DARJEELING

Known as the ‘Queen of the Hills’, Darjeeling was discovered in 1828 AD by two British army officers, Lloyd and Grant, on a fact finding trip. In 1835 AD, the British formally took possession of the place by purchasing from the Chogyal (king) of Sikkim for an annual stipend of Rupees Three Thousand. In 1840 AD, the first tea plant was planted here by a British gentleman, which eventually gave birth to the best tea plantations of the world. At an altitude of 2185 metres and surrounded by wooded hills and sloping tea plantations with the majestic Mt. Kanchendzonga looming large in the background, clouds play hide and seek with this mystic hill station. The world’s oldest narrow gauge Toy Train, started in 1881 AD, still amaze the visitors with its marvellous feet of engineering. Its journey from New Jalpaiguri begins in the plains and passes through mystic tea plantations, forests of Sal, Cedar and Teak, over viaducts bypassing gushing streams and waterfalls, and climbs through the vertical gradients of the eastern Himalayas to Darjeeling.

10kms from Darjeeling, the Tiger Hill is the highest point around. It is a vantage point to observe beautiful sunrises and is visited by hoards of visitors every day 3:30 A.M onwards. There is a lake here, from where filtered water is supplied to Darjeeling. It also falls within the precincts of the Sinchal Wildlife Sanctuary. The Ghoom Monastery is the most popular Buddhist Gumpha of Darjeeling and the Toy Train station at a little distance is the highest one on its route to Darjeeling. At Batasia Loop nearby, the rail track of the Toy Train has been looped to achieve height, an astonishing feet of engineering marvel, where from, one can experience wonderful views of Darjeeling and Mt. Kanchendzonga.

The Observatory Hill near the Mall atop a cliff is a holy joint, both, to the Hindus and the Buddhists. Every traveller must visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Zoo and the Snow Leopard Breeding Centre, lounging in a joint compound in the north of the town. Lloyd’s Botanical Garden on the eastern fringe of the town with its vast collection of plants, orchids and flowers of the region is another interesting place of visit. In the yonder is the Victoria Falls, which is also the site of the first ever hydel power project of the country. Rock Gardens, Ganga Mya Park, Lepchajagat, Jorepokhri Lake and Salamander Preserve, Mirik, Sandakphu and Phalut make interesting excursions from this pristine hill station.

Accessibility: From Darjeeling, the town of Siliguri is 80kms south, which is the jump off point of visiting this hill station. New Jalpaiguri is 4kms from Siliguri and is a major railway station. Bagdogra, the nearest airport, is only 12kms from Siliguri.

Accommodation: There are innumerable standard and deluxe Hotels in Darjeeling along with the state run Tourist Lodge. There is a Youth Hostel as well.

Season: October to June.