Darjeeling

Queen of Hills

The clouds playing hide and seek, the mighty Mt Kanchenjunga as a backdrop, the cobalt sky as the roof, yes, you guessed it right, welcome to the 'Queen of Hills' Darjeeling. Also known as a Himalayan city, Darjeeling is located in the northern part of West Bengal. Adorned with natural beauty, there are plethoras of mesmerising features that make Darjeeling a favourable spot to unwind and dig into lustrous experiences. The impressive view of Mt Kanchenjunga, house to UNESCO heritage site the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and not to forget the tea industries are few of the jewels making Darjeeling an acclaimed destination in the domestic as well as in the international market. Buddhist monasteries with exemplary architecture and spiritual messages embodied on puts an end to your spiritual search. For adventure ardent, numerous options are available offering a breathtaking view of Mt Everest and the entire mountain ranges..

See All Tour

History

Darjeeling has been in the limelight since the British Colonial reign and has been the summer residence of the colonial. The history of this Himalayan city is very intriguing, and slowly and gradually the cultivation of tea started in the region later became the major highlight. The Indian and British elites built resorts, railway, and schools in Darjeeling, which is present to date and exhibit stellar examples of European architecture.

Handicrafts

Darjeeling is a well-known tourist spot and is famous for a range of handicrafts such as wood and bamboo work, metal artifacts, jewellery, paintings, carpets, and woollen garments. The imprints on the handicrafts showcase Gorkha, Tibetan, and Lepcha culture.

Shopping

Darjeeling Tea is undoubtedly a must-buy, but there are more to grab your hands on from Tibetan handicrafts, Pashmina shawls are few amongst the long shopping list. The must-visit shopping locations are Nehru Road leading to Chowrasta, Mahakal market, or Dragon market.

Cuisine

Exploring food and culture adds an extra dimension to your travel. With the burgeoning of tourism in the Queen of Hills, many multi-cuisine restaurants have come up with delivering the best menu. Due to the mix of cultures, a lot of diversity can be found in the food. Some of the major food to try in Darjeeling are Momos, Thukpa, Traditional Nepali Thali, Dalle (hill pickles), Kakra ko Achar and Kinema (prepared of julienne cucumbers and can be taken as a salad or pickle), Naga Cuisine, Churpee, Shaphalay (a Tibetan bread which is stuffed with meat), Gundruk, Darjeeling Tea, Chaang (local brew like beer).

Places to Visit

Tiger Hill

Sight the mesmerising sunrise and sunset with a perfect view of Kanchenjunga Range.

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park

Known for conservation breeding programme of Red Panda, Snow Leopards, Tibetan Wolf, and other endangered animals of Eastern Himalaya.

Ghoom Monastery

Holds the statue of 15 feet high Maitreya Buddha, stands for 'The Buddha to come back'.

Bhutia Busty Gompa

Houses many rare Buddhist sculptures and relics, one amongst them is 'The Tibetan Book of Dead'.

Japanese Peace Pagoda

A symbol of peace and prosperity showcases the four avatars of Buddha.

Batasia Loop

The spiral railway with a memorial of Gorkha soldier and a beautiful garden.

Observatory Hill

Observe the panoramic view of the mountains.

Things To Do

Trekking

Tea Tasting

Paragliding

Joy Ride

Pony Riding

Paragliding

Joy Ride

Pony Riding

Useful Information

Area

3,149 square km
Altitude

6710 Feet
Temperature

Annual Mean Max. Temperature 14.9 Degree Celsius Annual Mean Min. Temperature 8.9 Degree Celsius
Best season

March to mid June & October to December
Clothing required

Light woollens and tropical in summer (umbrellas and raincoats are useful) and heavy woollens in winter
Languages Spoken

Hindi, Gorkha, Bengali, Nepali, Tibetan, and English
Nearest Railway Station

Darjeeling (Narrow Gauge) & NJP (Broad Gauge)
Nearest Airport

Bagdogra Airport