Darjeeling - Hill Station

There is nowhere quite a place like Darjeeling "Queen of hills" which nature has chosen with care and blessed it with beauty and lush greenery of the tea garden. It is far from the maddening crowds of the metros.There is no finer place than Darjeeling to steep yourself in the grandeur and beauty of the towering snow-capped mountains. Its a fascinating place where you can see Buddhist monasteries, visit a tea plantation and see how the tea is processed, spend days for bargains in colorful markets and handicraft shops or go trekking to high altitude spots near the border with Sikkim. There is lovely verdure everywhere fir and pines. The views over the mountains to the snowy peaks of the Kanchenjunga and down to the swollen rivers in the valley bottom are magnificent.

Straddling a ridge at an altitude of over 2100m (6890ft) in the far north of West BengalDarjeeling has been very popular hill station, Darjeeling has been a favourite hill station of the British since they established it as an R 'n' R centre for their troops in the mid-1800s.

Darjeeling has some of the lovely tea plantations (estates) in the country. One can travel these plantations and watch tea being processed. Darjeeling is a place where one feels as if being in the lap of mother nature.Due to the vast and abundance of natural splendour Darjeeling is called queens of hill stations. Darjeeling is also a trekkers paradise and the Gorkha hill council has provided ample trekking facilities for the adventure loving people.

The Darjeeling toy train coming from Siliguri is some thing which is liked by the elders and the children equally. The real fun in coming to Darjeeling is on the toy train. Darjeeling toy train takes six to seven hours to cover a distance of 82 kms and the slow speed gives you enough time to watch and appreciate the beauty which nature has provided it. This toy train passes through the Forests, waterfalls, over deep valleys and through the mountains and tunnels.

MUST SEE:
Tiger Hill: Tiger hills is the highest point (altitude2,590 m)in the area which provides the most exotic view of the Kanchenjunga peaks. From this place the other peaks of the Eastern Himalayas can be seen. On a clear day the sight of Mt.Everest is just enthralling.

Natural History Museum: The museum has a collection of over 4300 specimen . Established in 1903, this natural history museum packs in its folds a rich collection of fauna found in the Himalayas and in Bengal. Among the attractions are included the estuarine crocodiles. This unique museum also has a good collection of butterflies. The mineral forms of various stones are displayed in a very attractive manner in the museum.

Senchal Lake: A scenic place near the tiger hills. This place has popularly come up as a picnic spot among the tourists. The lake supplies drinking water to the town of Darjeeling.

Kanchenjunga View: From Darjeeling one can have the best, uninterrupted view of the worlds third highest peak. Bhan Bhakta Sarani provides one of the enthralling views of these snow capped peaks. The Chowrasta also gives you a good sight to the Kanchenjunga peak.

Passenger Ropeway: The Darjeeling - Rangeet valley passenger ropeway is situated at North Point which is 3 km from the town. This is the first passenger rope way in India. It is 8 km long and offers scenic views. A return trip is Rs 45 and the trip takes an hour. The ropeway is exciting and unique for any one visiting Darjeeling.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute: The institute runs courses for training mountaineers as well as has the very good collection of mountaineering equipments which have been used in various mountaineering expeditions and other wise. Specimens of Himalayan flora and fauna are also kept here. The record of attempts made to conquer Mt. Everest has been kept in the Mt.Everest Museum. The institute also screens short films on mountaineering. You can also view the Himalayan peaks through the Zeiss Telescope given to the Nepalese Maharaja by Hitler. Sherpa Tenzing Norgay was the Director of this institute for many years and he was cremated near the institute after his death in 1986.

Observatory Hill: This point marks the spot where the monastery of Dorje Ling once stood from where Darjeeling gets its name. There's a shrine to Mahakala, an incarnation of Shiva for Hindus, and an incarnation of Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) for Buddhists. The latter established Buddhism in Tibet and founded the Nyingmapa order. There are good views of the mountains as well.

Zoological Park: The zoo is situated two kms form the main town. This zoological garden of Darjeeling houses some of the rare species of animals and birds. This is only zoo in India having the Siberian Tigers. Apart from these the rare Red Panda is also there. The Snow Leopards, Great Grey Birds, Snow Yaks are some the animals which are attracting tourist in great numbers.

Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Center: In 1959 was established a center for the refuges who had fled Tibet with the Dalai Lama after the Chinese invasion. This self help center has been developed as workshop for the manufacture of handicrafts. The fine and superb carpets, woollens, woodcarvings and leather work form this center has been very popular among the tourists. The money collected after the sale of the products goes to the Tibetans who work here. This center has established it self in the International scenario as place for hard work, self esteem and truth.

NEAR BY DESTINATIONS:
Siliguri- 72 kms. Calcutta - 654 kms.
Guwahati - 513 kms. Bagdogra - 10 kms.
Kalimpong - 150 kms. Mirik - 134 km.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Mid September to mid December and resumes from mid March to mid June.

THE WAY TO DARJEELING:
By Air: Nearest airport is Bagdogra connects Calcutta, Delhi, Guwahati.Bagdogra is 10 kms from Siliguri and is an important military installation. From Bagdogra one can take a bus or taxi to Darjeeling.

By Rail: Nearest railhead is New Jalpaiguri, Toy train runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling.Darjeeling has a railway station but only the toy train from Jalpaiguri and New Jalpaiguri comes here. The major trains connecting the place with all the major places in India come to Jalpaiguri or New Jalpaiguri. From here again you have to take the toy train or a bus or taxi to Darjeeling.

By Road: Bagdogra 90 kms, New Jalpaiguri 90 kms, Gangtok 110 kms.The place is well connected by roads. The state transports run buses from Calcutta and other nearby places. The private operators also have their buses and the fair does not vary much in the state or in the private buses.

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