Darjeeling Information

If you  are looking  for adventure in Darjeeling,  then nothing can be more exciting than  Darjeeling Ropeway. It’s a popular tourist attraction with rides, where the tourists enjoy the panoramic view of this hilly estate from high altitudes. Darjeeling has two long ropeway systems; the main ropeway connects Darjeeling with Bijanbari, a town downhill in the Rangit valley. This is the longest ropeway in Asia. This ropeway runs close to the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park.

The Darjeeling Ropeway was started in 1968 by the forest development department and comprised only a single car which ran one way. Later it was renovated to 16 cars and moved in both directions. From an elevation of 2,134 m (7,001 ft) in Darjeeling`s North Point (Singamari), this bicable ropeway slide down to 244 m (801 ft) at Singla on the banks of the Ramman River. After a short halt at Tukver, Burnesbeg and Singla tea estates, it used to take 45 minutes to reach Singla Bazar, eight km away. The Darjeeling Ropeway passed over dense forests, mountain ridges, flowing rivers, water falls, green valleys and tea gardens.

The Darjeeling Ropeway offers views from the glacial elevation of Kabru, in the lower regions of the Kanchenjunga, flow of the Great Rangeet that meets first the Ramman and then the Little Rangeet, further down, flows from the Tonglu spur in the Singalila range. The Singla Bazar is a fascinating beautiful view of the lovely valleys of these two streams from the ropeway. The Little Rangeet flows across lush Bijanbari valley, featuring wild life, flowers and butterflies. The passenger ropeway was operated as a joint endeavour of the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation and the Conveyor and Ropeway Services Private Ltd.

Darjeeling`s northern point is connected to Singla through a bi-cable passenger ropeway. It is the first bi-cable passenger ropeway in the nation and also the longest of its kind in Asia. This ropeway cable car can carry six passengers at a time. The Ropeway covers an aerial distance of 8km, sliding down almost 2 km, to Singla Bazaar. The 45-minute ride encompasses mountain ridges, wooded lands, lush green valleys, sparkling streams, tea gardens and impressive waterfalls.

The ropeway, which was started in 1968 and revamped in 1988, was unfortunately stopped in October 2003 after an accident, where four tourists died when the cable snapped causing two cars to plummet down the hill. In 2005 the state forest and public works department (PWD) ministers established a three-member committee to supervise the safety issues. Reaching the starting point of the Darjeeling Ropeway is very easy, regular share taxi service is available from Market Motor and Taxi Stand to the Ropeway Station.

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is the zoo, located on the heart of the Darjeeling Town. Located at an altitude of 2133.5 meters above mean sea level, the wonderful national park encompasses the mesmerizing Kanchenjunga in the backdrop. Established on 14th August in the year 1958, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is supervised directly by the Department of Education of the State. It is revered as one of the chief spot for the study and conservation of Himalayan Fauna.

The first Director of the park Mr. Dilip Kumar Dey was also the founder of this well admired national park. Mr. Dey, who belonged to the Indian Forest Service was deputed to make thorough research on Himalayan flora and fauna and to set up a park, where one can accomplish a thorough study on natural resources, with special reference to Darjeeling. The Park’s prized possessions were a pair of Siberian (Ussuri) tigers. They are presented to the then Government of India by Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev in 1960.

In due course, Shrimati Indira Gandhi dedicated the zoo to Shrimati Padmaja Naidu on 21st November 1975. Shrimati Padmaja Naidu was the Governor of West Bengal (1956-1967) and the daughter of legendary nationalist leader, orator, poet known as the Nightingale of India. Since then the zoo came to be called Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park.

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is the breeding ground for those particular species of animals, which are adapted to alpine conditions. Such wide variety of species helps in the captive breeding of the Snow Leopard and Red Panda. Encompassing a wide area of forty-four hectares, the zoo is the peaceful abode of several endangered species like snow leopards, red pandas, Siberian tigers, gorals (mountain goat) and a variety of birds, which are on the verge of extension. The zoo is spread over an area of 44 hectares and attracts around 300,000 visitors every year.

Therefore, do visit the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park if you have plans to visit Darjeeling in near future.

Darjeeling the dreamland of the East since the British period has always been revered as Trekker’s paradise. A large chunk of tourists visit the place every year, however the majority of them come for having the excellent trekking experience. Located in the close proximity of three international borders, this place is strategically very important. Surrounded by a series of lofty mountains, Darjeeling and adjacent areas offer trekking alternatives galore. Except the monsoon months and other climatic hazards, one can absorb pleasure to the fullest with an extraordinary trekking experience. Let’s take a thorough look to the trekking routes here and how to traverse them without much difficulty.

One of the most famous trekking routes coveted by the trekkers is the Darjeeling-Sandakphu / Phalut trek. During the months of April, May, October and November, this route can offer you adventure and fun at the same time. During this time, the environment remains clear and offers hospitable weather conditions to perform trekking without any climatic perils. What sounds to be most advantageous, is that for trekking on this route you do not need to carry huge luggage because the Gorkha Hill Council provides trekkers hut and other logistical means that you may require while traversing the route. While travelling this route, the trekker may not encounter with any environmental hazards but he should be prepared for all kinds of weather and high altitude mountain sickness. Since the trek route passes through low areas and very high ridges, temperature varies and fluctuates frequently. Therefore, you may face all types of weather conditions throughout the route. With attractive surroundings, the trekker can pass through long stretches without any water. During the course of Trekking Gorkha Hill Council, offer regular meals. Gorkha Hill Council will also arrange guides and porters for your help.

Phalut is also revered as the viewpoint of the Himalayas and is one of the most important & famous treks in the region. The trek starts with a small bus trip to Manaybhanjang. After traversing a distance by bus, the trek passes through the mountains to Sandakphu. From here, the trekker has to proceed further up or can take a return trek route via Rimbik to reach Darjeeling by Bus. If you do not feel like trekking any more, take a short cut. From Sandakphu backtrek to Bikhay Bhanjang and cut across to Rimbik. However, this trek can cause difficulty with no water or food in between. Moreover, some environmental hazard may impede trekking through this route. So consider the pre conditions carefully before taking up this trek route only for your adventure.

So get your backpack ready for a next year trekking in Darjeeling-Sandakphu.

The hilly tract of Darjeeling represents a wonderful uniqueness in its geo-environmental layout. Major part of its landform is composed of eroded rocks caused by southerly flowing streams and an entire cross section of different tectonic units. Throughout the hilly tract, there is approximately uniform lithology, structure, climate, soil and vegetative covers. Experts believe that the units formed by tectonic movements are found to be in the reverse order of stratigraphic superimposition, and is represented by Siwalik and Gondwana systems. However, the inner Himalayas, features the thrusted sheets of Daling and Darjeeling group of crystalline rocks. The contact between different groups of rocks in this region is represented by thrusts, curving at high angles towards north.

The thorough study of various formations of the Darjeeling Himalaya, will help you better understood the geographical layout of the region.

Raised Terraces: This is a fringe formed recently along the hills, especially at the confluences of the rivers. Such fringy terraces are composed of gravels, pebbles and boulders mixed with sand and clay. It is semi-consolidated, stratified with gradual upheaval at places. The area with intensified high-level terraces is also called the Terai. In the Teesta valley at Kalijhora, a 40 m high terrace is found.

Siwalik: Formed of mudstones, sandstones, shale and conglomerates, along with the bands of shale and lignite, Siwalik system is found in the Hill Cart Road and along the Teesta River.

Damuda Series: Coarse-grained hard sandstone, quartzites, carbonaceous shale and slates, Damuda series are found, immediately after the Siwalik system. This series are physically similar to the Gondwanas of Indian peninsular region. With the maximum width of about 2.5 km, Damuda us situated along the Teesta valley. The maximum thickness is about 1000m and it stretches from ENE to WSW.

Daling Series: Comprising of chlorite shales, phyllites and schist associated with quartzite, Daling series rests over Damuda series. Found along the Teesta River and the stretches of the Tindharia –Paglajhora on the Hill Cart Road, quartz and feldspar are the most prominent features of this series. With increasing metamorphism upwards, slates form the lowest bed of this series.

Darjeeling Gneiss: The Dalings gradually grade into the more metamorphosed rocks, forming Darjeeling Gneiss. With irregular rocks of varying degrees between 40 to 70, Darjeeling gneisses are highly foliated. Two prominent sets of joints form Darjeeling gneiss, one running roughly NW-SE and the other NNW-SSE. However, the general direction of the hill spurs accordingly with the joint directions.