Darjeeling: The Himalayan Paradise
Introduction (A Glance)
Nestled in the picturesque lower Himalayan range is one of the oldest hill stations of India, Darjeeling. This beautiful hill station in West Bengal owes its name to the Tibetan word, Dorjeling, which literally translates to, a land of thunderbolts. Darjeeling in the early 19th century was a cluster of villages ruled by the Nepalese and Sikkimese kings. It was the British East India Company that decided to convert this remote settlement into a summer retreat for the British in India. The East India Company in the year 1835 leased Darjeeling from the Sikkimese king and Lord Napier was one of the founders of this hill station.
Although, the majority of the population in Darjeeling are Nepali, there are many other ethnic groups, such as Lepchas, Sherpas, Tibetan, Bengalis, Bhutias, Biharis and Marwaris. The influence of all these cultures is evident in the number of festivals celebrated across Darjeeling. Apart from the diverse range of festivals celebrated, Darjeeling hill council organizes a ten day cultural carnival. This carnival basically focuses on the cultural music and dance, and magnificent visuals from all over Darjeeling are displayed here.
Darjeeling is probably best known as a producer of one of the finest tea in the world. It was the British who started experimenting with tea plantations and they realized that Darjeeling was very well suited for tea plantations. Another proud possession of Darjeeling is the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, also known as the toy train. This narrow-gauge railway stretches for approximately 80 kilometres from Siliguri to Darjeeling. The journey from Siliguri to Darjeeling approximately takes 3 hours but in this steam engine powered railway, the journey might take you close to 10 hours. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which is now declared as a world heritage site cuts across the beautiful hills and tea gardens and climbs to an elevation of approximately 7000 feet.
How to Reach (Getting There)
Darjeeling is beautiful during the spring and summer with the maximum temperature being 24 degree Celsius and the hills are covered with rhododendrons. The monsoons start from July till September and are characterized by heavy rains and landslides. Bagdogra is the nearest airport to Darjeeling and New Jalpaiguri is the nearest railway station. Both these places are approximately 90-94 kilometres away from Darjeeling. Buses and cars are easily available from both these places, or the option of toy train is also available. Darjeeling is connected by road to Siliguri, Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan.
Tourist Destinations (Attractions)
The district of Darjeeling is spread over approximately 1,200 square miles with the main town of Darjeeling as the district capital. The description of Darjeeling is never complete if one does not mention Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak. The view of the snow capped mountains from anywhere in Darjeeling is spectacular, but its view at sunrise from one of the highest peaks in Darjeeling, the Tiger Hill is incomparable. Tiger Hill is approximately 8 kilometres away from the main town and transport can easily be arranged. After the magnificent sunrise, on the way back to the main town you could stop at the beautiful Buddhist monasteries on the way. Darjeeling has a very strong Buddhist influence, resulting in numerous monasteries across the entire district.
Darjeeling has a very colonial feel about it. Some of the buildings and structures have been preserved and still have the British architecture. The best way to explore the main town is by foot. Like any other hill station in India, the heart of the town is a mall area. In Darjeeling this mall area is known as chowrastha, a huge open circle surrounded by small shops, cafes and curio shops. The chowrastha is overlooked by an observatory hill, which is home to one of the oldest temples in Darjeeling, the Mahakal temple. One can either sit in one of the cafes in chowrastha for hours together or take a stroll on the road that circles the observatory hill. This road offers one of the most spectacular views in Darjeeling. In close proximity to the chowrastha is the zoological park of Darjeeling, which houses Siberian tigers, Tibetan wolves and snow leopards. One can either take a walk to the zoo from chowrastha or hire a taxi.
Darjeeling was home to the famous conqueror of Everest, Tenzing Sherpa. Continuing the legacy is the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute of Darjeeling. The HMI, as it is known as, is the main centre for all the mountaineering aspirants across India. There is also a natural rock, very near to the HMI, where one can get a few tips and get an experience of rock climbing. Darjeeling has a numbers of parks and gardens. The most famous among these are the rock garden and the botanical garden. The rock garden is approximately 12 kilometres from the main town and is a picturesque garden, landscaped surrounding a stream that cuts across the hills. Situated 2 kilometres away from the rock garden is the Ganga Maya Park, which has a small man-made lake with boating facilities. The botanical garden is spread over 40-acres and is surrounded by firs, conifers, alpine tress, cherry, maples, willows, chestnut trees and lots of Himalayan evergreens. Its houses numerous species of orchids and species of flora have been brought here from all over the world to create a spectacular picture.
Darjeeling is also a paradise for adventure sports. It offers one of the most spectacular trekking routes in India, the trek to the adjoining hills with the breath-taking views in the Singalila ridge. If not a trek one can opt for mountain biking in this area. The two magnificent Himalayan rivers, the Teesta and the Rangeet River flow through the low lying regions of the district. It is because of these two rivers that white water rafting has become so popular in Darjeeling. For the laid back tourists, Darjeeling offers the perfect ride, the ropeway. The ropeway spans from Darjeeling to Rangeet valley and hangs over acres of happy valley tea estate.
Hotels and Resorts (The Stay)
Tourism is one of the main industries in Darjeeling. Thus there are number of accommodation choices for every budget. The Windamere is a heritage hotel and is situated in chowrastha. Apart from that there are many star hotels, such as Mayfair Hill resorts, the Sterling Resorts, Cedar Inn, Sinclairs and New Elgin, the stay in these hotels will cost anywhere between Rs 1000 to 4500 per day. There are a number of budget hotels too catering too all kinds of budget, starting from Rs 300 per day. The diverse culture is reflected in the food served in the restaurants too, the most popular dish being the Tibetan dumplings or momos. There are many restaurants in Darjeeling, which still have that colonial charm, such as Cevenders, serving continental food; Glenary’s, which houses a bakery, a British-styled pub and a multi-cuisine restaurant, and many other restaurants, which offer Indian, Chinese, Nepali, Tibetan, continental and fast food. Apart from food and tea, Darjeeling also offers tongba, a local alcoholic drink that is unique to the Himalayan regions. Darjeeling does not have a great night life but has some nice pubs, a multiplex and shopping malls.
The best time to visit Darjeeling is from September to November, with festivals and carnivals taking place. The winters in Darjeeling are characterized by occasional snowfalls and the snow coverts Darjeeling into a picture perfect sight. Be it adventure sports, the beautiful tea gardens, the picturesque landscape, the serenity of the hills, the diverse Himalayan flora and fauna, the colonial charm or even education in one of the best boarding schools in India, Darjeeling has something to offer all its visitors