Darjeeling will be an enchanting experience for the tourist. The excitement starts as soon as you leave the plains and take the uphill road to this beautiful hill resort in West Bengal. On either side there are eye-soothing sights of the flora of Darjeeling-brilliant red rhododendrons, charming white magnolias, majestic pines and lush green tea bushes covering the entire hillslope. And when you reach the summit the view is memerising -rushing streams, gasping gorges and shimmering lakes all around and reflecting the azure blue of the sky, a rare moment when the hill and the valley seems to merge and become one.

History of Darjeeling

Darjeeling was the ancient Gorkha capital, which captivated the attention of the British officers, Lloyd and Grant in 1829.By 1835 Darjeeling had become a British sanatorium after the Maharajah of Sikkim gifted this hill resort to the British Governor General, Bentick.Darjeeling has retained its alluring charm even after a century or so and has earned the title 'Queen of the Hill Stations'.

Attractions in Darjeeling

The attractions in Darjeeling range from the beautiful flora to adventure sports like river rafting and mountain treks.

Flora and Fauna in Darjeeling

Darjeeling is the best place for ecotourism .A nature lover will be delighted at the various species of animals and plants found here. Some of the animals are the Himalayan newt (a rare species of salamander), mutiac (barking deer), civet cats, the Himalayan Black bear, the Snow Leopard and around 600 varieties of beautiful butterflies. There are high altitude pheasants and birds. The flora in Darjeeling includes about 139 species of Rhododendrons, magnolia flowers in white, pink and magenta and orchids in all shades.

Sights in Darjeeling

The interesting sights in Darjeeling are the Tiger Hill situated at an altitude of 2590 meters (8482 ft.)and 15 km from Darjeeling town. From here you can get a breathtaking view of Mount Everest, the highest mountain and Kanchenjunga range. The Observatory Hill commands a magnificent view it commands. Batasia Loop is a railway loop, about 5 kms from Darjeeling, a marvelous feat of engineering and it is quite a treat to watch the Toy Train pass through this loop. The War memorial is constructed in the memory of the brave sons of Darjeeling who died for the country since Independence in 1947. Japanese Peace Pagoda is a recent landmark constructed by Japanese Monks and commands an excellent view of the town and the Himalayan Range. Dhirdham Temple is situated just below the Railway station and is structurally a replica of the famous 'Pashupatinath' temple of Kathmandu, Nepal. The Mall and Chowrasta are important landmarks in Darjeeling. The Mall road originates and culminates at the Chowrasta, which is the hub of Darjeeling town. A walk around the Mall gives you a feel of Darjeeling life with the pleasant view of the mountains, valleys with rhododendron trees and old houses. Ava Art Gallery, approximately 10 minutes by taxi from the motor stand, it is just below the main road on the way to Ghoom and it houses fine art and embroidery work of Mrs. Ava Devi.

Tea Gardens in Darjeeling

While in Darjeeling it will be a unique experience to visit a nearby Tea Garden to watch the actual process of the manufacturing of Darjeeling Tea. You can even have the privilege of buying tea straight form the tea factory. There are about 70 tea gardens in this hill region and the most accessible one is the Happy Valley Tea Estate, which is about 3 kms from the town or within a walking distance of about 40 minutes.

Buddhist Monasteries in Darjeeling

Darjeeling has many important Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. The oldest Tibetan Monastery is called the Yiga Chilling Monastery and is situated about 8 kms. from the town at Ghoom.Constructed in 1875 and belonging to the Gelugpa Sect, it enshrines an image of 'the Coming Buddha' or the Maitriya Buddha. Nearby is the Samten Cholling Monastery. The Drukpa Kargyud Monastery, also known as Dali Monastery, is a big monastery located 5 kms. from the town. It belongs to the Drukpa Sect and the Drukchen Rimpoche resides here. The Bhutia Busty Monastery is situated at C.R. Das Road and is within 15 minutes walk from the Mall.

Museums and Parks in Darjeeling

While taking a walk in The Mall you can visit the Museum of Natural History, which exhibits a unique collection of the fauna of the Himalayan region, especially of the Eastern Himalayas. Situated in Jawahar Parabat, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was formed to honor Tenzing Norgay who conquered the Everest along with Edmund Hillary. This Institute was formed with the aim of imparting mountaineering skills to all the enthusiasts. Tenzing himself was one of the founding members and also the Field Director of the Institute. This Institute also houses a museum, which holds a rare collection of mementos from various Everest expeditions. The Himalayan Zoological Park and Snow Leopard Breeding Centre is a high altitude wild life park and new home of the Siberian Tiger, Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer.Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park or the town Zoo exhibits some rare Himalayan Fauna including the Snow Leopard, Red panda, Tibetan Wolf and the Himalayan Pheasant. It is a treat for all wild life enthusiasts. Just nearby is a very successful Snow Leopard Breeding Centre. Darjeeling has a colorful garden, Lloyds Botanical Garden, situated just below the market and has the most varied collection of rhododendron, magnolia and orchids of the Eastern Himalayas. It also has a glass-house full of alpine flowers and also features an Orchidarium and a collection of medicinal plants. This park is named after Mr. W. Lloyd who gifted 40 acres of hillside to make this a garden in 1798.

Adventure Tourism in Darjeeling

Darjeeling is famous for its adventure tourism. Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway is in one of the most beautiful part of the town and is situated at North Point about 3 kms. from town. The cable car ride takes 6 passengers at a time and it passes over the lush green tea gardens with breathtaking view of the mountains (Kanchenjunga) and provides an experience that cannot be easily forgotten. The valley has glorious views of Sikkim and the river Rangeet. The Singalila Range Trek has been on the trekking map of Darjeeling perhaps as early as the century. It is perhaps one of first organized trek route in India. This trek brings you to the lap of nature with its 139 varieties rhododendrons, magnolias, orchids, bamboos and other rare high altitude plants and vegetation. The reward at the end of it all is the unsurpassable view of Everest and Kangchendzonga you get from Phalut.The Rangit River rafting will be a thrilling experience as it offers a perfect struggle with the furious Himalayan waters.

Train trip in Darjeeling

Perhaps the most charming experience in Darjeeling would be the train trip on the almost legendary 'Toy Train', which trudges up the hill from New Jalpaiguri all the way to Darjeeling. A vestige of the colonial rule when Memsahibs traveled on this train to Darjeeling, their summer retreat. The steam locomotive and carriages which date a long way back can take anything between 8 to 10 hours depending upon whether the journey is uphill or downhill and on other variables like `rocks on the track'. The same 90 odd kilometers between NJP & Darjeeling can be covered in less than 4 hours by taxi or jeep. The train winds its way at a modest 10 to 15 kms/hr. It is no exaggeration that at times the train is so slow that you can get off during one of the frequent stops the train makes, stretch your legs, take photographs or go and chat with the engine driver, guard or a local shopkeeper.

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