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City in West Bengal, India
Photo: Joydeep, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Darjeeling (Nepali: दार्जिलिङ Dārjiling, Bengali: দার্জিলিং Dārjiling) is a hill station in the northern region of West Bengal. It used to be a lovely Victorian town built among the Himalayan foothills, the remnants of which are still visible around the Chowrasta. The main attractions are the cultural diversity of the Tibetan and Nepali populations. The town is also a jumping-off point for travellers heading to Sikkim.
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Quite a hike from the centre, Darjeeling's second oldest tea estate is open for visitors. An employee will guide visitors through the tea factory, showing the full process of tea production and explaining the different varieties of tea. At the end of the tour, tea samples are tested, and you can buy teas produced from the estate.
The oldest site of Darjeeling. This hill is also known as the “Makal-Babu-Ko-Thaan” in the local area. It is said that a Red Hat Buddhist Monastery stood at this very spot. The Nepalese people destroyed this monastery in the 19th century. The Mahakal Temple now stands on this hill.
TRSHC
A rehabilitation centre for the Tibetan refugees in Darjeeling, established on 2 October 1959, following the Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet. It contains a monastery and a museum.
Ideal to visit early morning when the first rays of the sun kiss the Kangchenjunga mountain and give it a golden colour. To visit the hill, one needs to get up at 3AM. You can taste some excellent tea on your way to the hill, which will provide much-needed warmth on cold Darjeeling mornings. When getting into a taxi at 3AM, keep in mind that they are shared taxis and your driver might wait around in vain for others to join your taxi, causing you to miss the sunrise! Those travelling alone or as a couple might want to squeeze into an already occupied terrain vehicle to ensure full viewing pleasure. Though it has an executive lounge (₹40 per person) and a special lounge (₹30 per person), nothing beats having a view from an open area, as you can have a full panoramic view from outside, avoiding the crowd in the lounge. The earlier you can reach, the better place you can find to stand inside or outside the observatory tower. If you are late, you may find yourself standing behind many people and a lot of obstructions to feel the sunrise and magical lighting of Kangchenjunga. You may also need to walk a lot to reach there via a steep ascendant road. But, as of 2022, the forest department charges ₹50 per head to enter this region, as it is a place inside a forest.
The greenhouse has quite a nice collection of flowers.
It has a good collection of the more charismatic animals found in the Himalayan region, including leopards, a rare Bengal tiger, and red pandas.
A beautiful place with many small waterfalls. This place has a variety of flowers landscaped in the rocks.
A beautiful park with a package of cultural programmes performed daily during the tourist season. The park features a giant Statue of Lord Shiva, a temple, and provisions for live-interactive entertainment. The best time to visit the park is in the evenings. You may think of it as an alternative to Tiger Hill to see the sunlight magic on Kangchenjunga from this park. Good spot for photographers, as this place is not very crowded. A nice landscape is visible from this park.
Batasey
A place where the legendary toy train makes a loop around the Gorkha War Memorial. Built in 1919, this spiral railway track has solved one of the most challenging heavy transport problems in the mountain railway history of Darjeeling. Today, it stands as more than just a feat of engineering—it’s a living memorial to brave Gorkha soldiers and a window into the cultural heritage of India’s famous hill station.
This temple was built by Purna Bahadur Pradhan in 1939.
This 28.5-meter-tall impressive building is part of a grid of around 30 pagodas spanning the whole globe. Constructed by the Japanese Buddhist Nipponzan-Myohoji Order, the one at Charlimont on the outskirts of Darjeeling was consecrated in 1992. It represents a unique fusion of Japanese Buddhist architecture, Indian craftsmanship, and universal peace principles. A small temple just lies alongside. If you're woken up due to the sound of drumming in the streets of Darjeeling between 4AM and 5AM: These are the monks (Theravada) of the Japanese temple having their early morning walk.
A Shiva temple at a top height; it will take some hardships to be there.
An attraction off the beaten track, and the resting place for the figures who have contributed to Darjeeling significantly. It contains various graves, including the one of Alexander Csoma de Kőrös (Hungarian: Sándor Kőrösi Csoma), a Hungarian philologist who authored the first Tibetan-English dictionary and grammar book.
This church was built in 1843.
Mag-Dhog Yolmowa Monastery
Located in Aloobari on the way from Darjeeling to Jorbunglow, this is the least visited monastery as it is located away from the main road. Established in 1914, the monastery offers some breathtaking views of the Tiger Hill region and houses some old, rare Buddhist manuscripts.
Karmaa Dorjee Chyoling Monastery
This monastery was built in 1761 by Lama Dorje Rinzing above the Observatory Hill, where the Mahakal Temple stands now. Later, it was relocated downhill to Bhutia Busty.
Druk Sangag Choling Monastery
This is the biggest monastery in this region. It was built in 1971. It is the headquarters and residence of Drukchen Rimpoche the XII, the head of the Kargyupa sect of Buddhists.
Yiga Choeling Monastery
This is one of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Darjeeling. It was built in 1850.
Less visited but offers unique and charming views of Kangchenjunga. Few locals can be found jogging here and offering prayers to various deities.
A 5 km long ropeway (aerial lift) consisting of 16 cars and plies between the North Point and Singla, on the banks of the Ramman River.
Serves very good grilled sandwiches, sandwiches, pizzas, burgers and even pastas.
Cake Lady makes cakes, muffins and brownies to order and even delivers them free of charge to your hotel or home in Darjeeling town. The cakes are a taste of home using quality ingredients (sourced locally and organic wherever possible). Order the day before.
It was known as "Plivas" during the British tim. Glenary's is divided into 3 restaurants - the upper deck is specially more decent and apt for families and good for lunch and dinner. The second one below the upper deck is the confectionary and a restaurant ideal for a cup of Darjeeling Tea and also a good breakfast. The lower deck is known as "The Buzz" where a live music band will be playing and is more of fun stuff with bar and food. Yes, it is a good place for cakes, pastries, the ubiquitous Darjeeling cuppa, sizzlers and North Indian fare. Offers nice views of Mt Kanchendjunga on clear days.
Darjeeling tea in loose (estate) & handcrafted gift packaging. Over 250 varieties - Darjeeling black, green, oolong, white, flavored, herb teas. Gourmet tea sit in service with a handsome and well presented range of snacks and eatables. Tea menu with almost 75 kinds of different hot & iced teas, tea mocktails. Tea paraphernalia like metal and silver tea sets & pots, strainers, infusers, spoons, tea cosies, etc.
On the way to Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, on Hooker Road, is this lovely little cosy place with pictures of Bob Marley covering one whole wall. The Momos here are awesome! They even offer a Momo-cooking course! If you want to taste the local home brewed beer Tongba, this is the place. The guy who owns it can double up as your local guide, trekking along with you to some adventurous outings from Darjeeling.
This is probably the best vegetarian restaurants in town where you can enjoy a great view and wonderful service.
A small but artistically designed hotel with lot of interesting painting. For vegetarians good place to eat with North and South Indian dishes, Chinese. One must taste Thupka (soupy noodles) here. If you play guitar just pick the guitar keep in the reception and start playing it!
This place with its awesome western delicacies and cool view was featured in a number of movies and books. Don't forget to try the chicken sausages, pork platter and the chocolate milk shake. The sandwiches here are great too. The first floor is the restaurant, while you can buy meatloaf, sausages, cheese etc. from the ground floor store. Good place to buy Kalimpong and Nepal Cheese.
An excellent Tibetan place, situated just above the clocktower. It serves superb Tibetan food, including hearty Tibetan soups (Thentuk is recommended). It is, however, tiny, hence often full and crowded.
A great place tastefully done up with an amazing ambience and collection of hundreds of varieties of Darjeeling teas. Serving almost 100 varieties of tea & tea mocktails from a tea menu. A large collection of tea accessories such as silver tea pots & sets, tea cosies, tea strainers & infusers books on teas & other paraphernalia
If you want to try Naga dishes, this is the place. Non-veg plates made with ingredients such as smoked pork and fermented bamboo shoots. But you need to place orders in advance (at least 3 hr) for lunch or dinner.
Located near the clock tower, this restaurant is especially popular with tourists. They have two menu cards, one Thai and the other Indian, and the cook mastered both cuisines. The Thai cuisine is quite excellent. Try their Thai style chicken rice noodle.
a snazzy tea boutique having a very wide frontage even though the place is not all that big. Over 50 kinds of finely packaged teas from Darjeeling & other areas in India. Oolong, black, green, white, CTC, spiced, herbal & many more. Besides, they also have almost 25 kinds of estate teas to see, taste & select. The place even has a small 4-seater tea bar with a proper Tea Menu! Interesting and very well located. Few accessories are also available. Teas can also be bought from their online website which is quite nice.
Natmulls
Tea bar with friendly and enthusiastic staff ready to share their knowledge on tea. A big selection of teas is available (black, green, white, etc). The balcony gives a view over the mountains, especially nice in sunset, hence the name. You can also buy pastries, but having a tea pot of Darjeeling can't be missed here. They also sell teas and tea accessories for taking home. Free Wi-Fi.
Opened in October 2008.
Located at the top of the hill, the views are nice, but the 15-min walk from the clock tower is quite steep. In some double rooms there is hot water 6:30PM-7:30PM, but they can fill up a bucket with hot water the rest of the day. There is also a simple restaurant, which houses an impressive library.
All rooms face Kanchenjungha. Rooms are dank & dreary with rickety old furniture. Offers a hint of the old world charm.
Simple hotel with cozy rooms, running hot showers and TV. Half hour internet use free each day. Owners are nice couple of Indian (Iranian ancestry) and Japanese. Single for ₹220, Double for ₹330 (2012).
Located near the mall, the views are nice, but the 3 min walk to mall.
Darjeeling Tourist Lodge
Property belongs to West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDCL) and has a breathtaking location with views of Kangchenjunga. There are also dormitories available but these tend to be booked out.
All rooms office good hill view with balcony. Pure vegetarian restaurant is attached with hotel.
A Beatles themed lodge and restaurant. The lodge features five cosy rooms, each named after the fab four and Brian Epstein, considered the fifth Beatle. Very affordable, each room has a double bed, attached bathroom with hot water and closet. The lodge showcases a constantly growing list of Beatles memorabilia. Free WiFi available.
Offers a clutch of backpacker-oriented places. On a north-facing slope, which is perpetually misty, so these places get very cold and damp, with the lack of sunshine often being felt in the attitudes of the proprietors too.
Just 20 km from the town.
14 rooms with views of Kanchenjunga.
Run by a Tibetan family for around forty years, the hotel features a modest, dry and warm interior, rooms are wood-panelled and clean. Free Wi-Fi.
Located very centrally at the south end of the Mall. Has Wi-Fi.
Centrally located.
Serviced apartment
4-star boutique hotel high above the main town, amidst groves of evergreen trees in serene environs.
A luxury heritage hotel in Darjeeling. The hotel has stories to tell from the time of its first owner the Maharaja of Cooch Behar to Nancy Oakley in the 1950s.
Hill resort offering good views. This property was once the summerhouse of the Maharajah of Nazargunj.
It has 46 beautiful rooms and suites, with satellite TV. The wooden interiors give it an ambience of a traditional country home.
Established in the 19th century as a boarding house for bachelor English and Scottish tea planters, it was converted into a hotel just before the outbreak of the Second World War. Has been the subject of many stories in the international media. It offers Wi-Fi facility.
Posters and picture postcards. Excellent selection of posters and cards depicting scenes of the Himalayas..
A unique shop that has a fascinating collection of Buddhist and other local artefacts. This place, though surprisingly small, is more like a mini Aladdin’s cave for objet-d'art lovers. However, the owner is rude towards Indians and they are frequently cold shouldered unlike the deep interest shown to foreign customers. When buying artifacts it is best to take a look round and not to appear in a hurry. You may try few other shops, which are opposite the State Bank of India and also below the Chowrasta mall.
Darjeeling is a place where you can get variety of ladies' hand bags and junk jewellery at a completely affordable price. You can try to bargain if you really like a piece.
Excellent selection of titles. Local travel guides..
By taxi or shared terrain vehicle
Siliguri is the nearest city on the mainline rail network. Ample transport is available to Darjeeling from here, a 3-hour drive on a well-maintained, hilly paved road.
By bus
There are buses from Siliguri to Darjeeling, but they are slow due to the steep, twisted, narrow climb to Darjeeling. The option of shared terrain vehicles is available and it is cheap and faster.
By train
Siliguri Junction is the nearest broad-gauge station, on the main inter-city line.
Darjeeling is a small town, and the salubrious climate means walks around town are an extremely enjoyable means of getting around. For longer trips, taxis are available in stands near the entrance to the supermarket.
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