subject: A Stay In The Queen Of The Hills Darjeeling [print this page] The beautiful queen of hills Darjeeling is covered by a veil of fog almost throughout the year. The majestic Kanchenjunga range that paints the horizon over the hills can be enjoyed in all its glory on bright sunny days. However even when the day is cloudy a bit of it is exposed and to see a veiled Kanchenjunga is another form of its beauty. The painted horizon is not the only aspect that makes this place so sought after by tourists but the world renowned tea gardens, scenic beauty, cool weather, religion, culture and the ever friendly people contribute equally.
Darjeeling tourism ranges from the extreme sports of paragliding to the slow chugging ride of the toy train and the sanctified temples of Mahakal observatory to the Inox mall. Though modernity has touched Darjeeling in many ways the greenery of hills is still maintained making it one of the best hill stations in the world. The people here are mainly of the Nepali lingo and are known to be the bravest of the races to have walked earth. The bravery of the people however is not a character to be intimidated with for these people are one of the most helpful, kind and warmhearted.
There are a number of things to do and places to see here in the queen of hills. The Darjeeling tour packages come equipped with a great number of things to do and places to see such as:-
The Mahakal Observatory
- the observatory now turned into a place of worship is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in town. The observatory is atop a hill that is covered with rhododendron, fir, pine and magnolia trees. One can see many rhesus monkeys here jumping from tree to tree acrobatically.
The Padmaja Naidu zoological park
- this zoo is home to the endangered species of Red Panda which has almost been wiped out from the face of the earth. The zoo also has many other animals such as the royal Bengal tiger, the snow leopard, Black Panther, clouded leopard, ibex, the Himalayan black bear which are all endangered and rare species.
Himalayan Mountaineering institute
- this institute deals with treks and rock climbing activities. It also has a museum which houses the equipments used by the first man to conquer Mount Everest, Tenzing Norgay.
Tenzing rock and Gumbu rock
- this rock is meant for all amateur rock climbers and tourists to get the thrill of rock climbing. Climb these rocks with the help of experienced and trained rock climbers and enjoy the scenic view from the zenith of the rock.
Tea gardens
- walk in the world famous gardens of Darjeeling and let the lush green fields of tea plants please your eyes. Enjoy a cup of the famed tea at the shops that line the boundary of the tea estates and let your taste buds do the judging of the different qualities of tea grown in Darjeeling.
The Japanese temple and the peace pagoda
- these two wonderful marvels of architecture representing peace lay in close vicinity and is a wonderful place to visit. The place is so quiet and calm that even when one walks by it seems as if noise is being created.
Batasia loop
- a memorial set up for the Gorkha warriors who laid down their lives for the country protecting the people this place is a must visit. The view of the majestic range of Kanchendzonga is marvelous from this place. There are binoculars set up at this place which enables you to see the range really close.
Ghoom monastery
- this is one of the oldest monastery in town. The architecture and paintings of the place is simply marvelous and worth a praise. The tradition and culture of Tibetan Buddhism is very well preserved and the holy texts in this monastery are centuries old.
The above mentioned places are just a few of the numerous spots to visit. When one really does come to Darjeeling he/she will be captivated by the scenic beauty first and then awed by the numerous places to visit and things to do here. Also close by is another beautiful state called Sikkim which is known for its beautiful lakes and monasteries. To enjoy the beauty of there and have a great holiday Sikkim tour packages are the best.
