One of the proudest tourist attractions of West Bengal and India, Darjeeling is the crown jewel hill station of the state. The beauty of the city of lush green hills touching the snow-covered slopesis ineffable and boasts a great range of sights which makes it one of the best destinations in all the genre of travel planning. If you wish to enjoy a road trip with friends or even family, the “Queen of Hills” offers some of the best experiences to add in your travel story diaries. With the long ranges of sky-high hills, majestic sunrises and sunsets with views like of the sparkling golden Kanchenjunga and never-ending tea gardens spread like a perfect green carpet is only a trailer of the surreal beauty of Darjeeling. The hill station is a popular spot from the colonial period and the travellers can still enjoy the aura amid the lifestyle and the city’s architecture.
HISTORY & CULTURE
Darjeeling is a town of varied philosophies and has many historic stories devoted to it. The people of Darjeeling rejoice many festivals and follow diverse societies. Although, the land is subjugated by Gorkha culture, you can eyewitness several traditions of the other creeds like Losar, Maghe Sankranti, TendongLhoRumfaat and ChotrulDuchen, etc. In the colonial period, Darjeeling was the stop for the English officials to rest and seepage the sweltering heat of other parts of the India. Since then, Darjeeling is the one of the most visited and preferred hill stations for many. Perfect for a getaway from the city hustle, this town is populated with about 1.32 lakhs residents. The most spoken language is Nepali.
PLACES TO VISIT
Tiger Hill
The most famous mountain peak in Darjeeling, Tiger Hill is best known for its tramping routes and scenic views of Mt. Everest and Kanchenjunga. One needs to walk or drive through the oldest tea plantations, in order to reach Tiger Hill. It is recommended to witness the first rays of the sun on Mt. Everest. Don’t miss apprehending it in your camera as well because it will be animpressively rich experience.
Rock Garden
Rock Garden is amongst the most regularly visited tourist attractions in Darjeeling for the reason that there are plenty of happenings to do with your family and friends. Its Chunar waterfall is a usualtorrent that entices a lot of visitors who are captivated to see it in its divine flow. Additionally, a mountain stream meandering through the Garden also makes people steep in the good vibes of the place.
Ghoom Monastery
Raised at a height of around 8,000 feet Ghoom Monastery is one of the top places to see in Darjeeling. Also known as YigaChoeling, it was recognized in 1850 by Lama Sherab Gyatso and is known to be the oldest Tibet Monastery of Darjeeling.
Peace Pagoda
It is a perfect Japanese architect and built amidst the hilly town of Darjeeling. Every traveller no matter the purpose of the visit must stop by to experience true bliss and eternal peace as is the intention behind the 2-storey building. Enjoy the serenity of Peace Pagoda and delve into the spectacular views surrounding it.
Rangeet Valley Ropeway
The gorgeous hill station of Darjeeling is best viewed through its elusive ropeway. From the delicate landscapes, luxuriant tea estates, plush green forests, breath-taking flora and fauna to the snow-capped mountain peaks of the Everest and Kanchenjunga, one can eyewitness the beauty of Darjeeling in all its glory.
Batasia Loop
It is aenthralling toy train pathway that was brought into reality to decrease the advancement of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Set amidst the lavish green mountainside, Batasia Loop offers stunning views of the valley and snowy dwelling of Mt. Kanchendzonga.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
One of the most prevalent places to see in Darjeeling, this park is best known for its Red Panda and Snow Leopard breeding program. Feast across a sprawling 65.56 acres of area, the Zoological Park is home to some of the scarcest species of animals in India, including snow leopard, red pandas, and Himalayan Salamanders.
Sandakphu
Thanks to the position of Darjeeling in Himalayan foothills, there are a number of outstanding trekking imprints you can find around the city; Sandakphu being one of the popular ones. It is a moderate level trek that takes you through some extremely picturesquesceneries until you finally reach Sandakphu at 11,929 feet. Sandakphu is the highest peak in West Bengal, so you can visualize the imposing views of the grandest Himalayan mountains you can witness from here.
Nightingale Park
A public park which invites a huge invasion of tourists all through the year, Nightingale Park is one of the most visited places to see in Darjeeling. The main reason why people visit this park is for its compelling views of the majestic Kanchenjunga.
Rimbik
Rimbik is a small town located in the Singalila National Park area in Darjeeling. It is famous for its trekking routes and gradually gaining acceptance among eccentric travellers. Singalila National park and Sandakphu are the famous and fullest routes and one of the best treks in the Eastern part of India.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
This institute was recognized on November 4, 1954 with the main aim of inspiring the attention of people in the climbing sport. Currently, this institution is the best school for mountaineering training. In fact, the fame of this institute is such that it has become one of the most popular tourist lures in Darjeeling. One reason for this institute being a popular tourist spot is its attractive setting. It is encircled with the marvelous peak of Kanchenjunga which alone makes it worth a visit.
Singalila National Park
The splendorous views of the valley from this place also make it one of the most exclusive places to visit in Darjeeling. The gloriousness of this beautiful park shows in its 79 km sprawled forest of Rhododendron and spectacular flora and fauna. But that’s not all - the enigmatic views of the Himalayan ranges here combination with the misty weather and spectacular alpine valley. All of this natural exquisiteness will leave you enthralled and you wouldn’t want to leave this elegant National Park ever.
