District of India
Darjeeling is a district in West Bengal State in India.
Darjeeling district is bounded on the north by the Sikkim, on the south by Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal; on the east by Bhutan and on the west by Nepal.
How to reach Darjeeling
By Air: The nearest airport from Darjeeling is Bagdogra Airport, Siliguri. From there you have come to Darjeeling by road or train.Buy cheap air tickets with your credit card from the comfort of your home from the app below, or find out the ticket price in Indian Rupee. Or check airfares in other currencies - USD, Canadian Dollar, Euro, Russian Ruble, Bangladeshi Taka.
Type your destination "Bagdogra" and select it from drop down menu. Enter your Depart date and Return date. If one-way then cross the Return date. If more than 1 passenger, enter. If you want business class click on "Business class" and click on search.
By Road: From Siliguri, there are many shared jeep come to Darjeeling. Fare Rs.100 per person.
By Train: There is a toy train leaves every morning 8.30 AM from NJP and arrives at 3.35 PM in Darjeeling.
Ticket Cost: First Class Rs. 1295 (Non AC) and Rs.1555 (AC).
Train Stoppages are at Siliguri Junction, Sukna, Rangtong, Tindharia, Gayabari, Mahanadi, Kurseong, Tung, Sonada, Ghum.
Hotels in Darjeeling
Book your hotel online now and pay later at the hotel.Write "Darjeeling" in box and select Darjeeling, India from drop down menu. Enter your Check in and Check out date and click on Search.
Tourist Places in Darjeeling
There are package systems in Darjeeling for sightseeing. You can get this offer from your hotel. According to hotel, the price of the same package differs. The travelers, who don’t want to take any tension about traveling. Just get in the car from hotel and driver will take you all the places. You will get few minutes to visit each site. After visiting the places, car will drop you at your hotel. I will describe these packages and fare later. But the traveler who want to explore themselves the places. I’m describing the cheapest way to visit these places.Day-1
Tiger Hill
Kanchenjunga View PointIt is Darjeeling’s highest point with an altitude of about 8,378 feet. From where you can view Kanchenjunga lightening with the sunrise. On a clear day you can also get a glimpse of Mount Everest, Mount Makalu and one of the most beautiful peaks of the world, Tibet's Chomol Hari. The best time to visit Tiger Hill is from March to April and mid of October to December.
Entry fee: 10 INR
How to reach: There is the only way to reach on the top of the Tiger Hill is by package. Package covers 3 points (Tiger Hill, Batasia Loop, and Buddhist Monastery). From any hotel you will get this package. According to hotel, price range starts from 150 Rs to more for per person. So talk to your hotel on the previous day about this package. Jeep will peak you early in the morning at 4 AM in the dark. It will take you to the base of the Tiger Hill. Then may change another jeep will take you near top. They will manage, you don’t have to anything. Driver will tell you when you have to come back to the jeep. Keep the driver’s number. Cause too many jeeps you may lost yours after return. Then walk a little uphill. Collect your entry ticket. There is also a tea stall. You can drink tea. Then go to the top. Keep your Camera on. When the sun rises from right side, keep your eyes on the top of Kanchenjunga at your left side. First light click on the top of Kanchenjunga seems like its lightening. It’s an amazing view.
Note that, few minutes later you have to go back to your car. So if you want to enjoy the view few more couple hours then you have to inform your driver that you are not going with them. Then you can enjoy the view as more you can. But problem is that you have to go back to the town by trekking. No vehicle available there. About 5 km downhill walk is not so problem for trekkers. But if you think problem, then you have to reserve car from hotel privately. Cost then is a fact.
Senchal Lake
Lake and Wildlife SanctuaryNice lake surrounded by hills.
How to go: This is situated 3 km away uphill from Ghoom Railway station on the way of Tiger Hill. You can visit here after the Tiger Hill Sunrise. 2 km away downhill from Tiger Hill.
Ghum Monastery (Samten Choling)
Buddhist TempleThe monastery was built in 1875 by Lama Sherab Gyatso. It is famous for its 15 feet tall statue of Maitreya Buddha.
How to go: Walking distance from Ghoom Railway Station. On the way from Tiger hill to Batasia Loop. Package Jeep will not stop here. If you want to visit you can get off here and leave your package.
Batasia Loop
Batasia Loop is an engineering marvel located in Ghoom area. This is where the toy train makes a double spiral loop to negotiate a drop of 1000 feet as it moves towards Darjeeling town. There is a garden in the loop. A War Memorial, was constructed in honor of the Gorkha soldiers who sacrificed their lives in service of the nation.Entry Fee: 15 INR
How to go: This place is included in 3-point package. Specially nothing to see inside so waste of time and entry fee. You can do one thing, don’t go right to Batasia loop. You can view Kanchenjunga from left road side.
Druk Sangag Choling Monastery
Buddhist TempleAlso known as Dali Monastery. Druk Sangag Choling Monastery is nice monastery you can visit in this packages.
The monastery was originally built at the time of Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche in 1971. It is the headquarters and residence of Drukchen Rimpoche the XII, who is the supreme head of the Kargyupa sect of Buddhists.
There is a school inside and a Cafe called the Kunga Paljor Coffee Shop. It serves tea, coffee, vegetarian snack items and cold drinks.
How to go: It is located 5 km away from Darjeeling town.
Now that, the car will drop you to your hotel. Take breakfast. Then again start for sight visit. Go to bus stand.
But you can leave your package at Dali Monastery and go to Rock Garden at your own. It will save your time.
Rock Garden
ParkEntry Fee: Rs.10 for Indians and Rs.50 for foreigner
How to go: Rock Garden is located some 10 km away from Darjeeling town. Right turn near Dali Monastery into a narrow road. It takes about 30-40 minutes to reach Rock Garden.
Ganga Maya Park
ParkEntry Fee: Rs.10 for Indians and Rs.50 for foreigner
How to go: Ganga Maya Park is 3 km away from Rock Garden.
Day-2
Lloyds Botanical Garden
Botanical GardenWilliam Lloyd was the Land owner during British period. He gifted 40 acres of area for making one of the best gardens in Asia. The garden was established in 1878.
Visiting Time: 6am to 5pm daily.
Entry: Free.
How to go: This is at the left side slope of bus stand, behind the shops and a hospital.
Go back to bus stand. You will find local shared micro are going to the ‘Singamari’. Fare Rs.10 per person. Then you have to walk few hundred meters to ropeway stairs. While you are walking don’t miss to see a nice boy’s boarding school on your left. This is St. Joseph's School. Popularly known as North Point. This is the best boarding school in West Bengal and the third best boarding school in India. After crossing the school you will see the stairway on your right leads to ropeway.
Rangeet Valley Passenger Rope way
Cable CarIt was established in 1968. The first cable car system in India. You can enjoy panoramic views of historic tea gardens.
Ticket cost: Round trip ride cost is 175 INR and for 3-7 years children is 90 INR. Accommodation 6 persons in a cable car.
How to go: From Singamari bus stop walk straight along the road. You will find St. Joseph’s School on the left. End of this school you will find ropeway on the right side. Go up stair.
Tenzing & Gombu Rock Darjeeling
Natural RockThese two rocks are using as mountain climbing training purpose. Every year Indian Army organizes rock climbing competition at the Tenzing Rock. There is another rock right faced which can be used by amateur climbers or tourists with the help of guides and have to pay nominal fee about Rs.50 per person.
How to go: Go ahead from the Ropeway road.
Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park
ZooHow to go: Walk to the upper road from ropeway almost 1km. Road is nice and quiet. You will find Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park. Inside the Zoological Park you will find Mountaineering Institute.
Entry Fee: for SAARC - 50 INR and Foreigner - 100 INR and for camera - 10 INR.
Visiting Time: 8.30 AM to 4 PM. Thursday close.
Mountaineering Institute
InstituteIt is a residential school for mountaineering students. Many mountaineering and rock climbing courses offered by the Institute.
How to go: In the same complex of Zoo.
Entry Fee: With the Zoo Entry.
Bengal Natural History Museum
MuseumIt started back in 1903 at another place. Now it is inside the zoo complex with huge collection of varieties of birds with nests and eggs, reptiles, fishes and many more. There are also taxidermy, entomological specimens.
How to go: In the same complex of Zoo.
Entry Fee: With the zoo Entry.
Shrubbery Nightingale Park
ParkA beautiful natural park for relaxing and enjoying the nice views of the Kanchenjunga. Best view between the months of October to November. During tourist season, local dances are held here every day in the evening.
During British period in early 1900s, this place was known as The Shrubbery. It used to be the private courtyard of Sir Thomas Tartan's Bungalow.
There is a Statue of Lord Shiva in the Park.
Entry Fee: Rs.10.
How to go: 10 minutes walking distance from mall chowrasta towards zoo.
Day-3:
Observatory Hill
Kanchenjunga view pointKanchenjunga is about 61 km air distance from this point.
How to go: From Zoological Park you can go straight towards Mall Chowrasta. Besides the road Raj Bhaban. When the Raj Bhavan boundary ends, you will see a road goes straights towards Mall Chowrasta. Another road turns left. Go to Left side road. When you will turn left, you will see Raj Bhawan main entry gate on your left, which is restricted. Go ahead along the road. At the end you will see few hotels at your left and road turns to right. At this point you will see few benches. Sit and relax and watch the beautiful views of snow clad mountain.
From Mall Chowrasta few meters distance towards Raj Bhaban.
Note that, If you can come early in the morning at 4 AM, then you can view the sunrise scenery.
St. Andrew’s Church
ChurchAn old church. Completed in 1843.
Mall Chowrasta
A nice place where most of the citizens of Darjeeling and tourist also are gathering in this wide place. This place is smoke free zone. So smokers need to careful about this.
Mahakal Mandir
Hindu TempleHow to go: It is situated on Observatory Hill featuring a sacred cave. Walking distance from Mall Chowrasta.
Deshbondhu Museum
MuseumVisiting time: 10am to 4pm. Sunday closed.
Entry: Free.
How to go: 5 minutes downhill walk from the Chowrasta Mall along the CR Das road.
Bhutia Busty Monastery
Buddhist TempleIt was originally built in 1761 by Lama Dorje Rinzing.
How to go: It is situated 1.5 km downhill from the Mall Chowrasta.
Glenary's and Keventer's Restaurant
100 years old Restaurants100 years old two restaurants.
How to go: Both restaurants are at Nehru Roads near Mall Chowrasta.
Darjeeling Clock Tower
Clock TowerThe Town Hall building was constructed in 1850. Later it was converted into municipality building. Clock Tower forms the front part. A musical tone plays at every hour.
Himalayan Tibet Museum
MuseumIt is inaugurated on 2nd July 2015. Museum for the history and culture of the Tibetans.
Visiting Time: summer 9:30am to 5pm and winter 10am to 4pm. Wednesday remains closed.
Entry Fee: Rs.10.
How to go: Walking distance from Clock Tower at Gandhi road.
Darjeeling Head Post Office
Post OfficeThe post office opened in May 1921. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day-4
Jhandi Dhara Sunrise Point
Kanchenjunga view pointHow to go: From Himalayan Tibet Museum walk about 550 meters through the Gandhi Road toward Peace Pagoda. Near Gymkhana Resort.
Lal Kothi
Historical buildingIt is now the main office of Gorkha Territorial Administration. Entry restricted but you can see it only from outside.
How to go: On the way from Jhandi Dhara Sunrise Point to Japanese Temple.
Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda
Buddhist TempleIt is far from Chowrasta. You have to walk a lot to reach here.
Entry Free.
Dhirdham Temple
Hindu TempleIt is Hindu Temple of Lord Shiva was built in 1936.
How to go: Near Toy Train Station.
Himalayan Railway
Toy Train StationToy Train is just like train but goes slowly. There are two types of train. Diesel Engine and Steam Engine.
Fare: Darjeeling to Ghoom Railway station to Darjeeling: Diesel Engine – Rs. 805 (First class over 5 years) and Steam Engine – Rs.1405 (First class over 5 years).
Total 18 rides are scheduled from 7.40 AM to 4.20 PM.
Regular DHR Toy train Services:
NJP to Darjeeling starts 8.30 AM and arrives at 3.35 PM.
Darjeeling to NJP starts 8 Am and arrives at 3.10 PM.
Ticket Cost: First Class Rs. 1295 (Non AC) and Rs.1555 (AC).
Train Stoppage at Siliguri Junction, Sukna, Rangtong, Tindharia, Gayabari, Mahanadi, Kurseong, Tung, Sonada, Ghum.
Other fares are –
Darjeeling to Ghum: First Class - Rs.410, Second Class - Rs.30.
Darjeeling to Sonada: First Class - Rs.535, Second Class - Rs.45.
Darjeeling to Tung: First Class - Rs.555, Second Class - Rs.45.
Darjeeling to Kurseong: First Class - Rs.680, Second Class - Rs.60.
Second Class is not available in all trains, but First Class is available.
Packages in Darjeeling
You can take Packages according to your taste.
There are basically 3 Types of Package
1. 3-Point Package
2. 5/7 Point Package
3. Rock Garden & Gangamaya Tour
1. 3-Point tour covering Tiger Hill, Batasia Loop and Buddhist Monastery. It starts early in the morning at 4 PM and ends before breakfast about at 7.30 AM.
Cost: Rs.1200 by small private taxi, Rs.1500 by Sumo, Rs.150 per person (10 seated shared jeep).
2. 5-point/ 7-Point tour covers rest of the places. It starts after breakfast till lunch.
Cost: Rs.1500 in small taxi, Rs.1700 in larger taxi. Shared Jeep Rs.170 per person (10 seated Jeep).
3. Rock Garden/Ganga Maya tour may starts after lunch till evening.
Cost: About Rs.1600 in small taxi, Rs.1800 in large taxi.
All costs may varied according to hotels.
For your round trip tour in and near West Bengal, your next destination will be Gangtok. So click here the tourist places in Gangtok.
Or select another destination from below.
Kalimpong
Mirik
Siliguri
South Sikkim
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