Darjeeling walking along the memory lane

Travelling in Darjeeling is like walking along the memory lanes during the time of the British Raj. Located in the cozy and inviting lap of the Kanchan Junga, Darjeeling the dramatic land is amazingly blessed with the superb beauty of the nature, fantastic sightseeing places, ornamental monasteries, mystic hill, alluring tea gardens, refreshing and healthy climatic condition and warm hospitality.

Darjeeling is truly a gem in the crown of the Himalayas that invites the foot falls of thousands and thousands of tourists from across the globe. Darjeeling in true sense is a paradise on earth as the showers of blessing from the heaven in poured in Darjeeling in the form of the natural beauty, blissful ambiance and the cool weather conditions that keeps this scenic hill town pure and pristine all the year round.

So due to the copious natural beauty, cool climatic condition, tempting culture and friendly hospitality, tourist throngs the year round to for holidays in Darjeeling. Darjeeling tourism has great potential the hill town supports varieties of tourism options including tea tourism, monsoon tourism, medical tourism, wildlife tourism, flowers tourism and culture tourism, which have their own resemblance, but different from rest of the world.

So come and soak in the heavenly beauty of the nature as well as explore the fascinating charm of tourism in Darjeeling with much pleasure, fun and joy. Beside the inviting tourist places, the speciality of Darjeeling tourism lies in the tea gardens, which are not just the main tourist attraction but are the back bone of Darjeeling tourism.

The vast stretches of the emerald green tea gardens are the main source from where the world’s best tea leaves are obtained and are made ready for the international market supply. Darjeeling Himalayan railway is also the iconic attraction which is also the major tourist attraction and the iconic symbol of Darjeeling tourism.

Talking more on Darjeeling tourism, the hill town has its own unique culture and festivals like Tihar, Dasai, Losar (Tibetan Festival), Makar Sankranti and Durga Puja is celebrate with great enthusiasm by all the local communities.

More of all Darjeeling is the gastronomy paradise, where one can satisfy the appetite by enjoy the verities of delicious Himalayan cuisines and specialities including “Momos”, “Thukpas”, Sael Roti and mood making local wine called Chhaang and Tongba. So in short, Darjeeling tourism has everything that makes the vacation a complete package packed with fun delights, thrill, adventure and lots of happiness.
PLACES TO VISIT
Dhoom Gompa
About 8 kms from Darjeeling is the Dhoom Gompa. Here a very beautiful statue of the Maitrayie Buddha is established. The Monastery has also preserved some of the rare handwritten Buddhist manuscripts.

The Mall
The Mall is Darjeeling’s popular commercial street. It is lined with Tibetans selling hand-knitted sweaters and souvenir shops chock-full of Himalayan artifacts and both real and imitation antiques. Photo shops carry turn-of-the-century photos as well as specialising in hand-painted black and white prints with glowing oil colours. The Mall leads to Chaurasta, a square, which doubles as a bandstand, a pony riding arena for children and a haven for lovers.

Chowrasta

The Chowrasta, meaning crossroad, is a hive of commercial activity. The Mall Road originates and culminates at the Chowrasta. This is the heart of Victorian Darjeeling. Here hotels, restaurants and shops brush against each other. The shops and stalls are a veritable paradise for souvenir collectors. The Bhutanese sellers display their wares. Woollen garments, tribal ornaments, Thankas, rosaries, brass statuettes and Gorkha daggers are kept on display for sale. Foreign goods are also available in some shops. Local handicrafts are much in demand.

Obeservatory Hill
The oldest site in Darjeeling is Observatory Hill, known locally as “Makal- Babu-Ko-Thaan”. According to legend, a Red Hat Buddhist Monastery called Dorje Ling, or ‘place of the Thunderbolt’, stood at this very spot. The Nepalis destroyed it in the 19th century. The Shivas and Buddhists share the temple that stands there today.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
A spot not to be missed is the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute created by the late Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who conquered Mt Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary on 29 May 1953. A display of equipment used on the climb is one of the highlights. A zoological garden nearby has an assortment of wildlife such as yaks, Siberian tigers and red pandas who call the region their home.

Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway
At North Point about 3-km from the town, this is the first passenger ropeway in India. For reservation of ropeway seats please contact – officer in-charge, Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Ropeway Station, North Point, Darjeeling. Regular share taxi service is available from Market Motor and Taxi Stand is to the Ropeway Station.
Book This Now
Nearby Attractions
Tibetan Refuge Camp
The area in and around Darjeeling is a treasure chest of interesting destinations. The Tibetan Refugee self-help scheme produces traditional artifacts, jewellery and carpets for tourist consumption.

Lloyd’s Botanical Garden
Lloyd’s Botanical Garden displays a fine collection of Himalayan fauna for those with an interest, and for punters there is horseracing at Lebong, the smallest and highest racecourse in the world.

Tiger Hill
Situated at an altitude of 2,590m (8,482 ft.) and 13-km from the town, this spot has earned international fame for the magnificent view of the sunrise over “Kanchenjunga” and the great Eastern Himalayan Mountains. Even Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, is visible from here.

Phalut & Sandakphu
A week’s smallest-trip of Phalut and Sandakphu will get one within reach of the high peaks; for the onlooker it affords a more spectacular panorama than at Tiger Hill. Giant flowering Rhododendron trees, a pointillism of reds pinks and whites Dwarfs comprise of the en route trail. On attaining heights of over 3,048m, one is surrounded by skeletal trees devoid of leaves and branches, which are especially eerie when the clouds roll in and envelop the area.

Pashupati

Further afield, in Pashupati on the Nepal border, one can purchase foreign goods at reasonable prices, view wildlife such as the endangered one-horned Rhino, Deer, Gaur, and wild boar while seated atop an Elephant’s back at Jaldapara Game Park; learn of the Lepcha legend at the confluence of the Teesta and Ranjeet Rivers; relive Kalimpong’s past glory as a trading post by visiting the market filled with traditional Tibetan medicine, spices, musk, wool and silk; or for the truly adventurous-hire some ponies and a crew and take to the hills.

Kurseong
Kurseong is mid-way between Siliguri and Darjeeling. The way from Darjeeling to Kurseong is generally open through out the year. So, the toy train is not coming to Siliguri then one can come up to Kurseong. This place is equally beautiful and is full of natural splendour

Be the first to comment

The Indian Panorama - Best Indian American Newspaper in New York & Dallas - Comments