Darjeeling Tourism
Darjeeling, also fondly known as the "Queen of hill stations", is nestled in the Himalayas and is famous for its tea production and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This hill town was developed in the mid 19th century, when the British set up a sanatorium and a military depot in Darjeeling. Before this, Darjeeling was the ancient Gorkha capital. Later, the Maharaja of Sikkim gifted Darjeeling to the British.
Darjeeling continues to be a popular holiday destination in India, owing to its scenic beauty and pleasant climate.
Apart from tourism, Darjeeling is also popular for its many British style public schools, which attract students from across India and even neighbouring countries.
Best Time to Visit Darjeeling
The best time to visit Darjeeling is from September to June
Places to see in Darjeeling
- Tiger Hill
- Observatory Hill
- St. Andrew's Church
- War Memorial
- Peace Pagoda
- The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
- Chowrasta and the Mall
- Happy Valley Tea Garden
- Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
- Dhirdham Temple
How to Reach Darjeeling
Being a popular tourist destination, Darjeeling is well connected to other parts of the country. Here is how one can reach Darjeeling.
By Train
The nearest Broad gauge railway station to Darjeeling is at New Jalpaiguri. Trains from all over India reach this station. Following is a list of trains which reach this station from major cities of India.
From Delhi :
|
From Mumbai :
|
From Kolkata :
|
From Chennai :
|
By Road
Darjeeling has a strong road network and is well connected by regular buses to neighbouring cities like Siliguri, Kurseong, Gangtok and Kalimpong.
By Air
The nearest airport to Darjeeling is Bagdogra near Siliguri, which is located at a distance of 68 km from Darjeeling. This airport is connected by regular flights to Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati.
Hotels in Darjeeling
Darjeeling has a plethora of hotels to choose from. Prices shoot up during peak season and it is advised to book in advance to secure a good hotel.
Budget Hotels in Darjeeling :
|
|
|
Mid Range Hotels in Darjeeling :
|
|
Top End Hotels in Darjeeling :
|
|
Shopping in Darjeeling
There's plenty to keep shoppers happy in Darjeeling. Head to Nehru Road and then to Chowrasta, which are dotted with shops from where you can purchase souvenirs and gift items. Some popular local, handmade items in Darjeeling are the Khukri, which is essentially a curved knife with a decorative handle. Other traditional items one can pick up in Darjeeling are Tibetan masks, local jewellery items, woolen items, shawls and pashminas. Tirupathi Handloom Emporium is a good place to pick up shawls and jackets at a fixed price. Before leaving don't forget to pick up a few packets of the world famous Darjeeling tea, which can be purchased from a popular store by the name of House of Tea.
Darjeeling Cusine :
People native to Darjeeling enjoy eating rice with beef and lentils. Other popular local dishes are Momos (dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables), Thukpa (a thick soup made with meat and noodles), Gundruk (fermented mustard leaves) and Chang (local beer).Darjeeling Restaurants
class="content_heading">Last Updated on : 24 July 2013
| Darjeeling Tour |
 |
 |
 |
| Red Panda | Darjeeling Train | Sunrise from Tiger Hill |
 |
 |
|
| Darjeeling Tea | Darjeeling Calling |
Places to Visit in Darjeeling
|
|
