Darjeeling, as you all know is called the ‘Queen of Hills’. Situated in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas also known as ‘Mahabharata Range’. Darjeeling has an untouched natural beauty which makes the visitors fall in love with the hill station. Undoubtedly, the below mentioned 7 best places to visit in Darjeeling would be one unforgettable and amazing travel experience of your life.
Darjeeling has an altitude of 2050 metres. Being a popular hill station and a tourist destination, There are several Darjeeling tour packages, and a few offer cost-effective and satisfying packages to the visitors.
Before you visit this beautiful hill station and witness its panoramic view, there are a few things you must know about Darjeeling.
Places to visit in Darjeeling:
1. Darjeeling Mall (Chowrasta)
This spot is situated in the heart of the town. You can spend time with your family witnessing the scenery around you along with plenty of shops, restaurants and local markets. Adding on to this, you can visit Observatory Hill near the Chowrasta for catching the best view of Mt. Kanchenjunga.
2. Ghoom Monastery
You might come across a monastery in almost every hill station. But, Ghoom is one of the oldest monasteries possessing a 15 ft high statue of Lord Buddha and is also an abode of Buddhist manuscripts.
3. Darjeeling Railways
Himalayan Railways better known as ‘Toy Trains’ are the most popular attraction of Darjeeling. You might have watched the toy trains in movies as well. The Himalayan railway track was completed in the year 1881. Moreover, UNESCO declared the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways as World Heritage Site in the year 1999. So, a travel experience in Himalayan Railways has to be added to your must-do list.
4. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
The zoological park is rich in flora and fauna consisting of some endangered species like Red Panda, Snow Leopard, Tibetian wolf, Himalayan salamanders, Gorals, Siberian Tigers. Situated at 2124 metres altitude above sea level and possessing a total area of 67 acres. Therefore, it is the largest high altitude zoological park in India and a residence of a large number of species.
5. Tiger Hills
This peak is the most famous in Darjeeling and is worth visiting. Visitors can reach the peak by trekking or through a jeep and then can get a breathtaking view of the Mt Kanchenjunga and Mt Everest. However, this destination is undoubtedly included in the best tour packages of Darjeeling.
6. Singalila National Park
This is the highest area in West Bengal about 2130 metres high above sea level. You can view the lesser Himalayas along with the snow-covered peaks. Similar to Padmaja Naidu Zoo, Singalila Park is also rich in flora and fauna including Thick bamboo, Oak, Magnolia, Rhododendrons (Flora) and Black bear, leopard cat, Serow, Takin, Pangolin, Wild boar, Yellow-throated Marten (Fauna).
7. Joey’s Pub
This pub is established in the year od 1948 and is an English pub. You must visit this pub once when you are in Darjeeling. Joey’s Pub offers you some lip-smacking snacks and beverages while you can also enjoy the classics rocks and blues music.
Foods that you must try:
⦁ Momos
These are a kind of steamed dumplings that can also be fried. Momos are stuffed with veggies or meat served with hot soup. You can find the dish in almost every small and big restaurant in Darjeeling.
⦁ Darjeeling Tea
The most popular beverage in Darjeeling is its world-class tea. You cannot leave the town without tasting a cup of Darjeeling Flavoured Tea.
⦁ Thukpa
It is a Tibetian dish which is a soupy noodle served with vegetables, meat and eggs. You must try it once when served hot.
⦁ Dalle
A pickle that consists of red chilies tempered in mustard oil, spices, and salt. Dalle is often served with hot momos and tastes delicious.
When and how to visit Darjeeling:
The best time to visit Darjeeling is starting from Autumn to Spring. October, with the onset of winters to March.
Also, you can visit there during the summer holidays (April-June) to beat the summer and relish the cool atmosphere.
You can reach Darjeeling by:
However, the tour & travel agent is going to take care of your comfortable journey . The best Darjeeling Tour Packages will consist the convenient offer and therefore will make your journey comfortable and relaxing. Here are the ways to reach Darjeeling:
Flight: The nearest airport from Darjeeling is Bagdogra. Once you land on Bagdogra, Darjeeling is about 95 km from the airport and will take approx 3 hours by road.
Car: There are Car rentals in Siliguri available for you which is the nearest town to Darjeeling. One can also board a bus or hire a car from the capital city of West Bengal(Kolkata) to Darjeeling via Siliguri.
Train: New Jalpaiguri (NJP)is the nearest railway station from Darjeeling. It is 88 km from the railway station. You can rent a car to Darjeeling or can travel by toy train which takes more time that is around 7 hours