Darjeeling Travel Guide: Best Places to Visit in Darjeeling

Darjeeling a part of the eastern Himalayan Range is a beautiful hill resort in North East of India. The scenic Singalila Ridge, Heritage toy train & miles of lush Tea Garden are some of the Best Places to visit in Darjeeling. Darjeeling with it’s mild climate & laid back charm provides the perfect ambiance of a hill resort. Darjeeling with it’s verdant hills and valleys are steeped in color and are interspersed with vast stretches of lush green tea gardens. Presiding over all these is the 8586 m Mt. Kanchenjunga looming over the northern horizon giving a magical aura to the land, thus making Darjeeling one of the best places to visit in India.

 

Heavily influenced by British, Darjeeling still carries the imprints of its colonial past. Heritage Toy train, Colonial  Structures, British Style Public Schools are some of the most striking examples of British Raj influence. The queen of the hills conjures visions of serenity of vibrant green hills steeped in splendor. Consequently, lush Tea Gardens shadowed by the Kanchenjunga Range makes Darjeeling the best place to visit, truly “Queen of the hills”.


Travel Guide to Places around Darjeeling

The Mall & Chowrasta: When in Darjeeling Chowrasta is the place to visit. Chowrasta literally means a place where the four tracks meet. It is a wide promenade atop a ridge lined with shops and restaurants. There are sitting arrangement all around the place, a place where the local citizen along with the tourist mingle. The very soul of Darjeeling for a cultural meet. Take a walk around Mall road starting and finishing at Chowrasta for views of the Kanchenjunga Range and the Tea Gardens and the valleys down below.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute & The Zoological Garden: Likewise Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute are the two Places that one should visit while in Darjeeling. The Zoological Park with the rare and elusive Snow Leopard, the Clouded Leopard, the endangered Red Panda and a host of other Birds and animals are the two places to visit in Darjeeling. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute located inside this Park is another place to visit. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is dedicated to mountaineering in the Himalayas. It trains young minds interested in climbing peaks in the future. It also has a special section dedicated to Everest in Nepal. A must visit place in Darjeeling for a traveler.

 Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Center:  The Tibetan Self Help Refugee Center is a major center for production of Tibetan Carpets & hand carvings and the best place to visit while in Darjeeling. As the name suggests, this is where the Tibetan’s were initially housed after their exodus from Tibet in the Year 1962 and before. Tibetans old and young dedicate their free time weaving Yak Wool Carpets and other Artifacts for the benefit of the Tibetan Government in Exile. 

Peace Pagoda: The Best Places to visit in Darjeeling is the Peace Pagoda.A magnificent structure that stands as a symbol of hope and unity. Situated within the town of Darjeeling, the Peace Pagoda is a testament to the power of coming together in the pursuit of world peace. Built with the intention of bringing people from all walks of life together, the Peace Pagoda in Darjeeling serves as a focal point for individuals of diverse backgrounds and beliefs. Designed by M. Ohka, Its foundation stone was laid by Nichidatsu Fujii on 3rd.November 1972, and the construction was completed after 36 months, and finally inaugurated in 1992. Standing proudly amidst the serene surroundings of Darjeeling, it houses the four avatars of Buddha, including the revered Maitreya Buddha.

Batasia Loop:  Furthermore other places of interest to visit in Darjeeling is the Batasia Loop. The Batasia Loop in Darjeeling, India, is a fascinating engineering marvel. With its spiral railway design, this unique loop helps to lower the gradient of ascent for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. As the track spirals, passing through a tunnel and over a hilltop, it offers a mesmerizing Himalayan spectacle for both train enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Commissioned in 1919, the Batasia Loop stands as a testament to human ingenuity and the stunning beauty of the Darjeeling district in West Bengal.

Ghoom Monastery: Also known as the Yiga Choling Monastery it belongs to the Gelukpa or the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The Ghoom Monastery was built by Sokpo Sherab Gyatso a Mongolian monk and an astrologer in 1850 AD. He also remained the head Monk of the Ghoom Monastery till the year 1905. This monastery is also famous for it’s 15 feet high statue of Maitreya Buddha. 

  Tea Gardens of Darjeeling: Not to forget a visit to the Tea Gardens of Darjeeling too. The Happy Valley Tea Garden within walking distance from the main town of Darjeeling is a place to visit while in Darjeeling. Established in 1850 is the second oldest Tea Garden in Darjeeling and also one of the highest Tea Factories in the world. This Tea Garden was chosen to manufacture quality tea for Harrods of United Kingdom. 

Best Places to Visit in Darjeeling
HMI photo@vdas
Best Places to Visit in Darjeeling
Chowrasta
Ghoom Monastery
Places to visit in Darjeeling
Tibetan Refugee Center
Places to visit in Darjeeling
Darjeeling Tea Garden
Darjeeling Toy Train

Singalila Ridge- The Best Place to wander while in Darjeeling

Singalila Ridge is another best place to visit while in Darjeeling. For an adventurer, you can either hike to Sandakphu and Phalut, the two best places to visit in Darjeeling for mesmerizing Himalayan views. You can also take a jeep ride if you are not keen on Hiking. Every season hikers and visitors from near and far visit the Singalila Ridge in Darjeeling for the purpose of Hiking and also for the Himalayan views that this place in Darjeeling offers. The shorter Manebhanjyang Sandakphu Gurdum Circuit Trek, and the longer Sandakphu Phalut Trek are the two main trekking trails that many hikers undertake.

For those not accustomed to Hiking a Jeep Ride to Sandakphu and Phalut, the two highest peaks in Darjeeling, India is an alternative way to visit the two best places while in Darjeeling. 

Besides, a trek in the Neora Valley Reserve Park is not to be missed out too. The best place to visit in the Darjeeling Hills for the Red Panda. For a complete Guide to visit the best places in Darjeeling do write to us. 

Sandakphu Phalut Trek in Darjeeling
Sandakphu Phalut Trek
5/5

Duration-6Days Distance-80 Km.        Max. Altitude-3636 m

Darjeeling Singalila Ridge Trek
Sandakphu Gurdum Trek
5/5

Duration-4 Days Distance-54 Km                Max. Altitude-3636 m

Rachela Pass Trek / Neora Valley Trek
Neora Valley Trek
4.5/5

Duration-4 Days Distance-54 Km              Max. Altitude-3152 m

Darjeeling Day Hiking/Best Trekking Route in Darjeeling
Darjeeling Day Hiking
5/5

Duration-1 Day Distance-NA                          Max. Altitude-NA

Darjeeling Toy Train

When you are on a visit to Darjeeling do not forget to take a ride in the Darjeeling Toy Train. The Darjeeling Toy Train as it is fondly called is 2 feet or 610 mm narrow gauge railway that runs between Siliguri and Darjeeling. Built by the British between 1879 and 1891, a ride on the Darjeeling Toy is a must do  activity when are on a visit to Darjeeling. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway runs some special trains for the tourist between Darjeeling and Ghoom Railway Station. This is a two hour and 14 Km train ride with 10 minutes stoppage at Batasia Loop and 20 minutes stoppage at Ghoom Railway Station. 

If you are keen on taking a Joy Ride in the Darjeeling Toy Train, then you can call up and check the availability on this Phone Number (Inquiry): +91 354-2252555 ..

While in Darjeeling Try out these Adventure Activities
Mountain Biking in Darjeeling
Mountain Biking
Dooars wildlife Safari
Wildlife Tours
Darjeeling Bird watching Tour
Darjeeling Birding Tours

The other best places to visit a little away in Darjeeling is Tiger Hill. Tiger Hill is a small mountain top at an elevation 2590 m. Considered as the best Place to visit when in Darjeeling, Tiger Hill has Panoramic views of the Everest and the Kanchenjunga in a single glance. The 180 Degree view of the four highest mountains in the world is what draws people to Tiger Hill. Visitors come to watch the sunrise on this hill with dramatic views of Mount Everest & Kanchenjunga. The distance between Tiger Hill and Everest in a straight line is 172 Km. 

A Day walk to a small village of Chatakpur on the out skirts of Darjeeling is yet another best place to visit. Chatakpur, a small hill top village around Tiger Hill provides 120 Degree view of the Kanchenjunga Range, definitely among the best places to visit. The serene ambiance amidst the lush forest of the Senchal Wildlife Park is also a paradise for nature lovers and as well for Bird watchers too.   

Best Tours in Darjeeling
Darjeeling Sandakphu Trek
Darjeeling Sandakphu Jeep Tour
Sikkim Darjeeling Tour
Darjeeling Sikkim Tour
Darjeeling Tour
Darjeeling Day Tours
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