Nestled in a ridge at an altitude of 2134 m above the sea level, Darjeeling is a beautiful hill station in the state of West Bengal. Darjeeling was gifted to the British East India Company in 1835 by the king of West Bengal.
Sightseeing in Darjeeling
Darjeeling is an ideal place as a hill station from the heat and dust of the city life. The tourist attractions of the hill station of Darjeeling are plenty to keep the tourists occupied all through their vacations. The Tiger Hill is 11 km from the town. It is a must visit place for all the tourists as it offers magnificent view of the sunrise over the Kanchenjunga. Senchal Lake is near the Tiger Hill and is called the ‘Lake of Damp Mist’. The lake fulfills the domestic water requirements of Darjeeling. Observatory Hill also offers a splendid view of the twin peak of Kanchenjunga. One can visit the place for the Mahakal Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and a Buddhist shrine. Ghoom Monastery, 8 km from the town, is the most famous monastery of Darjeeling and has an image of Maitreya Buddha. Yiga-Choiling Monastery is located just below the Ghoom Monastery. The monastery belongs to Gelugpa Sect and has a 15 ft tall statue of Maitreya Buddha. Dhirdham Temple is a prominent Hindu temple in Darjeeling built on the model of the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. The Natural History Museum was established in 1903 and has on display the Himalayan and Bengali fauna. Kanchenjunga is the pride of Darjeeling. Lloyds Botanical Garden has a rich collection of ash, birch, chestnut, magnolia and maple trees. There are also Himalayan plants and orchids in the 40-acre garden. The Railway Loop, 5 km from Darjeeling, must be visited for the Darjeeling Himalayan railways more popularly known as the Toy Train.
How to Reach Darjeeling
By Air: The nearest airport from Darjeeling is at Bagdogra, which is about 90 km away.
By Rail: Siliguri at a distance of 80 km and New Jalpaiguri junction are the nearest stations to Darjeeling. These stations are well connected with the major cities like Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai and Varanasi.
By Road: NH-31 connects Darjeeling with other parts of India. There are fast and frequent bus services between Calcutta and Siliguri with connections to Darjeeling. West Bengal STC Bus has regular services on this route.