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A Rendezvous With
Darjeeling |
Located
strategically near the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders, Darjeeling in
India's eastern state of West Bengal is one of the country's finest hill
stations. Known for its natural beauty, tall fresh mountains and the smiling
resilient people for whom hospitality is their greatest asset, Darjeeling is
visited by large number of tourists all throughout the year. Many opine that
in Darjeeling, nature is at its best. The annual Teesta Tea and Tourism
Festival in winters also attracts many tourists. The toy train that snakes
through picturesque mountains and valleys to reach Darjeeling from New
Jalpaiguri is sure to be an experience of a lifetime.
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Things You Can Do
In Darjeeling |
» Sightseeing : Darjeeling has a variety of
tourist attractions. Set amidst the natural surroundings with a pleasant
atmosphere pampering you from all sides, Darjeeling offer something to every
visitor. The sight which Darjeeling provides to its beholders is rarely seen
elsewhere. Visiting the tea gardens is also an enthralling experience.
» Shopping : The main business centres in Darjeeling
are Chowrasta and Nehru Road. The popular items of Darjeeling include
thangkas, brass statues, religious objects, jewelry, wood carving, woven
fabrics and carpets.
» Eating-out : More than solid cuisine, a sip of
Darjeeling tea is what tourists prefer in this hill station. Famous the
world over for taste and flavour, a cup of tea with light items like
pastries, momos, ham, bacon and sausages is most liked by tourists.
» Adventure Sports : Darjeeling is also a favorite
destination for mountaineering, trekking, rock climbing and nature walks.
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Sightseeing in
Darjeeling |
» Ghoom Monastery : No visit to Darjeeling
is complete without a visit to the Ghoom monastery. There is an imposing
4.5-metre tall image of the Maitreya Buddha in the monastery. Ghoom, at an
altitude of about 2,407 meters, offers a spectacular view of Darjeeling
town.
» Bhutia Busti : Situated at the backdrop of the
Kanchenjunga, this beautiful Gompa has an impressive collection of Buddhist
texts in its library. A copy of the Tibetan Book of the Dead is the prime
attraction of the library. The Gompa is a branch of the Nyingmapa sect's
Phodang Monastery in Sikkim. The monastery has been decorated very
tastefully.
» Dhirdham Temple : The Dhirdham Temple is situated
at the very heart of Darjeeling town near the railway station. The temple is
similar in its architecture to the famous Pashupatinath Temple of Kathmandu.
Due to its central location, it receives visitors in large numbers.
» Tiger Hills : To watch the spectacular sunrise of
Darjeeling, tourists throng the Tiger Hill from 3 A.M in the morning.
Located at an altitude of 2,590 meters, a magnificent view of the rising sun
over the snow-capped Mt. Kanchenjunga is available from the hills. On a
clear day, Himalayan peaks could also be seen clearly.
» Observatory Hill : The view of the magnificent Mt.
Kanchenjunga and the entire landscape below is a site worth seeing from atop
the observatory hills. There are also a few temples and monasteries atop the
hill. The hill is also inhabited by a group of playful monkeys.
»
Zoological Gardens : The Zoological Gardens are located on the outskirts
of Darjeeling town. The zoo houses some rare varieties of Himalayan flora
and fauna species. The zoo also has the rare distinction of having Siberian
Tigers. Another attraction of the zoo is the Red Panda. Snow Leopards, Great
Grey Birds and Snow Yaks have also been kept in good numbers.
» Tea Gardens : The lush green tea gardens at high
altitudes is another attraction for tourists. Out of over seventy tea
gardens in Darjeeling, tour operators provide travelling facilities to some
of them. An enchanting Darjeeling tour could be rounded up by having a taste
of the toy train ride. Snaking through picturesque hills at snail's pace, a
toy train ride provides an experience of a lifetime.
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Excursions from
Darjeeling |
It is a lesser known fact that many small picturesque hill stations
are located near Darjeeling. Kalimpong at a distance of 51 kms is famous for
flower nurseries and monasteries. Kurseong is another beautiful hill station
at a distance of 32 kms. Mirik at a distance of 49 kms is known for its
lake, boating facilities and plantations of oranges, cardamom and pine.
Takdah is a great choice to have a glimpse of some rare orchid varieties.
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Most Ideal Time To
Visit |
The best time to visit this place is during March-May and
September-November. The hill station is a very cold place where winter
temperatures may drop to a low of 2 degrees. In summers, the temperature
remains in the range of 15-25 degrees. Monsoon rains start by the end of May
and continues for a few months. This place requires warm cloths any time of
the year and do not forget to carry a umbrella to this place.
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Getting There |
» By Trains : The nearest railhead is New
Jalpaiguri at a distance of 88 kms. Trains from all parts of the country
coming to Guwahati halt at New Jalpaiguri. Darjeeling is also served by the
toy train of Darjeeling Hill Railway. Selected for the world heritage site,
the journey from Siliguri (New Jalpaiguri Station) takes over 6 hours. It is
more of a sightseeing tour than a means of transport.
» By Road : This is most advisable, from the New
Jalpaiguri Railway Station or the Siliguri Central Bus Stand to take a bus,
mini bus, taxi or landrover and thus proceed to Darjeeling. There are direct
bus services to Darjeeling from Siliguri. The distance from Siliguri to
Darjeeling is about 80 kms and takes about 3 hours. Though the terrain is
hilly, the state highway is maintained in good condition and the journey is
quite comfortable and enjoyable. Seasonal fog and mist sometimes creates
problems. Vehicles proceeding to Darjeeling normally halt at Kurseong for
refreshments. Major road distances from Darjeeling are - Kolkata (606 km),
Patna (466 km), Gangtok (114 km), Shillong (578 km) and Kathmandu (550 km).
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Anchoring in
Darjeeling |
Though
Darjeeling is a town of West Bengal, it has its own culture and appearance.
At the very first appearance you will never come to know that Darjeeling is
a part of West Bengal, unless and until your history and geography is
strong. The culture, the cuisine, the costumes, language, and appearance of
this hill resort is more closer to the Northeastern states of India.
Known as the Queen of Hill stations, Darjeeling captivates every nature
lover to its salubrious and soothing confines. Set amidst majestic snow clad
mountain ranges, some of which are world's highest peaks, and stretches of
tea plantation, which has made Darjeeling world renowned for its high
revenue generating Darjeeling tea, Darjeeling is one most sought after
destination for the tourists heading towards the eastern part of India.
Reaching Darjeeling is very exciting. The rail route it owns is of narrow
gauge for toy trains, which was established in the British period. The toy
train travel is a must try thing. A toy train tour will add more thrills to
your hill station tour. It will be an exceptional experience, the one which
you will cherish throughout your life. And once you are in Darjeeling, you
will be wrapped in natural beauty, the kind which will leave you bewildered.
The people of Darjeeling are very friendly and cooperative. The hotel
business is booming in Darjeeling and tourists can find hotels of all
categories. The streets amidst natural beauty are good option for nature
walks.
To steer you clear of any problems in Darjeeling, we are always there. You
can book with us anytime for your Darjeeling rendezvous. We have a fleet of
luxury cabs to take you to all the major attractions of the hill station and
also tie ups with the best hotels of the place to make your stay
comfortable. We also offer the most competitive rates.
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Accommodation |
Darjeeling has plenty of hotels and guest houses to cater to the
accommodation needs of tourists. It is worth mentionable that many of the
old villas and estates of the British period that passed into Indian hands
after independence have been converted into high-end hotels and guest
houses.
darjeeling
india
