Darjeeling

Queen of the Hills

Overview Darjeeling
❏ Location comprises of 6 T’s
27 Deg. 13 Min. N to 26 Deg. 27 Min. N Latitude.
88 Deg. 53 Min. E to 87 Deg. 59 Min. E Longitude.
❏ Area
3,149 Square Km.
➢ Tea
❏ Altitude ➢ Teak
➢ Tourism
6710 Feet.
❏ Temperature
Annual Mean Max. Temperature 14.9 Degree Celsius.
Annual Mean Min. Temperature 8.9 Degree Celsius.
➢ Toy Train
❏ Rainfall ➢ Tiger Hill
➢ Trekkers
Average Annual Rainfall : 3092 MM
❏ Season for Visit
March to mid June & October to December.
paradise
❏ Important Roads
Siliguri-Mirik -Ghum - 60 kms
Sevak-Tista bridge –Kalimpong - 60 kms
Tista Bazar to Darjeeling - 25 kms
Sukna- Pankhabari-Kurseong - 25 kms
Siliguri Darjeeling NH 55 - 76 kms
❏ Clothing required
Light woollens and tropicals in summer (umbrellas and raincoats are useful) and heavy
woollens in winter.
❏ Languages Spoken
Hindi, Gorkha, Bengali, Nepali, Tibetan and English.
❏ Nearest Railway Station
Darjeeling(Narrow Gauge) & NJP (Broad Gauge)
❏ Nearest Airport
Bagdogra
 Brief History
1835

Lord William Bentick is given the entire of Darjeeling Hills through the 'Deed of Grant' by the Sikkimputee Rajah

Chophoe Namgye.

1870

First Tea Plantation in the region.

1879

The Darjeeling Steam Tramway Company commences work on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

1881

The Darjeeling Steam Tramway Company is renamed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Company.

1919 The famous Batasia Loop constructed.

1948

Indian Government purchases the DHR and absorbs it into the Indian Government Railway Organization.

1999

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway granted World Heritage status by UNESCO.

How To Reach
Siliguri, a bustling
town about 80
kilometers from
Darjeeling is the
gateway to the Hills.
❏ By Air
The closest air port is at Bagdogra (about 88 kilometers from
Darjeeling and a three and half hour drive) and is connected by air
with all the Metros in the country.
❏ By Rail
New Jalpaiguri(NJP) is the nearest rail head and is also about 88
kilometers from Darjeeling. NJP is also connected with all the major
cities of the country with most of trains heading for the north-
eastern states making a stop at this junction.
❏ By Bus
Bus services can be availed from Siliguri to Darjeeling, Mirik and
Kalimpong from Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus, Siliguri.
❏ By Taxi/Jeep
It is more convenient to travel in smaller vehicles which are
available on seat sharing basis/hire, from near the Bus terminus,
airport and railway station. The fare per passenger on a seat
sharing basis from Siliguri to Darjeeling is less than Rs 100.
Taxi can also be hired to Kalimpong and have a stop at Teesta Bazar for white
water rafting. Fare per pax. From Darjeeling to Kalimpong is about Rs 70/-(For reserved taxis
the rates vary)
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR)
DHR is the first and still the most outstanding example of a
hill passenger Railway

Steam-powered joy rides leave Darjeeling at 10.40am,

1.20pm and 4.05pm, with three more services in high
season, while diesel rides leave at 8am, 11am and 1.30pm.
Attractions
➔ Tiger Hill
Situated at an altitude of 2590
meters (8482 ft.) and 13 kilometers
from the town, this spot has earned
international fame for the
magnificent view of the sunrise over
the "Kanchanjunga" and the great
eastern Himalayan Mountains. Even
Mount Everest, the world's highest
peak, is visible from here. The
hesitant rays of the early morning
sun paint these peaks in pale gold.
Batasia Loop And the War memorial
➔ The Batasia loop situated almost 5
km away from the town is a gigantic
railway loop where the Toy Train
makes a 360 Degree turn. It was
basically built to make it possible for
the Toy Train to cut the deep
ascend. Strategically located the
Batasia Loop offers a panoramic
view of the Kanchanjunga Range.A
War Memorial constructed in the
memory of the brave sons of the soil
who laid down their lives in the
different wars since the
independence of the nation adds to
its attraction. There is also a well
furbished market where visitors can
buy locally made purses, bags and
other decorative items.
Ava art gallery
➔ Situated about 4 km from the
Market Square and on the
National Highway, Ava.Art
Gallery was established in
1965 by the Late. Bhopal Rao
Sett and Ava Devi. It is the
only Art Gallery of its kind in
the Hills. A collection of 60
pieces of art work in water, oil
and thread paintings are
displayed in the Gallery.
Visitors can travel on foot to
get to the Gallery or simply
hire a taxi. Entrance fees are
not charged.
Chowrasta and mall
➔ Chowrasta, a wide promenade atop
a ridge lined with shops and
restaurants is taken to be the heart
of the town. Here people gather to
chat, spend time basking in the sun
or just to snatch a moment of
peace. The Brabourne Park is
attached to the Chowrasta and now
features a musical fountain. This
place is an open place and free from
vehicular movements from where
one can watch the scenic beauty of
the mountain range and take charm
of walking at the Darjeeling Mall.
Chowrasta is the central place of the
Mall Road.
Rock garden and ganga maya park
➔ Situated 10 km from town, Rock
Garden and Ganga Maya Park has
now developed into a very attractive
picnic spot with natural water falls.
The park offers boating facilities and
is endowed with great scenic
beauty. Ample eateries are available
for visitors to indulge in local
delicacies and one can even buy
souvenirs. No fees are charged for
taking photographs. Visitors are
however, required to make
arrangements for transportation. A
two way travel arrangement is
advisable.
Peace pagoda
➔ The Japanese Peace Pagoda was
established by Nipponzan Myohoji, a
Japanese Buddhist order. Situated
on the slopes of the Jalapahar Hill
the pagoda can be reached by foot
or on taxi. The pagoda is the highest
free structure in the town. It also
showcases the four avatars of the
Buddha.
Botanical garden
➔ It is the oldest Botanical Garden
named as Lloyd Botanical Garden
with varieties of flora and is famous
for two living fossils. It is located
just below the Eden
Sanatorium(Saheed Durga Mall
District Hospital) on an open slope
covering an area of about 40 acres.
Lloyd Botanical Garden is open
seven days a week. There are no
entrance fees. A camera, a small
note book for a botany enthusiast
and a couple of hours to spare, is a
must.
Nightingale park/srubbery park
➔ It is about 2-5 kms from Darjeeling
Railway Station and walkable from
the Chowrasta. It is a beautiful park
with a package of cultural
programmes performed daily during
the tourist season and its opening
time is 4.00 p.m. and closing time is
8.00 p.m. The park has recently
been extensively re-developed, and
now comprises of a giant Statue of
Lord Shiva, a temple, and provisions
for live-interactive entertainment.
The best time to visit the park is in
the evenings. Entrance fee is
charged and nominal charges for
photography may also be required
to be made by the visitor.
Darjeeling-rangit valley passenger cable car
➔ Darjeeling-Rangit Valley
Passenger Cable Car is
popularly known as the
Ropeway. It is about 3 km
north of the town and situated
at what is known as the North
Point. The Ropeway is India's
oldest passenger ropeway and
connects Darjeeling with Singla
Bazaar at the bottom of the
valley. The present ropeway
has been extensively
modernized and visitors can
now safely travel over the
clouds to witness the aerial
view of the lush green tea
gardens below.
Senchal lake
➔ A scenic place near Tiger Hill.
This place has popularly come
up as a picnic spot among the
tourists. The lake supplies
drinking water to Darjeeling
Town.
Observatory hill & mahakal temple
➔ Also known to the locals as the
"Holy Hill", it is just a few
minutes walk from the
Chowrasta and is situated on
the highest ridge of the town.
The Mahakal temple atop the
hill is a revered place for the
locals and visitors will be
surprised to find a Hindu priest
and a Buddhist monk sharing a
common altar.
Dhirdham temple
➔ Dhirdham temple is modelled
on the lines of the famous
Pashupatinath temple of
Kathmandu and was built in
1939. It is a minute's walk
from the Darjeeling Railway
Station.
Happy valley tea garden
➔ Happy Valley tea garden is located
just a kilometer away from the main
town and is situated along 18
Lebong Cart Road (very near to the
District Magistrate's Office) and
offers tourist a refreshing ambience
far from the otherwise noisy town.
One can soak in the ambience of the
tea garden and take a walk through
the carpeted garden. You can take a
pony from the Chowrasta or merely
walk down the hill to reach the
factory. The garden is presently
closed but the residents are running
it through a cooperative.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
➔ Established on the 14th of August,
1958, the zoo was dedicated to the
memory of Padmaja Naidu, former
Governor of West Bengal on the
21st November, 1975. Considered
as one of the best zoos in the
country, it is the only centre that
breeds the tibetan wolf in captivity.
Breeding programmes for the
endangered red panda, snow
leopard and the siberian tiger are
also carried out at PNHZP. The zoo
is open on all days except on
Thursdays and other national
holidays.
 Himalayan Mountaineering institute
➔ The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was
set up following the successful ascent of the
Mount Everest-the highest peak in the world
by the local hero Tenzing Norgay Sherpa
and Sir EdEdumund Hillary on 28 May 1953.
The oldest mountaineering institute in the
country carries out various mountaineering
courses every year. Apart from Tenzing,
legendary mountaineers like Nawang
Gombu(the first man to climb Everest twice)
and Lattoo Dorjee Sherpa have helped build
the reputation of this pioneering institute.
The institute is presently under the purview
of the Minstry of Defence, Government of
India and its museum is worth a visit.
Monasteries of Darjeeling
❏ Druk Thupten Sangag Choling Monastery(Dali
Monastery)
❏ Ghoom Monastery
❏ Tashi Dargyalingh Monastery or the Tamang
Ghumba
❏ The Mag-Dhog Yolmowa Buddhist
Monastery(Aloobari Monastery)
 Trekking
Route-1
(a) Darjeeling-Maneybhanjyang-Tonglu-Sandakphu
and return by the same route-118 km (4 days)

(b)Darjeeling-Maneybhanjyang-Tonglu-Sandakphu-
Phalut and return-160 km. (6 days)

Route-2
Darjeeling-Maneybhanjyang-Gairibas-Sandakphu-Phalut-
Rammam-Rimbick 130 km(6 days) From Phalut to
Rammam there are two routes i) via Sabarkam ii) via
Gorkhey-Samandin.

Route-3
Darjeeling-Rimbick-Sandakphu and back 123 kms. Four
days.

Route-4
Darjeeling-Tiger Hill and back 26 k.m. one day trek.
Government Accomodation
❏ PATHASATHI is a roadside motel with bathroom, toilet, restroom,
restaurants etc. constructed at every 50 Kms of National High ways, State
High ways and other important Roads throughout the States.
 Red Panda or cat Bear
● The hills of Darjeeling are famous for a cute,

cuddly and endearing animal-the Red Panda or

Cat Bear.

● A small furry animal, the red Panda is almost as

big as a reasonably sized domestic cat.

● It is neither a cat nor a bear and belongs to a

group of animals.

● The Red Panda has poor eye sight and the

senses of smell and hearing are not highly