Darjeeling is a beautiful hill station nestled amongst the scenic mountain ranges with a breathtaking view of the two highest peaks in the world- the Himalayas and the Kanchenjunga. Cool-weather, natural beauty, and the green cover of massive tea gardens are perfect add-ons to this place.
Photo courtesy by Judith
Darjeeling is situated on the banks of the Teesta River on the east side of the state of West Bengal. It is one of the popular hill stations in North East and is famous for more reasons than you would know. The uninterrupted view of the snow-clad Himalayan range and the Kanchenjunga is a visual treat of the natural beauty of this beautiful hill station, which is also known as the ‘Queen of Hills’.
I have some of the fondest memories of Darjeeling which includes the humble way of life, the warm and friendly residents, and the soothing natural beauty with chilling weather is something that stayed with me.
How to reach?
There is no direct connection with rail or airways to reach Darjeeling; you must pick a combination of rail and road networks or air and roadways. Since it is nestled amongst the mountain range, the best way to reach is by Road. If you are planning to take a flight the nearest airport is Bagdogra, from where it is a roughly 3 to 4 hours journey and private cabs are easily available at the airport. If you are not tight on your schedule, on the way take a small detour and visit a lesser-known spot named Mimic Lake, which is a beautiful lakeside location with thick coniferous forest in the background. An alternate way to reach is to take a train up to Jalpaiguri which is the nearest train station and then hire a cab to go to Darjeeling.
Best season to visit?
Darjeeling is cool throughout the year, but the best season to visit the place as a tourist I would say is from April to June when the weather is extremely pleasant with temperatures ranging between 20 – 250
However, if you love snow and can bear the chilling cold weather, you may visit between October to February when the weather is extreme and can go up to 2 0 c or even less. I would suggest carrying a self-heating foot warmers with you so that you are always comfortable. I recommend- https://amzn.to/3rQMNh1
Darjeeling gets very heavy rainfall between June to September which causes roadblocks, landslides, and most tourist activities are not operational.
Popular Attractions
Japanese Peace Pagoda
If you are hunting for inner peace to ponder on life, a walk around the pagoda is your go-to place. A symbol of peace and religion, the Japanese Peace Pagoda is the tallest free-standing structure of Darjeeling and is located just 10 minutes from the town center. It showcases four different avatars of Lord Buddha. The moment you enter the premises, I guarantee you will find peace and calmness.
Tiger Hill
If you are a person who loves sunrise this is one spot you would not want to miss at any cost. The best place to watch the sunrise in Darjeeling is Tiger Hill, where tourists queue up from the wee hours in the morning. It is about an hour’s drive from the main town, so you may have to start as early as 3.30 – 4 am to catch a glimpse of the sun rising through those gigantic Himalayan ranges. It is a sight to experience. Depending on the weather conditions, you may have to wait longer some days, but on clear days usually between March to May, you can expect an uninterrupted view.
Snow clad mountain range. By Shomitro Kumar Ghosh
Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR)
The toy train of Darjeeling is one of the unique tourist attractions that you can find only in a few places and this is one of them. Whether you’re an adult or a child, you will enjoy riding in the toy train buzzing around town.
I still have fond memories of my toy train journey which is managed by Darjeeling Himalayan Railways. It was once a major mode of transport, but it is no more than a tourist attraction now. In the year 1999, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its historical significance.
Darjeeling’s pride the toy train buzzing through the town. Photo by Darjeeling tourism site
Padmaja Naidu Himalayas Zoological Park
Though I am not a fan of parks and gardens personally, this one is worth visiting. What makes it unique is it is one of the largest Zoos located in high-altitude areas where you can find rare species of animals like the snow leopards, red pandas, Tibetan wolf, etc. If this doesn’t interest you, then there are also activities like ziplining, rope obstacles as well as a museum.
Darjeeling has a wealth of attractions that attract tourists from around the world, especially the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is worth visiting for people who love trekking because it has all the information and guidance that you need, and you can even learn activities like rock climbing here.
A visit to Darjeeling is never complete without seeing the lush green tea gardens that produce the famous Darjeeling tea which many of us are connoisseurs. Sipping onto some delectable fresh tea from the garden will make your day.
Darjeeling has something for everyone and is the place to find your solace.
