Places to visit in Darjeeling
Darjeeling is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful hill stations in India, radled in the lap of the North East Himalayas in West Bengal. The town is perched at a height of 2134 metres with a backdrop of the mighty Himalayan peaks. Mists from the high peaks of the mountains descend down on the earth and adds a surreal effect. Besides beauty, the hill town is known for lush tea gardens, colonial charms, and the exciting ride of the Toy Train. Darjeeling tours is the just the first step to explore the North East.
Owing to the scenic location amid the mountains, Darjeeling has for years and generations of visitors have charmed families, honeymoon couples as well as adventure enthusiasts. To sample the joys of cool & healthy mountain bliss is truly amazing, one of the best in India. Overlooking the highest peaks of the Himalayas including the mighty Mt. Kanchenjunga, Darjeeling has truly spectacular views on offer. The Tiger Hill is an interesting lookout as it presents a breath-taking view at sunrise. On the clear days the view of Mt Everest is also possible. For the views and a truly memorable ride, the Darjeeling Toy Train opens up a plethora of delights. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is around 100 years old; it is an engineering marvel that is also blessed with out of the world view of the mountains.
The world-famous charm of Darjeeling is its tea. Acres and acres of tea gardens cover the slopes of the hills. Since the British era, the tea lured them to visit and even stay back. Walk amid the green expanse, watch the tea-pickers at work and you can also learn about the processing of the tea. Happy Valley tea estate is the must-visit place. The best places to visit in Darjeeling include the Himalayan Moutaineering Institute, where the equipment used by Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing on their Everest expedition are kept for viewing. The Himalayan Zoological Park houses a range of rare species of indigenous habitats including red panda, snow leopard, etc. The other must-visit attractions of Darjeeling, is the Japanese Peace Pagoda, The Ghum Monastery, Batasia Loop, Bhutia Monastery, etc. Stroll through the town to come across some landmarks of the British era, including colonial mansions, etc.
Besides sightseeing, savor traditional Tibetan dishes, momos, from English breakfast to authentic Chinese cuisines. The street markets are also a shopper’s paradise. Here treasures of handicrafts are the best finds. Trekking is one of the things to do in Darjeeling.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was established in Darjeeling, India on 4 November 1954 to encourage mountaineering as an organized sport in India. The first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953 by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary sparked a keen interest in establishing mountaineering as a well-respected endeavour for people in the region. With the impetus provided by the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, HMI was established in Darjeeling. Narendra Dhar Jayal, the pioneer of Indian Mountaineering, was the founding principal of the institute. Tenzing Norgay was the first director of field training for HMI. The buildings for the Institute were designed by the architect Joseph Allen Stein, then teaching at the Bengal Engineering College near Calcutta. It was the first building in a career in India that lasted half a century. HMI regularly conducts Adventure, Basic and Advanced Mountaineering courses. These are very comprehensive courses. They are also highly subsidised to encourage mountaineering as a sport
Ghoom Monastery
Ghoom Monastery is the oldest Tibetan Buddhist Monastery of Darjeeling. Established in 1850 by Lama Sherab Gyatso, this shrine is part of the Yellow Hat sect known as Gelupka who worship the 'Coming Buddha' or 'Maitreyi Buddha'. A 15-foot high statue of Maitreyi Buddha is seen in the central hall, made entirely of clay brought from Tibet. This statue was installed during the tenure of the second head of the monastery Lama Domo Geshe Rinpoche. One can also find many rare Buddhist manuscripts within the premises. Visitors are treated to a beautiful view of the majestic Kanchenjunga outside the monastery. Prayer flags are flown by the resident monks in typical Tibetan tradition
Tiger Hill
Tiger Hill is most famous for its splendid sights of sunrise from where you can see the peaks of Kanchenjunga illuminate before the sun is seen at lower elevations. The magnificent view of snow-capped mountains sitting amidst cotton clouds attracts tourists to Tiger Hill from all over the country. Interestingly, this is also the summit of Ghoom,
Himalayan Zoological Park
A zoo was established on 14 August 1958 in the Birch Hill neighbourhood of Darjeeling under the Department of Education of the Government of West Bengal with a goal to study and preserve Himalayan fauna. Its first Director and founder was Dilip Kumar Dey. Mr. Dey, who belonged to the Indian Forest Service was on deputation to the Department of Education for the express purpose of establishing a high-altitude zoological park specializing mainly in Himalayan flora and fauna
Tibetan Refugee self-help centre
Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre in Darjeeling, India is a rehabilitation centre for the Tibetan refugees in the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region. It was established on 2 October 1959, after they followed Dalai Lama and escaped from Tibet
Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway
The Darjeeling Ropeway is a ropeway in the town of Darjeeling in the Indian state of West Bengal. The ropeway is a tourist destination in the town. It consists of sixteen cars and plies between the "North Point" in the town of Darjeeling and Singla on the banks of the Ramman river. The journey on the ropeway offers views of the hills and the valleys around Darjeeling. The ropeway, which was started in 1968 and revamped in 1988, was stopped in October 2003 after four tourists died when the cable snapped causing two cars to plummet down the hill. In 2005, the state forest and public works department ministers formed a three-member committee to oversee safety issues
