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.

If something is more blissful than heaven, then Darjeeling definitely comes to the top. The land of thunderbolt is no less charming when it comes to the natural beauty of the place. If highest mountain ranges draped with concentrated white layers of ice present the barest form of nature, Darjeeling also offers a myriad of visual treats with its charismatic quietness and serenity. Therefore, planning a long holiday in Darjeeling and its adjacent areas will not be a bad decision. Let’s check a few places of interest in Darjeeling , so that you can decide where to go and where not.

Darjeeling- Darjeeling’s most famous tourist destination is definitely the Tiger hill. Located at 2590 meters (8482 ft.) and 13 kilometers from the town, this place invites a large amount of tourists to enjoy the magnetic charm of sunrise over the Kanchenjunga. Highest mountain peaks of the world, Mt. Everest , Kanchenjunga, k2 etc are stinted with golden hues if the first sunrays here.

The gigantic railway loop with toy train is one of the chief attractions in Darjeeling. You can visit the War memorial constructed in the memory of the brave son of the place at the Kanchenjunga range.

Chowrasta is a wide promenade where you can have fun with friends and family. Shopaholics can find solace in visiting the local malls in and around Chowrasta. Apart from local artifacts and home decoration items, you can also find a wide array of attractive woolen garments.

Peace Pagoda, rock harden, Botannical park etc are among the top destinations that provide added attraction to the hilly tract of Darjeeling

Kalimpong- Situated at an altitude of 1250 meters it enjoys temperate climate throughout the year. Therefore, it has always been the attraction to those who want to spend a few days in the lap of nature. Inhabited mostly by the local tribesmen, Kalimpong offers you great beauty of nature. You can go for a romantic hangout at Lovers Point, the confluence of the river Teesta and Rangeet.

Kurseong- With lower elevation, Kurseong enjoys milder and very healthy climate throughout the year. The natural beauty of the place attracted a large amount of famous personalities since years.

Mirik- Mirik , known as the nest of the hills is known as one of the leading hill station of West Bengal. The floating fountain in the middle of the river and the shadow of Kanchenjunga appearing on the lake has a special charm of its own.

Mungpoo- Mungpoo offers a serious of scenic beauty on the way. Apart from lush green bushes, it also offers ample of flower nurseries and crystal rivulets . It is a perfect place for the honeymoon couples.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR)- The World heritage DHR is one of the well coveted destinations for tourists. It interconnects all places of Darjeeling including the cuties adjacent.

So plan your next holiday at Darjeeling and enjoy.

If you are planning to retreat back in the lap of nature during the holidays,  then nothing can be a better destination than  Darjeeling- “the queen of hills”. A  short and refreshing  trip to Darjeeling can rejuvenate your mind and weary soul.  Scuttling between tea gardens, enjoying a one hour joy ride in the world heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and hand-in-hand with your partner while going for leisurely walks around the Mall can offer you pleasures galore. Three days tour to Darjeeling will be enough for exploring the natural beauty. A sojourn to the market and picking up local artifacts from the curio shops can be a good dose for the shopaholics.

If you are looking for exploring the Hills, you should spend at least five days in the region. Plan your vacation by spending a night beside the picturesque lake at Mirik on the day one. While heading towards Darjeeling you can experience alluring natural charisma wayside, which offers delicious treat to your eyes. After spending three days in the nestled hilly tract of Darjeeling, take a three-hour drive to Kalimpong, where a myriad of flower nurseries invite you with all its magnetic charm.  You can spend a night here in this quiet town before wrapping up your holiday.

Darjeeling can offer you with the charming view of sunrise from the Kanchenjunga, the world heritage of Batasia Loop and the War Memorial.  A connoisseur can  appreciate the artistic charisma of the artist at the Ava art gallery. Chowrasta, a wide promenade atop a ridge can be a great getaway to enjoy with your friends. Rock garden, peace pagoda etc can  make your vacation at Darjeeling a great time.

A one day stay at  Kurseong can  offer you peace, serenity and the healthy climate- a true romantic getaway. Honeymoon couples can have a great time here.

On  the  way from  Darjeeling  to Kalimpong  you can experience awesome natural beauty throughout. You can experience the road dropping from Ghoom 7407ft., to Teesta Bazar 700 ft. , which is a distance of 12km and en route you can enjoy lush green forests and impressive tea gardens.

Your vacation at Darjeeling never completes without a small visit to Mungpoo. Towards the east of Darjeeling, while passing through Ghoom-Jorebunglow,  lovely scenic spots and lush green tea gardens can offer you visual treat. Flower nurseries and crystal clear rivulets can be spotted en route to Mungpoo. Moreover, Mungpoo has world heritage of being the summer residence of poet Rabindranath Tagore, but also famous for Cinchona plantation.

White Water Rafting is one of the most adventurous hill sports, for which the region attracts a large chunk of tourists every year. The region is relatively new in the Darjeeling Hills and the operation introduced from 1991. Since then the sport is reckoned as one of the adventurous sports in Darjeeling. Today, white water rafting at Teesta has garnered immense popularity all over the region.

Graded on the international scale at Grade II, III & IV, the icy cold waters of the stormy Teesta with its myriad of rapids of varying intensity and nature, offers an alluring yet challenging invitation to those who love playing with deadly adventures. It is one of the finest rafting stretches in the world. The turbulent waters of the Rangeet with its multidimensional rapids offer rafters immense fun and joy. Rafting in Teesta seems more alluring with spectacular scenery around.

During the season, many organizations arrange this adventurous sport for fun and adventure at the river Teesta and Rangeet. Such organizations take the whole responsibility of safety, while passing through Himalayan Passages. They have a big team of well-trained professionals, who are proficient in safe river running.

During the entire course of river rafting, you have to encounter with Easy small waves in Grade I, Grade II with moderate difficulty but the passage will be cleared soon, difficult high irregular waves in Grade III, which needs precise maneuvering. In Grade IV, you have to face difficulty with powerful waves, but a professional helper can help easing this out. However, the next grades are adventurous as much as risky. Therefore, amateur rafters are not able enough to withstand the pressure of rafting in the advanced stages.

Since high risk factor is involved in the course of rafting persons suffering from weak heart conditions, epilepsy, expecting mothers and those with serious ailments are strictly prohibited to take part in rafting. Although very tiring, consumption of any intoxicant is not permitted in the course of rafting. In spite of providing a high level of energy, it may dry out your vigor. People more than 14 years are only qualified to take part in the rafting journey. Non-swimmers can also take part but may be restricted to certain sections of the river. In such case, the advice of the River Guide or Trip Leader is final.

So get ready now and plan for an exciting river rafting sport at Teesta.

One of the best hill stations in India, Darjeeling has a charismatic charm of its own. Perhaps the enigmatic natural beauty and unsurpassed picturesque view makes it a luring getaway for tourists worldwide. Darjeeling along with surrounding areas such as Mirik, Jaldapara, Gangtok, Pelling etc constitute the entire tourism industry of Darjeeling. Major part of Darjeeling’s economy is contributed by the tourism industry.

Tourism industry in Darjeeling opens up a variety of eye-catching view of nature to the tourists. The industry offers a chance to explore the hidden paradise of North Bengal and Sikkim. Today there are ample of companies, which offer cost-effective tour packages to Darjeeling. Most of packages include a joy ride in the world famous toy train, which has been listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. On the course of your tour, you can take a small visit to Gangtok and a myriad of other attractions in the close vicinity such as the historic Nathula pass (Indo-China border and trading point),Tsongo lake, the high altitude lake and the famous Baba Harbhajan temple and many others. Visiting monasteries at Pelling in West Sikkim is a wonderful experience. Sikkim offers you a variety of imposing landscape and making some customization in the tour package, you can also visit Lachung, Yumthang etc.
The tourism industry plays a significant role in maintaining the interesting places in Darjeeling and its neighboring areas. As a result, year after year, none of the interesting places lose any of its charm and retaining the tradition of attracting a large chunk of tourists every year. While in Mirik, the industry’s main role is to maintain the vast and beautiful lake, in Kalimpong, its main role is to preserve the temples, which has been the chief attraction of tourists since years. You can also indulge into wildlife sightseeing at Jaldapara national park, which is directly under the supervision of the industry.

You can also take a tour package to Darjeeling from the tourism industry itself.

The majestic view of diverse flora and fauna with imposing natural beauty highlighted by a mixture of serenity and austerity of nature attract a large chunk of tourists to Darjeeling every year. However, the problem faced by most of the tourists is the perfect accommodation. People who contact with various travel agencies do not face with such unexpected problem but those who prefer visiting without contacting any travel agencies can face such problems, here we are giving you some necessary details about the accommodation in Darjeeling, so that you can book them in advance if you have plans to visit Darjeeling in near future.

Hotels in Darjeeling offer s best opportunities to experience the ravishing charm of the “Queen of hills”. Apart from catering to the many demands of its guests , the hotels offer Guides and cars to visit the town.

Heritage Hotels: If you are looking for a luxurious stay, booking a room at the Heritage Hotels in Darjeeling can be a very good option. They offer superb facilities coupled by the great services and the hospitality to the guests. A hotel of marked affluence, staying here is simply marvelous.

Cottages in the tea estates: Staying in the Tea Estates in Darjeeling is unusual and gives you an exhilarating experience. Overseeing the vast expanse of marvelous tea gardens of the city, you can have the coziest stay in these cottages. Although you will not get, any five star facilities like luxury hotels, yet you can have one of your blissful experience of life in the cottages at tea estates. Bearing a colonial ambience laced with immaculate nature around can make you feel staying in the Heaven. The tea estates form a blissful surrounding unlike the bundles of activities of the city life. Apart from the tea estate cottages, you can also stay in the resorts close to the tea gardens.

Hotel Mayfair
Located opposite the Governor House in the Mall, this hotel was originally the summer palace of the Maharaja of Nazargung. Constructed in the colonial style of the British era, the Resort offers perfect coziness with the warmth of sunlight . Embraced b the immaculate green forest of by fir and pine trees, Mayfair Hill Resort is situated at the Himalayan foothills and overlooks several others. 90 Kms. From Bagdogra Airport, this hotel offers you a great time.

The Elgin Group of Hotels
The Elgin group of Hotels are known as the exclusive heritage hotels. Situated at Ghoom Monastery Road, the Hotel attracts a good number of tourists especially due to its five star facilities. In this hotel, a silken Khada will be draped around your neck as a traditional Himalayan welcome.

Apart from this, you can also access government accommodation in Darjeeling.

Darjeeling offers interests galore to attract a good number of tourists every year. One such interesting destination in Darjeeling is Bengal Natural History Museum. It is the abode of a varied archaeological sources and also focuses on the natural process of evolution.

The Bengal Natural History Museum in Darjeeling was established in the year 1903. What marks the excellence of the museum is a significant profusion of Himalayan fauna. The museum holds about 4,300 examples of Himalayan fauna. Here you can find a good mixture of numerous faunas, originally belonging to Bengal and Darjeeling, and the Himalayan specimens. A wide assortment of faunas from Jalpaiguri, Sikkim, Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal, are found here.

The museum also exhibits a wide and varied resources of species like fish , insects, birds, bird-eggs, reptiles, butterflies and plenty of herbarium. Apart from this, it harbors a rare kind of crocodiles, known as the estuarine crocodile, which is typical to the hilly areas of Darjeeling. You can find this marvelous sight extremely fascinating and watching these rare species is definitely a treat to your eyes. The resplendent medley colors , highlighted by the radiant and mind-blowing butterflies here, makes Bengal Natural History Museum in Darjeeling a must visit.

Apart from such a wide variety of flora and fauna, the Bengal natural History Museum offers a great variety of stones, marked with their mineral moulds. The Bengal Natural History Museum at Darjeeling remains open throughout the week except Thursday. This Museum of Darjeeling, welcomes visitors from 10.00 Am. to 4.00 PM .

For an avid nature lover, this museum offers interests galore. It offers precious knowledge on the natural world and resources available on the Queen of hills. The museum also offers you a vivid resources of education about the natural environs.