Surrounded by the Himalayan bliss and wrapped in the warmth of the nature, Darjeeling is one of the most famous tourist places in India. Located in the northern part of West Bengal, this small town also know as the ‘ Queen of the hills ’ is quite felicitous for vacations. The cheery view of summer, the spotless nature after the monsoon rainfall, the cold and peaceful days of winter, and the mellowness of the local people are the reasons why many travelers visit Darjeeling. Beside what nature provides, Darjeeling also has many man-made attractions, the toy train being the most significant one. Darjeeling has many beautiful places which are visited by the tourists throughout the year and the magnificent view of Mt. Kanchenjunga form the view-points of Darjeeling is the icing on the cake. Last but not the least Darjeeling tea is considered as one of the finest teas in the world. The tea gardens of Darjeeling are also very fascinating and many tourists often visit these tea gardens.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is fondly called as the “Toy Train”. This toy train ride of Darjeeling is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and this popular ride connects Darjeeling with Siliguri. It is one of a kind experience and is one of the famous narrow 2 feet gauge trains. This amazing toy train runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling and it also passes through one of the highest stations in the world that is Ghum. This station is nestled at an altitude of 2258 meters and offers a spectacular aura filled with natural bliss.
Watching the sun rise from Tiger Hill, witnessing the panoramic view of the Mount Everest and Mount Kanchenjunga together, the golden rays over the horizon symbolises a new beginning full of hope and faith is one the best experiences in Darjeeling. Also, after the mesmerizing view of the sun rise and the mountains form the view point, the blessing of the Sincheal Singh Devi Dham ( a Hindu temple ) awaits with the peaceful environment of the Sinchel forest
The Peace Pagoda is built near the Japanese Temple which showcases four avatars of Lord Buddha. The Pagoda at the pinnacle has beautiful art work enchanted on the sand stones that looks like wooden framework depicting the life of Buddha and his relics. From the top of the Peace Pagoda, you can witness the panoramic view of Darjeeling landscape including the Kanchenjunga range.
The wonderful temple also known as the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Temple was built in the year 1972 showcasing classic Japanese style of architecture. This place provides a serene and a quit sanctum where the visitors can meditate and seek inner peace. Inside the temple there are wooden steps that lead to the prayer room upstairs. The prayer timings are from 4:30 am to 6 am in the morning and form 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm in the evening. The visitors are also allowed to join the prayer and feel the divine peace that the temple offers
Located in the Birch Hill area ( now known as Jawahar Parvat ) the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park commonly known as Darjeeling Zoo is very popular among the tourists who visit Darjeeling. The Darjeeling Zoo is famous for red panda, the Siberian tiger, snow leopard, Himalayan yak and the Asian black bear. Beside alive animals there is also a museum that you can visit. The HMI Darjeeling is also located there which gives the visitors a chance to take part in rock climbing, zipline and other activities which is a thrilling experience.
Tenzing & Gombu Rock are located on the Lebong Cart Road and are opposite to each other. The huge rocks provide a real rock climb experiences for the tourists who are interested in outdoor adventurous activities. The struggle of climbing the rock overwhelmed by joy of the victory after concurring the rocks by climbing the top is one of the best feelings. To add on to your victory, the view from the top of the Tenzing rock is magnificent
Taking a ride on the Ropeway is one of the best ways to witness the most breathetaking panoramic view of Darjeeling. The eye-catching view of the valley around the river Little Rangeet, the mesmerizing view of the tea gardens and the journey from an altitude of 7,000 ft. down to 800 ft. is a 40 minutes long ride. It is indeed one of the best experiences for the tourists who want capture the most beautiful view of Darjeeling with their eyes.
Darjeeling tea is very famous around the world. Blanketed with the emerald green plantation of tea, the tea gardens of Darjeeling attract a lot of tourism. The chitrey Tea garden attracts a lot of tourism as tourists who visit the Tibetan Refugee Centre often park their cars at the side of the road, buy a cup of Darjeeling tea and taking a waling in the garden with one of the best views of Mount Kanchenjunga enjoy every sip of their tea.
Located in the isolated hills of the Hermitage, the Tibetan Refugee Centre was initially built to provide emergency relief to Tibetan refugees. Now it has become one of the most famous tourist destinations of Darjeeling. The tourists often visit this place to see the Tibetan hand craft. The Tibetan refugees out there do hand crafts and sell those items to earn money and support their living. The visitors often get amazed by these hand crafts and buy them so they can take these back home with them as a memento.
Located 10 km away from the Darjeeling town the Rock Garden also known as the Barbotey rack garden is multi-level picnic ground, terraced around a natural waterfall with a beautiful view of the hill stream cascading over the rocks along the slopes. The entire garden is created by cutting rocks at different levels and making terraced sitting arrangements at various levels. The Rock Garden also has sitting places where you can sit and relax, take a rest observing the flower garden and the small lake.
Ganga Maya Park is located 3 km below the Rock Garden. It was named after an innocent victim of police firing during the agitation. The park meanders down the course of a chortling mountain stream and you can find yourself at foothill of mountains that rise on all sides. The valley is covered by natural water streams with arch bridge build over them. While crossing the bridge we can see the clear water flowing down the stream and on crossing one of the arch bridge, there is a large lake surrounded by mountains on all sides where you can also enjoy boating on peddling boats.
Located along the famous Toy Train journey en route from Siliguri to Darjeeling, Batasia Loop is a captivating spot that lies between Ghoom and Darjeeling. This remarkable engineering marvel of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways offers a breathtaking spectacle of the snowcapped Himalayan Peaks, including the majestic Mt. Kanchenjunga. The railway line gracefully negotiates a circular path while descending 1000 feet in altitude. At the heart of Batasia Loop stands a War Memorial dedicated to the courageous Gorkha Soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation's sovereignty. This memorial, sanctified in 1995, commemorates their valor and is a poignant reminder of their sacrifices. Surrounding the loop is an eco-garden with picturesque seating areas providing a picturesque setting to soak in the panoramic views of Darjeeling town and nearby markets offering a variety of handicrafts and souvenirs. Restaurants and hotels in the vicinity offer delicious meals with equally stunning vistas, making Batasia Loop a must-visit historical and natural wonder in Darjeeling.
Ghoom Monastery, also known as Yiga Choeling Monastery, is located merely 1 km from Ghoom Railway Station. With its roots tracing back to 1850, when it was established by the Mongolian astrologer and monk Sokpo Sherab Gyatso, this ancient Tibetan Buddhist monastery holds the distinction of being the first of its kind in the Darjeeling region. The monastery is a spiritual oasis, renowned for its magnificent 15-foot statue of Maitreya Buddha, often referred to as the Buddha of the future. Crafted under the guidance of Lama Domo Geshe Rinpoche, this colossal statue, one of the largest and oldest in the Darjeeling area, is meticulously sculpted from clay sourced from Tibet and is flanked by two towering oil lamps that illuminate the shrine throughout the year. Inside the monastery's sacred halls, a fascinating array of Buddhist deities and lamas, including Chenrezig (Avalokitesvara) and Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelugpa sect, await discovery. Furthermore, an extensive collection of precious handwritten Buddhist manuscripts is safeguarded here, a testament to the timeless wisdom of Buddhism. The sonorous chimes of bells and the rhythmic cadence of a colossal drum create a harmonious ambiance that envelops visitors. Ghoom Monastery offers travelers not just a spiritual journey but also an opportunity to immerse themselves in the artistry and culture of this ancient tradition.