MOUNTAIN ESCAPES
| DARJEELING |
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| Darjeeling guide >>> Darjeeling travel guide and tourist
information on Darjeeling, how to get to Darjeeling, also details on sightseeing in
Darjeeling, best time to visit Darjeeling and accommodation in Darjeeling |
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At 2,134m, Darjeeling is quite the
picture-perfect hill station with its fantastic mountain views, trekking trails, Buddhist
monasteries and balmy climate. Darjeeling has that rarefied mountain air and a lofty
beauty, amplified by the world's highest mountains looming in the distance.Staggering
above the clouds, the majestic Kanchenjunga and her entourage of lesser peaks are clearly
visible from Tiger Hill, the highest vantage point in Darjeeling. Even the elusive Everest
puts in an appearance when the skies are clear. On cloudy days, the mist-shrouded peaks
make an awe-inspiring backdrop to Darjeeling's own beauty. The Senchal Lake
at a height of 2,448m is a charming picnic spot nearby.
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Darjeeling became a favourite haunt of
Kolkata-wallahs during the days of the Raj. Being a border town, the influence of its
neighbours, Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal is palpable - it is here that you can feast on momos
and kebabs, have a typical English tea with cake and crumpets, shop for ethnic bric-a-brac
or simply hang around the main market at Chowrasta.
Hindu and Buddhist cultures rub shoulders all over town. The Dhirdham Temple
is the most prominent Hindu temple here, but Darjeeling's Buddhist monasteries stand out
with their prayer wheels and colourful pennants fluttering in the breeze. The Bhutia
Busty Gompa, stands out with the majestic Kanchenjunga as a backdrop. Its library
holds the original copy of the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Shrouded under a cloud of mist is
the Yogachoeling Gompa popularly called Ghoom, which
enshrines an image of the Maitreya Buddha. This is one of the best-known monasteries in
Darjeeling, 8 kms out of town. The other monasteries in Darjeeling are the Samdenchoeling,
Sakyachoeling, Phin Sotholing, Aloobari, Thupten Sangachoeling and Sonada Gompas.
Another place worth visiting in Darjeeling is the Bengal Natural History Museum
with its amazing collection of Himalayan flora and fauna, and the Padmaja Naidu
Himalayan Zoological Park that houses rare species like the snow leopard,
Siberian tigers, red pandas and the Tibetan wolf. For mountaineering enthusiasts a visit
to the famous Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) is a must, if only to view the
mementos from all the Everest expeditions of the past.
Tea has for long been Darjeeling's major claim to fame. The steep slopes are intricately
patterned with a maze of tea plantations. The fragrance of tea blossoms wafts through the
town and the markets are flooded with uniquely packaged pouches of tea - pleasing gifts to
take back home. While you are in Darjeeling, visit a tea plantation and savour some of the
local brew at any of the wayside cafés.
Getting to Darjeeling
Darjeeling is 651 km from Kolkata and 51 km from Kalimpong by road. Bagdogra, 96 km away,
is the nearest airport, connected to Kolkata, Delhi, and Guwahati. From here a bus or
private taxi can get you to Darjeeling in 3 hours. New Jalpaiguri is the nearest railhead
with connections to major cities in the country. The Toy Train to Darjeeling takes a
picturesque 7-hour route via New Jalpaiguri. Within Darjeeling, jeeps and Land Rovers are
available on hire.
Best time to visit Darjeeling
The best time to visit is from April to June and September to December. Average summer
temperatures hover between 14°C and 8°C and the winter temperatures fall to between 6°C
and 1°C. You will need light woollens for summer and heavy woollens for winter.
Accommodation in Darjeeling
There is no dearth of places to stay in Darjeeling - from charming mansions and modern
hotels to homely Tibetan affairs and a youth hostel for budget travellers. Tariffs vary
greatly depending on the season and the type of accommodation, but do remember to check
the water situation! |
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