and created fermentation techniques. Darjeeling tea is Internationally recognized and ranks among the most popular of the Black Teas. When you aren't gazing at Kanchendzonga (8598m), you can explore Colonial mansions and Churches, Buddhist and Hindu temples, botanical gardens and a Zoo for Himalayan fauna. The steep narrow streets are crowded with colorful souvenir and handicraft shops, and a good steaming brew and excellent Indian and Tibetan fare are never far away. For the adventurous there are superb treks which trace ancient trade routes and provide magnificent viewpoints.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: March - May
October - November
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, known affectionately as the toy train, made it's first journey along its 2 ft wide tracks in September 1881 and is one of the few Hill railways still operating in India. It's even listed as a world Heritage site. Besides it's regular diesel service to/from New Jalpaiguri(non operating these days) and steam service to/from Kurseong, there are joy rides that leave at an interval of every 2-3 hours to Ghoom.
HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINEERING INSTITUTE:
Tucked away within the grounds of the zoological park, this prestigious mountaineering institute was founded in 1954 and has provided training for some of Indai's leading mountaineers. Within the complex is the facinating Everest Museum, which traces the history of attempts to the world's highest peak.
LLOYD BOTANICAL GARDEN:
These pleasant gardens contain an impressive collection of Himalayan Plants, most famously Orchids and Rhododendrons as well as temperate trees from around the world. Follow the signs along Lochnager Rd from the Chowk bazaar bus/jeep station.
HAPPY VALLEY TEA ESTATE:
Happy Valley tea estate, below Hill cart road, is worth visiting when the plucking and processing are in progress. March to May is the busiest time, but occasional plucking also occurs from June to November.
BHUTIA BUSTY GOMPA:
Probably the most scenic is Bhutia Busty Gompa, with Kanchendzonga providing a spectacular backdrop. It originally stood on Observatory Hill, but was rebuilt in its present location by the Chogyals in Sikkim in the 19th century. The Gompa houses a fine gold-accented mural and the original copy of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, but permission is required to see it.
OBSERVATORY HILL:
Observatory hill is a hill near chowrasta square, or the Mall as it is popularly known in Darjeeling. Magnificient views of snow clad peaks including Mt. Kanchendzonga are visible from the Observatory Hill. The Bhutia Busty monastery was originally located here. Now the Hills have the temple of Mahakala.
JAPANESE TEMPLE & PEACE PAGODA:
Peace Pagoda, Darjeeling is one of the peace Pagoda designed to provide a focus for people of all races and creeds to help unite them in their search for world peace. Like most of the peace pagodas, it was built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii (1885-1985), a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist order.
PADMAJANAIDU HIMALAYAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK:
This zoo, one of India's best, was established in 1958 to study, conserve and preserve the himalayan fauna. Housed with the rocky and forested environment is India's only collection of Siberian tigers, as well as Himalayan black bears, red pandas, snow leopards and Tibetan wolves.
TIGER HILL:
To set your eyes on a spectacular 250 km stretch of Himalayan horizon, including Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8501m), Makalu (8475m), Kanchendzonga (8586m), Kabru (6691m) and Janu (7710m), rise early and get to Tiger Hill, 11km south of Darjeeling, above Ghoom.
YIGA CHOLING GOMPA:
Yiga Choling Gompa, the regions most famous monastery, has wonderful old murals and is home to the monks of the Yellow Hat sect. Built in 1850, it enshrines a 5 m high statue of the Maitreya Buddha (Future Buddha) and 300 beautifully bound Tibetan texts. It's just west of Ghoom, about a 10- minute walk off Hill Cart Road.
TRAIN STATION:
Book tickets for the darjeeling Himalyan railway at the train station at least a day in advance.
Call us:
BEST TIME TO VISIT: March - May
October - November
Places of Interest
DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY:
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, known affectionately as the toy train, made it's first journey along its 2 ft wide tracks in September 1881 and is one of the few Hill railways still operating in India. It's even listed as a world Heritage site. Besides it's regular diesel service to/from New Jalpaiguri(non operating these days) and steam service to/from Kurseong, there are joy rides that leave at an interval of every 2-3 hours to Ghoom.HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINEERING INSTITUTE:Tucked away within the grounds of the zoological park, this prestigious mountaineering institute was founded in 1954 and has provided training for some of Indai's leading mountaineers. Within the complex is the facinating Everest Museum, which traces the history of attempts to the world's highest peak.
LLOYD BOTANICAL GARDEN:These pleasant gardens contain an impressive collection of Himalayan Plants, most famously Orchids and Rhododendrons as well as temperate trees from around the world. Follow the signs along Lochnager Rd from the Chowk bazaar bus/jeep station.
HAPPY VALLEY TEA ESTATE:Happy Valley tea estate, below Hill cart road, is worth visiting when the plucking and processing are in progress. March to May is the busiest time, but occasional plucking also occurs from June to November.
BHUTIA BUSTY GOMPA:
OBSERVATORY HILL:
Observatory hill is a hill near chowrasta square, or the Mall as it is popularly known in Darjeeling. Magnificient views of snow clad peaks including Mt. Kanchendzonga are visible from the Observatory Hill. The Bhutia Busty monastery was originally located here. Now the Hills have the temple of Mahakala. JAPANESE TEMPLE & PEACE PAGODA:Peace Pagoda, Darjeeling is one of the peace Pagoda designed to provide a focus for people of all races and creeds to help unite them in their search for world peace. Like most of the peace pagodas, it was built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii (1885-1985), a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist order.
PADMAJANAIDU HIMALAYAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK:
This zoo, one of India's best, was established in 1958 to study, conserve and preserve the himalayan fauna. Housed with the rocky and forested environment is India's only collection of Siberian tigers, as well as Himalayan black bears, red pandas, snow leopards and Tibetan wolves.TIGER HILL:
To set your eyes on a spectacular 250 km stretch of Himalayan horizon, including Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8501m), Makalu (8475m), Kanchendzonga (8586m), Kabru (6691m) and Janu (7710m), rise early and get to Tiger Hill, 11km south of Darjeeling, above Ghoom.YIGA CHOLING GOMPA:
Yiga Choling Gompa, the regions most famous monastery, has wonderful old murals and is home to the monks of the Yellow Hat sect. Built in 1850, it enshrines a 5 m high statue of the Maitreya Buddha (Future Buddha) and 300 beautifully bound Tibetan texts. It's just west of Ghoom, about a 10- minute walk off Hill Cart Road.TRAIN STATION:
Book tickets for the darjeeling Himalyan railway at the train station at least a day in advance.
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