Darjeeling Travel Guide

Darjeeling  meaning ‘place  of the dorja-thunderbolt’ (or possibly named  after  dorja  the mystical), and the surrounding  area  once  belonged  to the Rajas, of Sikkim, although parts  were  annexed  from time to time by the Bhutanese  and Nepalis.

Popularly  known  as the “Queen  of Hill Station’s”,  Darjeeling  is at a height  of 2134 mts. ( 7000 ft.), surrounded  by tea  plantations  and offers a magnificent  view  of the Himalayan  panorama  including  the Kanchenjunga  peak. Darjeeling  has been a popular  hill station  since the  British  established  it as a rest and recreation  centre  for their  troops  in the early  19th  century. Indians  and foreigners still  come here in  drovers  to escape  the heat, humidity and  hassle  of the north  Indian  plain  and to expire  Buddhist  monasteries.

Built on the crescent shaped ridge, it faces the Himalaya; the surrounding hills thickly covered with coniferous forests or terraced tea gardens.  The Europeans who built the houses with commanding views originally occupied the upper reaches.

Places of interest  include the Lloyd  Botanical  Gardens, the Natural  History Museum, Dhirdham Temple near the railway station, built  after the  Pashupatinath  temple of Kathmandu, the Himalayan  Mountaineering  Institute, displaying  the priceless  mountaineering  gear  worn by  Sherpa  Tenzing  Norgay, the first  person  to scale  Mount Everest, along with  Edumund  Hillary of New Zealand, and the adjacent  Zoological  park.

There’s  also  the  Darjeeling Jangeet  valley   ropeway, a 2 kms  long journey  between Darjeeling, with  its beautiful  Buddhist  monastery   containing  a huge gilded  statue  of the seated  Maitereya  Buddha.

A breathtakingly  beautiful  journey  by  mountain  train  or  car or bus  will take  one to Darjeeling, perched  beautifully  on the roof  of the world. Studded with exotic little Bazzars, lovely villas, forests and gardens, the town itself is enveloped with the aroma of the world famous Darjeeling tea. The best time to visit Darjeeling is from March to mid-June and from September to mid-December.

Places of attraction

Batasia Loop: A unique and marvellous feat of railway engineering of the 19th century the Batasia loop provides a delightful view of the ‘toy’train to Darjeeling as it winds its way around the loop.

Ghoom Buddhist Monastery: The friendly monks of the yellow Hat sect run This Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. The monastery and a precious statue of the “coming” Buddha. The important Yiga-Choling Gompa houses famous Buddhist scriptures. Built in 1875 it enshrines an image of Maitreya Buddha (Future Buddha) and the friendly monks belong to the Gelukpa order.

Happy valley tea Estate: One of the nearest tea gardens from Darjeeling town here one can see the processing of  the world famous Darjeeling tea.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute: This institute was founded in 1954 to commemorate the first conquest of Mount Everest in 1953 by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary which provided the impetus to mountaineering as an organized sport. Located on the western spur of the Jawahar Parbat the institute’s building contains many interesting exhibits including a detailed relief model of the Himalayas costumes of the Himalayan hill folk a chronological history of the attempts to reach the peak and flags and pennants planted on the peaks by climbing expeditions. This is located within the zoo and boasts the Mountaineering Museum with a collection of mountaineering equipment specimens of Himalayan flora and fauna and a relief model of the Himalaya showing the principal peaks. Next door the fascinating Everest Museum traces the history of attempts on the highest peak with photographs and biographies of all the summiteers.

Himalayan Zoological Park : Located adjacent to the Himalayan mountaineering Institute this Zoological Park contains high altitude wildlife such as the Siberian Tiger, Himalayan black bear, Deer etc.

Lebong Race Course: One of the smallest and highest racecourses in the world races are held here during the spring and autumn seasons.

Lloyd’s Botanical Gardens: Located just below the main Market Motor stand this garden has a rare collection of Himalayan flora including alpine plants, geraniums, rhododendrons, tree ferns and various conifers. Opened in 1865 the Lloyd’s Botanical Garden is also one of the oldest Botanical garden in India.

Rangeet Valley Ropeway: India’s first passenger ropeway a 30-minute joyride down the mountainside by cable car is quite an experience. It is an exhilarating ride although a little scary if windy and pointless if the clouds or fog are thick.

The Shrubbery: This beautiful rock garden on the Jawahar Parbat behind Raj Bhavan was planned in 1976. A magnificent view of the Kachenjunga range and Singla valley can be had from here.

Tiger Hill: The highest spot in the area is Tiger Hill situated at an altitude of 2,555 mts. above sea level; it provides an unforgettable view of the sunrise over the mighty peaks of Everest and Kanchenjunga. Tiger Hill also the starting Point for one-day hikes through Himalayan mountain trails. Mount Everest 225 kms away is visible on a clear day.

Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre: The centre with its temple school and hospital is on Gandhi Road. After the Chinese invasion thousands of Tibetan refugees settled in Darjeeling and the rehabilitation centre was set up in 1959 to enable them to continue to practice their skills and provide a sales outlet.
Others are Ava Art Gallery Bhutia Basty Monastery, Chowrasta, Dhirdham Temple, Drukpa Kargyod (Monastery), Happy Valley Tea Estate, Hayden Hall, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Lal Kothi, Lebong Race Course, Observatory Hill, Lloyds Botanical Garden, Mungpo, Natural History Museum, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Sain’s Himalayan Art Gallery, Samtencholing Monastery, The Shrubbery , Step-Aside, Tenzing Rock & Gombu Rock. Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre Tiger Hill YIGA-Choling Buddhist Monastery Ghoom.

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