Darjeeling

Located in the northern part of West Bengal is the exotic and enchanting Himalayan hill resort, Darjeeling, the queen of hill stations. Every year, at the beginning of the monsoon, the Viceroys of India, and after 1911 the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, would move, lock, stock and barrel, to Darjeeling.
Darjeeling is nested in a setting of Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest, Tibetan Monasteries, Himalayan Tribal Life, Pine Trees etc. It is a three hour drive up a steep and winding road from Bagdogra airport near Siliguri.

The green of the pines and ferns, the white of the magnolias and the red of the rhododendrons welcome the visitors to Darjeeling. The hills soaring high on one side and the lush green plains below are characteristic of the way to the hill station.

 General Information 

How to get there

Air
Bagdogra Airport 96 km from Darjeeling) has direct air connections to Calcutta, Delhi, Patna, Guwahati and other places of North-East India.

Rail
New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station at the base of Darjeeling Hill area has the direct railway connections to Calcutta, Delhi, Guwahati, Madras, Bombay, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Tirupati, Trivandrum, Cochin etc. And from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling by toy train it takes 7 hours on a narrow gauge line.

Road
Darjeeling is connected by road with Calcutta 651 km, Gangtok 100 km, Kalimpong 51 km. Calcutta-Shiliguri have direct NSBTC Buses, daily.

 In and around 

Tiger Hill
At an altitude of 8482 ft., famous for the magnificent view of sunrise over Kanchenjunga and other Himalayan peaks. Even Mount Everest is visible from here.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
The museum of the Institute contains an interesting collection of mountaineering equipment and a relief model of the Himalayas. It was set up, following the conquest of Mount Everest by Tenzing and Hillary.

Himalayan Zoological Park  
Adjacent to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. Home for the Siberian Tiger, Himalayan Black Bear, Deer, Panda, Snow Leopard and varieties of birds.

Llyod Botanic Gardens
A colorful garden situated just below the market motor stand. Contains a comprehensive collection of Himalayan plants, flowers and orchids.

Observatory hill 
Within walking distance from the Mall, commands a magnificent view of Kanchenjunga. Both Hindu and Buddhist worship here.

Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger ropeway
India's first and one of the longest passenger ropeway of Asia. This 8 km long ropeway links Darjeeling with Singla Bazaar.

Sandakphu
At an altitude of 3,657m, the highest point in the Darjeeling district, offers a glorious view of the Himalayan peaks.

Ghoom
Altitude 2,438m. the highest point in the toy train route, famous for Buddhist monasteries. It houses a 15 feet giant image of Maitereya or the coming Buddha