Most Popular Hill Station In India,darjeeling
In Darjeeling feast your eyes on the panoramic views of the snow clad peaks of the
Himalayas that are straight out of a postcard and provide a welcome relief from the dust and soot of urban India.
The Toy Train was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999.The whole railway track from Siliguri to Darjeeling is considered to be an engineering feat. In the 51 miles of track, it climbs from sea level to around 7,400 ft. high. Engineers have used "loop" and "zig-zag reverses" methods to
achieve this. No tunnels have been built on this route and therefore the railway line has very sharp curves the line follows the contours of the mountain face. Darjeeling tea is universally acknowledged to be the finest tea in the world. Tea planting was introduced in 1841 by one Dr Campbell who brought a China tea plant and grew it on the slopes near his home in Darjeeling. Today only 10 million kgs of Darjeeling tea is produced annually and the tea planters here do not compromise on the quality of tea picked. The altitude, soil and the nature of the workers all go along way into making Darjeeling tea what it is today - the world''s most exotically flavoured tea!
Historically Speaking
Darjeeling originally belonged to the independent state of Sikkim. Later in the eighteenth century, it was taken over by the Bhutanese and the Gurkhas. The British East India Company in its many annexes finally gained control of the town and developed its potential as a sanatorium, and a "rest and
recreation" centre for the troops and a pass to Nepal and Tibet. Even today, the place is full of Sherpas, Gurkhas, Bhutias and Nepalis.
Shopping
Shop for ethnic knick-knacks or simply hang around the main market at Chowrasta. Hindu and Buddhist cultures rub shoulders all over town, and you can pick up beautiful ''thangkas'' and carpets.Hayden Hall is a place to look for the exclusive Tibetan Carpets. Shop at Manjusha Emporium which has a
good collection Himalayan handicraft, silk and handloom products. The woollen garments can be bought from the markets on Hill Cart road. The bamboo items are collectors delight from the north east region. Of course, you cannot go home without picking up a few packs of the famed Darjeeling tea!
Events
Every 14 to 20 November, the Teesta Tea and Tourism Festival is held here with cultural performances, tea estate visits and organised tours, treks and walks around the region.
Night Out
The influence of its neighbours, Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal is palpable - it is here that you can feast on momos and kebabs, have a typical English tea with cake and crumpets.
Activities
There''s plenty to see and do in Darjeeling > Visit the Himalayan Zoo Which is home to Siberian tigers amongst many other animals that are found in the Himalayan region. See a breathtaking sunrise from Tiger Hill or go to nearby Mirik for horse riding or boating. Apart from the sights in town,
Darjeeling has some incredible trekking trails nearby, along the Himalayan ridges on the Indo-Nepal border. The most popular of these trails is the Singhalia Ridge Trail. Don''t forget to carry your passport as this trail crosses briefly into Nepal. Trekking in Darjeeling and its vicinity is delightful experience. The region abounds in trekking trails which pass through flower filled countryside brimming over with exquisite magnolias, rhododendrons, orchids and other species of flowers and ferns. The forest trails here present views of Kanchenjunga and fleeting glimpses of Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. It is often said that Darjeeling is where trekking in India originated with the first trekking route being in the Singalila range. The other well known trekking trail is the Sandakphu trail which starts in Darjeeling and goes on towards Maneybhanjyang, Tonglu and Sandakphu. The route traverses through thick forests and fringes flower filled meadows with the beauty of the rugged mountains in the background. For those not to enthusiastic about the effort that trekking involves, hire a jeep from Maneybhanjang to Sandakphu and stay overnight to catch the spectacular sunrise from here.
Sights
Darjeeling has that rarefied mountain air and a lofty beauty, amplified by the world''s highest mountains looming in the distance.Staggering above the clouds, the majestic Kanchenjunga and her entourage of lesser peaks are clearly visible from Tiger Hill, the highest vantage point in Darjeeling.
Even the elusive Everest puts in an appearance when the skies are clear. On cloudy days, the mist-shrouded peaks make an awe-inspiring backdrop to Darjeeling''s own beauty. Make pre-dawn trip to Tiger Hill which is the highest point in Darjeeling to see the sun rise amidst the majestic Kanchenjunga and her entourage of lesser peaks. If you are lucky, on a clear day you may even see the mighty Everest. Close by, at a height of 2448 m is the Senchal Lake , which is a popular picnic spot. The Observatory Hill is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists for there is a Kali temple here and a multitude of prayer flags. The majestic Kanchenjunga serves as a backdrop for the Bhutia Busty Gompa , a branch of Nyingmapa sect from Sikkim. Its library holds the original copy of the Tibetan Book of the Dead. The Yogachoeling Gompa popularly called Ghoom is usually shrouded under a cloud of mist and enshrines an image of the Maitreya Buddha. This is probably one of the best known monastries in Darjeeling and is only 8 kms away from the town. The other monasteries are the Samdenchoeling, Sakyachoeling, Phin Sotholing, Aloobari, Thupten Sangachoeling and Sonada Gompas . The Dhirdham Temple is the most prominent Hindu temple here. The Bengal Natural History Museum has a large collection of Himalayan flora and fauna. The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park established in 1958 houses rare species like Siberian tigers, red pandas and the Tibetan wolf. It also has a Snow Leopard breeding programme. The world famous Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) is based in Darjeeling. The "Samadhi" (memorial) of Tenzing Norgay , who conquered Mt. Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary, lies in the grounds of the HMI. The HMI is definitely worth a visit, if only to view the mementos from all the Everest expeditions of the past, successful and unsuccessful, About 3 km north of Darjeeling is Indias oldest passenger ropeway , 5 km in length over the Rangeet River. There is Lloyd Botanical Gardens with an impressive collection of plants, flowers and orchids near the market. One can always take pony rides in Chowrasta. Tea has for long been Darjeeling''s major claim to fame. The steep slopes are intricately patterned with a maze of tea plantations . The fragrance of tea blossoms wafts through the town and the markets are flooded with uniquely packaged pouches of tea - pleasing gifts to take back home. While you are in Darjeeling, visit a tea plantation and savour some of the local brew at any of the wayside cafs.
How to get there by Air
Bagdogra, 96 km away, is the nearest airport, connected to Kolkata, Delhi, and Guwahati. From here a bus or private taxi can get you to Darjeeling in 3 hours.
How to get there by Rail
New Jalpaiguri is the nearest railhead with connections to Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Madras, Bombay, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Tirupati, Trivandrum and Cochin. From Jalpaiguri the "toy train" to Darjeeling takes a picturesque route lasting about 7 hours. The route passes through some extraordinarily
beautiful sites and stops at a place called Batasia Loop to enable passengers to shoot the magnificent Mt. Kanchenjunga.
How to get there by Bus
The road distances are Kolkata 651 km, Gangtok 100 km and Kalimpong 51 km. If you plan to drive in from Kolkata you will face certain stretches where the road condition is not very favourable. But after you hit the hill stretch, it is a joy to drive. Journey time is 14 hours.
Best time to Visit
The best time to visit this hill station is between April and June and September and December. The summer temperature hovers between 14 C and 8Celsius and the winter temperatures fall to a freezing 6C to 1Celsius. Monsoons are rather heavy and should be avoided as they frequently cause landslides.
Hotels in Darjeeling
There is no dearth of places to stay in Darjeeling - from charming mansions and modern hotels to homely Tibetan affairs and a youth hostel for budget travellers. Tariffs vary greatly depending on the season and the type of accommodation, but do remember to check the water situation!
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india Travel Guidebudget hotels in Hyderabadby: Raman Mankotia
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