Darjeeling is one of the leading holiday destinations in India and the world. From all over the world a lot of tourists travel to Darjeeling every year. It is situated at the foothills of the Himalayas in the state of West Bengal in India. It is located at an altitude of 2014 M and is approximately 6709 feet above sea level.
The name Darjeeling came from the Tibetan words ‘dorje’ which means Thunderbolt and ‘ling’ is land; hence it means ‘The land of thunderbolt. Darjeeling is also known as ‘the Queen of Hills’.Darjeeling is famous for her worldwide famous tea and, of course, A wandering view of the Mighty Kanchenjunga also called the sleeping Buddha. If you have just 2 days in hand, you can choose seven points of Darjeeling.
Table of Contents
What are the seven points of Darjeeling?
- Darjeeling Zoo
- Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
- Museum
- Roeway
- Tenzing Rock
- Tea Garden
- Tibetan Refugee Centre
1. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park:
It is popularly called the Darjeeling Zoo. This zoological park is dedicated to the memory of Padmaja Naidu, the daughter of Sarojini Naidu(She is known as the NIghtangle of India). The zoo was opened in 1958 And has an average elevation of 7000 feet is the largest high-altitude zoo in India.
The zoo was essentially famous for its captive Breeding program for the snow leopard, the endangered Himalayan Salamander, the Tibetian Wolf, and the Red Panda. You can also watch out for Himalayan Tahr, blue sheep, Himalayan Monal, Mountain goat, Royal Bengal Tiger, and many extinctive birds.
Timing- 8.30 am to 4.00 pm (Thursday Closed)
Entry fees-Indians and SAARC countries (Adult)- INR 110
Children below 6 years – Nil
Foreigners- INR 180
Camera charge- INR 10
Duration- 4 to 5 hours
2. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute:
The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute(HMI) is one of the premier mountaineering institutes in the world. It is situated beside Darjeeling Zoo. It was founded by Pandit Jawaharlal Neheru, the first PM of India in 1954. HMI is also called the Mecca of Indian Mountaineering.
The institute has trained thousands of people from across the world in Mountaineering activities. HMI offers 23 courses like Adventure courses, Basic courses, search and Rescue special courses, etc. In 1954 Tenzing Norgay became the first Director of HMI. There is a small hill where you can climb the rope like a mountaineer. Apart from this, many sports activities are very suitable for trekking in the mountains.
If you are interested in the mountaineering course then You can check out the course availability from here https://hmidarjeeling.com/course-programme/course-programme-2024-2025/.
Timing – 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. (Thursday Closed)
Duration-1 hour
Entry Fee- It is included with the Zoo ticket.
3. HMI Museum:
It is situated beside the HMI institution. In 1957, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Museum was established. It promotes awareness about mountaineering, the Himalayan environment, art, and culture, attracting nearly half a million visitors annually. A major highlight is the exhibit featuring the flora and fauna of the Himalayan region. A special attraction features gear used during the first successful Everest ascent in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
The museum houses a wide range of items including models, sculptures, paintings, books and manuscripts, traditional attire, personal belongings, and artifacts that reflect the mountaineering history and the region’s heritage.
Timing- 9.00 am to 05.00 pm(except Thursday)
Duration- 1 hour 30 minutes
Entry fee- It is included with the Zoo ticket.
4. Darjeeling Ropeway:
Darjeeling Ropeway is one of the most favorite tourist activities in Darjeeling. It is popularly known as Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Car Cable. Everyone from young to old loves to ride this cable car. You should come here in the morning because here you can see the rush of people.
It starts from Singamari which is 3 km(1.6 miles) away from the main town. The ropeway has 6 people seating capacity. It is running above the tea garden. The ropeway is running from 7000 ft to 6000ft. From the ropeway, you can enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of Darjeeling town with the surroundings of mountain hills, especially you can enjoy Kanchenjungha, the third highest mountain peak in the World.
Time duration- 40 minutes
Entry fee- 260 for adults and 130 for children.
5. Tenzing Rock:
Tenzing and Gombu Rocks are two landmarks situated beside the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, directly facing each other. The big size Tenzing Rock is named in honor of Tenzing Norgay, renowned for his historic ascent of Mount Everest alongside Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953.
The Gombu Rock situated on the opposite is named after Nawang Gombu, Tenzing’s nephew. Gombu was the first person to summit Mt Everest twice. Here you can experience rock climbing. Experience trainers are present here. They can guide you to climbing the rock. It will be a wonderful experience.
6. World Famous Darjeeling Tea:
Darjeeling Is known as ‘the Mecca of tea’ Exceptional quality of tea plantation. Darjeeling is one of the largest producers of tea in the world. As per the experts, these teas are the highest elevation produced teas in the world which creates an ideal environment to grow. One of the most expensive teas is the Silver Tips Imperial Tea due to its distinctive buds that appear like silver needles and have a fruity aroma.
Some famous tea gardens are-
a)Makaibari Tea Estate
b)Gopaldhara Tea Estate
c)Happy Valley Tea Estate.
d)Puttabong Tea Estate
e)Glenburn Tea Estate
f)Lebong Tea Garden
Where you can taste typical Darjeeling tea. You can also see tea leaves being picked by women in Darjeeling tea Plantations. You can also help them to pick up tea leaves. You can take photos inside the tea garden wearing their traditional clothes.
7. Tibetan Refugee Centre:
It is located in Lebong and locally referred to as the Hermitage, the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre(TRSHC) was established on October 2, 1959. The center emerged through funds raised by local charity initiatives. It was originally set up to offer immediate aid to Tibetan Refugees who undertook a perilous journey across the Himalayas to seek refuge in India.
It is registered under charitable organizations under Indian law, the center initially operated with just four workers. Over time, it has expanded into a thriving community, now housing 130 Tibetan families. Its activities extend beyond basic relief efforts, focusing on promoting traditional crafts and offering vocational training to artisans.
Timing- 08.00 am to 04.30 pm
Time Duration- 1 hour 30 minutes
Where to stay?
Darjeeling has a lot of hotels. So don’t worry about your staying. You can stay mainly 3 areas in Darjeeling – 1. Mall Road( where hotel prices are much higher) 2. Darjeeling Railway Station 3. Offbeat location.
How To Reach?
By Air:-
Nearest airport-Bagdogra airport
Though it is a domestic airport if you come from any city of India you can direct or indirect flight from there to Bagdogra. If you come from a European country or an American country, the nearest Airport is in Kolkata which is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Then you can catch a domestic flight from Kolkata to Siliguri which is Bagdogra Airport.
After reaching Bagdogra Airport you can book a cab which Can reach your destination i.e., Darjeeling. The distance from the airport to Darjeeling is approximately 85 km, and the time duration should be 2 to 2.5 hours.
By Train:-
If you’re going from Kolkata to Siliguri (NJP) then you can get so many options from Sealdah Howrah station. You can book any train according to your schedule. Ticket prices are 350 INR to 2500 INR according to various classes.
Now It’s time to go to Darjeeling.
You can book a cab from Siliguri Station or NJP station To Darjeeling. The time duration should be 2 hours 30 minutes.
Cab Pricing- If you go to the share cab then it costs approximately 250 INR to 350 INR per head.
If you book a reserved cab then it costs approximately 3000 INR to 4000 INR.
If you are a solo and budget traveler then you can book a seat of Govt. bus which costs approximately 110 INR.
Last but not least there is another great option to reach Darjeeling from NJP which is the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway also known as Toy Train. If you have enough time to explore then you can get a ride on Toy Train.
Toy Train ticket prices vary from 650 INR to 1600 INR based on various classes.
I think this travel blog will help you explore Darjeeling city. Best wishes in advance for your next trip.
Thank you.
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