Darjeeling

The hill station of Darjeeling is one of the most visited tourist destination in India. Among the hill stations of West Bengal, Darjeeling is the most favorite locale for spending holiday among the tourists. The tourists from India as well as from abroad visit this hill station to enjoy the beauty of nature. It is an ideal recluse from the hot summer days in the cities.

The name of the hill station Darjeeling came from the two words 'dorje' and 'ling' meaning thunderbolt and place respectively. This hill station was given as a gift to the East India Company by the then ruler of Sikkim in 1835. The district of Darjeeling is divided into three sub-divisions of Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Kurseong. The hill station of Darjeeling is situated at an altitude of about 7053 feet. The climate of this hilly area remains cold through the year. The best time to visit the hill station is from March to mid of June and during September to mid of December.

Darjeeling can be accessed by rail, road or air. The Darjeeling station is located in the Darjeeling town and the railway station of Jalpaiguri is a very important in this region. The airport of Bagdogra is the nearest airport to Darjeeling. Bus services are available from the major cities.

The tourists coming to Darjeeling, can also visit the different places of interest in and around the town of Darjeeling. The magnificent beauty of the sunrise can be enjoyed from the Tiger Hill that is situated only at a distance of 13 km from the Darjeeling town. One can also enjoy a ride in the toy train going around the city.

The places that can be visited are:

• Rock garden
• Peace Pagoda
• Botanical Gardens
• Dhirdham Temple

The West Bengal hills are one of the major tourist destination in India. The hill stations situated in the lap of nature attract tourists not only from Bengal but also from other parts of India and abroad. The hilly region of north Bengal is a part of the eastern Himalayan range. The tourism industry is well developed and it encourages tourists to visit the places in north Bengal. The tourists can travel to these hill stations by road, rail or airway. There are an array of deluxe, luxury and budget hotels in this region to choose from. These hotels offer a number of facilities to their guests.

The hills of West Bengal are famous for the gorgeous beauty of the surrounding places. The snow capped mountain tops and the scenic pleasure of watching the sun rise and sun sets beyond the hill tops is really divine. The jungles of north Bengal are also sites of tourist attraction. The wildlife sanctuaries and the reserved forests of Jaldapara, Buxa, Chapramari and Gorumara are mostly visited by the tourists and the nature lovers. The huge tea estates are a pleasure to visit in the hilly region.

There are a number of places of interest that can be visited in the West Bengal hills. The monasteries, pagodas, parks and the shopping centers are situated in the West Bengal hills. The tourists interested in adventure sports can take part in the different activities of camping, trekking, hiking, hand gliding and river rafting.

The people of the West Bengal Hills are very simple and rustic. The population of this region is heterogeneous as people from different regions have come to settle here. The population comprises of mainly the Bhutanese, Nepalese, Sikkimese and Bengalees. There are a number of tribal people residing in the West Bengal Hills.

Last Updated on 24 July 2013

Hotels in West Bengal

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