| GENERAL TRAVEL INFORMATION |
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INTRODUCTION
Darjeeling “The Queen of the hill” is a unique as it is diverse. For travellers arriving from the Indian plains, the cool climes of Darjeeling provide welcome relief and delightful experiences around every corner.Situated at an average height of 7000 feet above sea level, this beautiful town with its colonial charm and contemporary culture shelters in the shadow of Kanchendzonga’s snow covered peaks.This magnificent mountain range is also know as “The Five Treasures of the Snows” in Tibetan on account of five peaks.
Darjeeling is the quintessential hill station, Where past and present happily mingle amidst a diverse and welcoming local populace that mixes easily with lowlanders and foreigners alike.
Darjeeling is virtually defined by tea, tourism and the Toy Train and boarding schools of the highest repute. With Mount. Kanchendzonga towering over the town, Darjeeling remains lively and lovely place where one is transported in a whirl of clouds to a world truly apart.
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| A BRIEF HISTORY
The name ‘Darjeeling’ Darjeeling derives from the Tibetan words Dorje, meaning ‘Thunderbolt and ling, meaning ‘place’ or ‘land ‘ which make it “the land of the thunderbolt”. This was once the name of a Buddhist monastery situated on top of What is now known as Observatory Hill, a name Which over time came to refer to the whole surrounding area.
Looking at Darjeeling’s bustling streets today, it’s hard to imagine that in 1839 there were not more than 20 families in the district. Darjeeling has Dr. Campbell, A British official who become the station Superintendent, to thank for his 22 years of devotion to developing the region at that time . From these humble beginnings, Darjeeling has today grown into one of India’s premier hill stations, visited by tourists from across India and from all over the world. |
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LOCATION :
27 Deg. 13 Min. N to 26 Deg. 27 Min. N Latitude
88 Deg. 53 Min. E to 87 Deg. 59 Min. E Longitude
AREA: 3,149 Square Km.
ALTITUDE : 6810 Feet.
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TEMPERATURE:
Annual Mean Max. Temperature 14.9 Degree Celsius.
Annual Mean Min. Temperature 8.9 Degree Celsius
RAINFALL :
Average Annual Rainfall : 3092 MM.
BEST SEASON TO VISIT:
March to mid June & October to December. |
| LANGUAGE SPOKEN:
Hindi, Nepali / Gorkha, Bengali, Tibetan and English.
NEAREST RAILWAY STATION:
New Jalpaiguri Station (Broad Gauge) 85 away from Darjeeling
NEAREST AIRPORT:
Bagdogra airport 90 away from Darjeeling |
| CLOTHING REQUIRED:
Light woollens and tropicals in summer (umbrellas and raincoats are useful) and heavy woollens in winter.
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| IMPORTANT ROADS:
Siliguri-Mirik -Ghum -60 kms.
Sevak-Tista bridge –Kalimpong -60 kms.
Tista Bazar to Darjeeling -25 kms.
Sukna- Pankhabari-Kurseong -25 kms.
Siliguri Darjeeling NH 55 -76 kms |
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| Darjeeling is a town in India’s West Bengal state, in the Himalayan foothills. Once a summer resort for the British Raj elite, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, or “Toy Train,” completed in 1881. It’s famed for the distinctive black tea grown on plantations that dot its surrounding slopes. Its backdrop is Mt. Kanchendzonga, among the world’s highest peaks.
Darjeeling mainly famous for so many “T’s” means Tea, Tourism, Toy Train, Timber etc. it’s arguably West Bengal’s premier attraction, and promises some interesting exploration for the curious traveller. When you aren’t gazing open-mouthed at Khangchendzonga, you can explore colonial-era architecture, visit Buddhist monasteries, and spot snow leopards and red pandas at the nearby zoo. On the steep and bustling streets winding through town, you can lose yourself amid an array of Himalayan faces from Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet. And finally, when energies start to flag, a good, steaming Darjeeling brew is never far away.
Most tourists visit Darjeeling in autumn (October and November) and spring (mid-March to mid-May) when skies are dry, panoramas are clear and temperatures are pleasant. Winters can be cold here, so bring an extra jumper if visiting from December to February. The rainy months (June to September) can be extremely wet and are best avoided.
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| Tiger Hill
“If one does not wake up to see the sunrise at Tiger Hill the tour will remain incomplete” Tiger Hill (2590 m) is 13 km away from Darjeeling town and commands one of the most spectacular views. It is here that one encounters nature at its magnificent beauty. Four of the World’s highest mountains above 8000 m high towering over us at an incredibly close distance present a sight one can never forget. The contrast between Everest and Kanchendzonga is very much marked. Kanchendzonga is remarkable for its imposing bulk and massive proportions while Everest soaring above a series of valleys and ridges, is more graceful and majestic, snowy ranges of Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal are visible but the panorama is completely dominated by the Kanchendzonga and its neighboring peaks. The Change in the colour of the mountains as the sun rises is main attraction in Tiger Hill. |
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| ” Yiga Choling Monastery “Ghoom Monastery
Built in 1875 by Lama Sherab Gyatso, this ancient monastery is said to have been blessed by the renowned Tomo Geshe Rimpoche of Tibet. The specialty of this monastery is that, it contains the statue of the “Future Coming Buddha” known as Maitreye Buddha. The Monastery has also preserved some of the rare handwritten Buddhist manuscripts. You could visit the monastery on your return journey to Darjeeling from Tiger Hill. |
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| Batasia Loop “War Memorial”
The heritage Toy Train makes a 360 degree turn at this gigantic railways loop almost 5 kilometers from Darjeeling Town. Built to help the steam train negotiate the steep terrain, Batasia Loop is strategically located to offer a panoramic view of the Kanchendzonga Range. Within the Loop lies a War memorial that commemorates the brave souls who sacrificed their lives in India’s various wars since 1947. Adjacent to the memorial is a local market where tourists can buy purses, bags and other decorative items. |
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| Chowrasta
Chowrasta in Nepali means a place where four roads meet. The promenade is also popularly known as the ‘Mall”. Situated on the upper ridge of the town Chowrasta truly reflects the charm of this hill station. One will invariably finds locals relaxing on the benches, gossiping and lazing around the square. A walk around the Mall road provides you a panoramic view of the glistening Kanchendzonga towering over the rolling mountains. The roads leading to Chowrasta are dotted with glittering shops filled with garments, curios & local handicrafts, information centre, studios, cafes and restaurants and also an arena for pony rides. |
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| Observatory Hill
Also known to the locals as “Holy Hills”, it is just a few minutes walk from Chowrasta and is situated on the highest ridge of the town. The Mahakal temple atop the hill is a revered place for the locals and tourists will be surprised to find a Hindu priest and a Buddhist monk sharing a common altar. Local peoples visit this temple once in a year to pray for their families happiness and prosperity. |
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| Japanese Peace Pagoda
The Japanese Peace Pagoda was established by followers of the Nipponzan Myohoji a Japanese Buddhist order. the Pagoda is the highest free standing structure in town, and showcases the four avatars of the Buddha. Situated on the slopes of Jalpahar Hill, the pagoda can be reached on foot or by taxi.
Near the pagoda is the Nipponzan Myohoji Temple, Which is built in a traditional Japanese style and offers tourists a place for peace and introspection. Tourists my meditate and interact with the resident Japanese monks and photography is permitted inside the temple. |
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Himalayan Mountaineering Institute:
At the top of Birch Hill ‘Jawahar Parbat ‘, you will find the world famous Himalayan Mountaineering Institute ‘HMI’. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, laid the institute’s foundation stone in November 1954 and the legendary Tenzing Norgey Sherpa was HMI’s first Director of Field Training. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was started in 1954, as a result of the success of Tenzing Norgay’s ascent of Everest with Edmund Hilary in 1953.
Tenzing Norgey’s grave is located outside the museum, making a visit to the institute and its surroundings a really nice for those who love Climbing and adventure.
It has two attraction museums – mountaineering and Everest – as well as a training department that runs courses in mountaineering. The Institute is comprised of a museum on mountain lore, a well equipped school for mountaineers, a hostel for students and Swiss style houses for the Sherpa Training Instructors. The mountaineering museum itself boasts a collection of historic climbing equipment, specimens of Himalayan flora and fauna, and a relief model of the Himalayas showing the principal peaks. A separate Everest Museum tells the story of expeditions to the world’s highest peaks and great personalities who are popular in History of Indian Mountaineering Expedition.
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| Himalayan Zoological Park:
One of India’s most highly regarded zoological park,the Darjeeling Zoo is home to wildlife rarely seen elsewhere. Spread across the hillside of Jawahar Parbat below the HMI, the park was established in 1958 to study and conserve Himalayan fauna.
The zoo is internationally famous for its conservation breeding of red pandas and snow leopards, and is the only one of its kind in India. You can also see many other types of animals including Siberian Tigers, bears and wolves and Himalayan birds. It’s well worth a visit for its scenic location and peaceful atmosphere, as well as the rare species of animal. |
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| Happy Valley Tea Estate:
There are about seventy tea gardens in Darjeeling, Happy Valley Tea Estate is one of the nearest tea garden only about 3 kms from the town . The estate was established in 1854. David Wilson, an Englishman, had named the garden Wilson Tea Estate and by 1860 had started cultivation of tea. In 1903, the estate was taken over by an Indian, Tarapada Banerjee, an aristocrat from Hooghly. In 1929, Banerjee bought the Windsor Tea Estate nearby, and merged the two estates under the name of Happy Valley Tea Estate. G.C. Banerjee was the next owner of Happy Valley Tea Estate.
Here tourists can see the processing of the world famous Darjeeling tea along with free tea testing . Timing : 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. and full day in Monday. |
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| Tibetan Refugee Self- Help Centre
“Our way may be hard and long one, but i believe that the truth and faith must ultimately prevail” His Holiness Dalai Lama.
After His Holiness escaped from Tibet, thousands of Tibetan refugees came to reside in India. Darjeeling too became a home away from home fro the Tibetans in exile. To rehabilitate the community a ten member committee was known as Tibetan Refugee Self- Help Centre formed in Darjeeling to organize a rehabilitation centre which was known as Tibetan Refugee Self- Help Centre. The centre was established on October 1 ,1959 and the residents of the centre are today known for their handicrafts. The centre makes excellent carpets, woollen goods, woodwork etc. Which are famous across the globe.
While visiting the centre one can stop by Tenzing and Gombu Rock to watch the HMI students perfecting the art of rock climbing and visit the tea below the road to take photos and some tea for home too. |
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Darjeeling conjures visions of serenity, of vibrant green Hills steeped in splendor and a land of breathtaking beauty crowned by the Majestic Himalayas. Darjeeling is one of the most magnificent hill resorts in the world. This heavenly retreat is bathed in hues of every shade. The flaming red rhododendrons, the sparkling white magnolias, the miles if undulating hill sides covered with emerald green tea bushes, the exotic forests of silver fur- All under the blanket of a brilliant azure sky dappled with specks of clouds, compellingly confounds Darjeeling as the “QUEEN OF HILL STATIONS”.
Darjeeling – the name is Derived from the Tibetan word ‘Dorje’ which means the precious stone or ecclesiastical scepter, which is emblematic of the thunderbolt of Indra, and ‘ling’ – a place, hence the land of the thunderbolt. The scepter of Indra is believed to have fallen at a place where now stands the Observatory Hill. |
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| Nearest Airport:
The Bagdogra Airport is nearest airport, which is about 80 km in distance from Darjeeling. Journey between Bagdogra and Darjeeling is about 3 hrs via Kurseong.
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| Nearest Railway’s Station:
Apart from Darjeeling Railway station, the two closest railways stations are Siliguri Junction (70 km) and New Jalpaiguri Junction ‘NJP’ (78 km) from Darjeeling. These railway stations have direct railways connection with Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Chandigarh and other major cities of India.
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Road way of Darjeeling are connected with Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik, Gangtok, and siliguri.
Some important road ways of Darjeeling with distance are as follows:
New jalpaiguri (NJP) – Darjeeling about 78km. Time Duration 4hours
Siliguri Junction- Darjeeling – 70kms. Time Duration 3hours
kalimpong -Darjeeling-51km
Gangtok – Darjeeling 115kms
Kolkata – Darjeeling 656kms
Guwahati – Darjeeling 590kms
New Delhi = Darjeeling 1389kms
Kathamandu Nepal = Darjeeling 677kms
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