Located in the Indian state of West Bengal, Darjeeling is known for its beautiful scenic beauty, mountains, nature and its tea industry. At a distance of 65 km from Siliguri, 98 km from Gangtok and 507 km from Kolkata, Darjeeling is a charming hill station located at the foothills of the Himalayas in West Bengal. The town was developed in the 1800s by the British and soon it came to be known as one of the best tea estates in the world. The town of Darjeeling is located at an average elevation of 2050 meters and comes under the Eastern Himalayan Zoo-geographic zone. It is blessed with diverse and rich cultural history, vast natural landscape, and due to its pleasant climate all year round, it is a famous tourist destination in India.
Losar, Dashain, Tendong Lho Rumfaat, Chotrul Duchen, and Darjeeling Tourism Festival and Darjeeling Carnival are the popular festivals celebrated in Darjeeling. The best time to visit Darjeeling is between October to March when the temperature is pleasantly cool and the sky is usually clear offering lovely views of Kanchenjunga snow peaks. Here are 7 scenic places you need to check out when you visit Darjeeling.
1. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway or Ghoom
One of the most famous attractions in Darjeeling is the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway also known as the “Darjeeling Toy Train”. It is a 2 feet narrow-gauge train that runs along an 88-kilometer long railway line between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. It is a UNESCO world heritage site as it is a piece of sheer engineering marvel and vision. It provides significant transport links between various parts of the Darjeeling hills and lower plains. You will definitely enjoy traveling on this train and you will get to see all the scenic masterpieces on your way. A ride on such a heritage transport is no doubt a relaxing and enjoyable one but is also prestigious as this train once provided the first and most important mountain transportation link in the country.
2. Tiger Hill
Situated at an altitude of 2590 meters and 13 km away from Darjeeling, Tiger Hill is most famous for its splendid sights of sunrise from where you can see the peaks of Kanchenjunga illuminate before the sun. Being one of the best-known trekking destinations offering magnificent views of snow-capped mountains sitting amidst cotton clouds, it attracts tourists from all over the country. The best time to see the most brilliant sight is at 4:15 am. If you are not fond of trekking, you can always book a car for INR 1200/-from a travel agency in the city or pay Rs.200 per head.
3. Batasia Loop
This elevated area below Ghoom has spiral railway tracks through a tunnel over a summit. The things that add to the panoramic view is a nicely decorated garden area that offers a perfect place to take your selfies. The unique landscape of this magnificent attraction allows the track to wrap around itself around a hilltop. It is a wide expanse of planned greenery that makes Batasia Loop one of the best Darjeeling tourist places which every traveler must visit. The scenic view that the toy train brings as it tears past the white of the clouds and deeper into the green beauty of the terrain is a refreshing and enchanting sight to see.
4. Tea Plantation
With over 80 tea plantations in Darjeeling, spread across the slopes of the valleys, a visit to at least one tea garden is crucial to the tourist’s agenda. If the fragrance of the well-manicured shrubs weren’t enough to draw your attention, these lush green wonderlands also offer services like homestays and guided tours. Covering over 17,500 hectares of land, you will see tea cultivation on your way to this picturesque hill station. Some of the famous tea estates in Darjeeling are Happy Valley Tea Estate, Makaibari Tea Estate, Chamong Tea Estate, Glenburn Tea Estate, and Gomtee Tea Estate. You can soak in the beautiful views offered with the magnificent Himalayan range forming a gorgeous backdrop. If you go for a visit to the tea plantation, don’t forget to taste the varieties of tea offered here while you engage in the rare experience of tea tourism.
5. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is recognized as one of the best mountaineering institutes in the world. Ambitious mountaineers and amateurs can come to this place to take a brief training. Though you will not experience the thrill of climbing Mount Everest, you will surely learn the basics of mountain climbing. Ambitious mountaineers from all over the world come to this institute to develop their skills. Besides being one of the best mountaineering institutes in the world, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute offers a picturesque setting that has become a significant tourist attraction. The magnificent view of the 8586-meter high peak of Kanchenjunga, from this institute, is genuinely mesmerizing.
6. Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park
The Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park also known as the Darjeeling zoo is a splendid enclosure housing a wide variety of animals. This is a haven for animals and a huge center of attraction for animal lovers and nature enthusiasts. The zoo is known internationally for its breeding and conservation programs and also includes an off-display breeding center for snow leopards and red pandas. In addition to these rarer species, the zoo also houses Asiatic black bears, barking deers, leopards, blue and yellow Macaw, Eastern Pangolin, Pheasant, Himalayan Monal, Lady Amherst, Leopard Cat, Macaw, Red Jungle Fowl, Red Panda, Royal Bengal Tiger, Temminck’s Tragopan, Yak, and many more. Owing to its unyielding efforts to repopulate these endangered species, the Darjeeling Zoo has been awarded the prestigious honor of “The Earth Heroes” in 2014 out of over 300 zoos worldwide.
7. Observatory Hill
Located near Chowrasta square, Observatory Hill is a famous viewpoint and tourist attraction in Darjeeling. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Darjeeling as it offers a panoramic view of the mountain range moreover you can also visit the ancient temples dedicated to Mahakaal, Lord Shiva and Lord Buddha. The entire walk towards Observatory Hill is filled with colorful flag and small yet noticeable shrines with the peaceful full sound of devotional belts. The walk to the top can be extremely tiring so it is recommended for older people to take some rest on side benches while trekking.
With an amazing climate all year round, Darjeeling is one of the top tourist destinations in West Bengal. The culture, adventure, beautiful scenery and the rich heritage brings tourists from all around the world.
