Darjeeling - Hill Station in India

Darjeeling is a famous hill resort offering a breathtaking sight of the numerous peaks of the majestic Himalayas. The view of Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest are particularly awe inspiring. The luxuriant vegetation is a plant lover's paradise. The finest blend of tea comes from various tea gardens of this region. The Buddhist Monasteries and the Hindu temples found here are of architectural and cultural importance. The lofty mountainous terrain and cascading rivers,offer adventure sports like trekking,mountaineering and river rafting.

The name Darjeeling is a composition of 'dorje' meaning 'thunderbolt' and 'ling' meaning 'place' ... 'the Land of Thunderbolt'. It is perched at 2134 m directly opposite the massif of Kanchenjunga. At 8586 metres,this is the world's third highest mountain and India's highest and is surrounded by tea plantations on all sides.

Jawhar Parbat (formerly Birds Hill): It was planted by a former British Governor and is behind the Raj Bhavan (Governor's residence),northwest of the town square. From here you will get a magnificent view of Mount Kanchenjunga and Singla Valleys.
Batasia Loop:This railway loop is an interesting example of engineering. At this loop the toy train takes a very unique turn. This loop is just five kilometer from the main town of Darjeeling.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park: Located adjacent to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. It is a high altitude wild life park and a new home for the Siberian Tiger,Himalayan Black Deer,Deer Panda,Llama and birds. It is open from 8 am to 4 pm.
Bhutia Busty Gompa:With the back drop of the Kanchenjunga range stands a monastery called the Bhutia Busty Gompa. This monastery was shifted from the observatory hills to the present place. The Gompa is a branch of the Nyingmapa sect's Phodang Monastery in Sikkim. The monastery is not far from the chowrasta and is very tastefully decorated. It also has a library which has a copy of the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Lloyds Botanical Garden: It is a colourful garden situated just below the market motor stand. It contains a representative collection of Himalayan plants,flowers,orchids,etc. The hot houses are well worth a visit. Timings: 6 am to 5 pm.
Dhirdam Temple: Situated just below the railway station,it is built on the style of the famous "Pasupatinath" temple of Kathmandu(Nepal).
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 Another tourist attraction in Darjeeling has been the ropeway. This was the first ropeway in India. It connects the North point (7000 ft) to the Singla Bazaar (800 ft). The rope covers a distance of 8 kms in 45 minutes. The seats in the rope way is limited and it is better to get the tickets in advance. The ropeway is exciting and unique for any one visiting Darjeeling.


The Mall: This is an important meeting point for all tourists. Restaurants,Cafeterias,and shops full of woollen goods and curios are the main attraction. The view of Kanchenjunga is marvellous from here.

Travel Information:

• By Air: The nearest airport is at Bagdogra,90 km away from Darjeeling. Bagdogra is connected to important cities of the country by domestic airlines.
• By Rail: A number of express trains also provide direct connections with new Jalpaiguri and Siliguri from Delhi and Kolkata.
• By Road: There are bus connections to Darjeeling from Siliguri,Bagdogra,Gangtok,Kurseong and Kathmandu.