The heavenly adobe of the Queen of Hills – Darjeeling is bathed in hues of every shade. The conjuring sights of snow-capped Himalayan peaks, the serenity of verdant meadows, emerald green tea bushes covering undulating hills, and the forests of silver fir are the major source of attraction. Fermented foods and beverages are the indigenous cuisines of the region. Take a ride on the toy train, an icon of heritage, and complete your tour. Darjeeling is famous for the heritage Toy Train of the Himalayan railway, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
By Air
The Bagdogra airport is the closest to Darjeeling. One can hire a taxi after landing at the airport to reach the place. It will take about 3 hours to reach.
By Train
The tourists can take a train to New Jalpaiguri Station and then hire a cab from there. Enjoy the 4-hour journey with a captivating view.
By Roadways
Darjeeling is accessible by roadway network from cities like Kolkata, Patna, Siliguri, Gangtok, Guwahati, etc. State Highway 12 and National Highway 110 connect this hill station with Siliguri.
Darjeeling is worth visiting in every season, making it popular among tourists. Here is the month-wise break-up of the weather in Darjeeling:
Summer
Summer in Darjeeling starts as early as March and lasts until May. The average temperature ranges here between 11°C to 19°C during summer.
Monsoon
Monsoon arrives in June and lasts until September in Darjeeling. The average temperature fluctuates between 13°C to 19°C in monsoon.
Winter
October marks the onset of winter in this hill town and lasts until February. The average temperature ranges between 2°C to 9°C in winter.
Img Credit : Syed Sajidul Islam on wikimedia Visit the world heritage site of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and enjoy your ride. Feel your heart flutter while passing through lush greeneries, snow-capped mountainous views, streams, and waterfalls. The toy train connects the lower plains and hills.
Japanese Peace Pagoda is a sacred site. This place is about 10 minutes away from the heart of the town on the hilly slope of Jalpahar. The Pagoda, having traditional Japanese features, holds the four avatars of Buddha. Visit this sacred monument and enjoy the spiritual bliss amidst the chanting hymns.
Img Credit : Rajat63ghosh on wikimedia The highest point of West Bengal, Sandakphu, is situated at an elevation of 3636mtr. The trek route to this place is stunning and offers a richness of diversified flora and fauna. This is an ideal point to witness the heavenly view of the snow-capped Greater Himalayan Mountains.
Img Credit : Bernard Gagnon on wikimedia Named after William Lloyd, this botanical garden was established in 1878. The garden displays a collection of 2500 orchid species, fern and conifer trees, and various indigenous Himalayan plantations. This garden lies on an open hill slope covering a large area. Visit this place and give your eyes some visual treat.
Img Credit : Business Listing This place is a beautiful public park area. This place once was a private courtyard of Sir Thomas Tartan’s bungalow. One side of the park is aligned with tall trees, and the other opens up to the glorious view of the verdant valleys. Cultural programs are held every day during tourist season. Relax for a while, sitting among the tall pine trees.
Img Credit : Shahnoor Habib Munmun on wikimedia The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute(HMI), the first mountaineering institute in the world, was founded in 1945 by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru. It was established to commemorate the late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa & Sir Edmund Hillary for their first successful ascent of Mount Everest.
The Batasia Loop is a spiral railway created to lower the gradient of ascent of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India. At this point, the track spirals around over itself through a tunnel and over a hilltop. It was commissioned in 1919.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (also called the Darjeeling Zoo) is a 67.56-acre (27.3 ha) zoo in the town of Darjeeling in the Indian state of West Bengal. The zoo was opened in 1958, and an average elevation of 7,000 feet (2,134 m), is the largest high altitude zoo in India. It specializes in breeding animals adapted to alpine conditions, and has successful captive breeding programs for the snow leopard, the endangered Himalayan wolf and the red panda. The zoo attracts about 300,000 visitors every year. The park is named after Padmaja Naidu (1900–1975), daughter of Sarojini Naidu. The zoo serves as the central hub for Central Zoo Authority of India's red panda program and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The Darjeeling Ropeway is a ropeway in the town of Darjeeling in the Indian state of West Bengal.[1] The 5 km long ropeway( i.e. 2.5 km each way)[1] is a tourist destination in the town. It consists of sixteen cars and plies between the "North Point" in the town of Darjeeling and Singla on the banks of the Ramman river. The journey on the ropeway offers views of the hills and the valleys around Darjeeling.
