A Quick Sightseeing Tour of Darjeeling

Craggy hills, acres and acres of verdant tea gardens, oodles of old world charm, great food, and some of the best sights of nature - Darjeeling is the perfect blend of ingredients that together make for an unforgettable destination. This little town in West Bengal also has a checkered history. Ruled by the king of Sikkim at one time, Darjeeling was taken over by the valiant Gorkhas only to be claimed by the British through sheer force. While, unveiling all the charms of Darjeeling may not be possible here, take a look at just some of the most popular attractions in Darjeeling.

Tiger Hill

A not to be missed spot for anyone with a love for the hills or for that matter an eye for nature. Standing tall at a height of nearly 2555 metres above sea level, the Tiger Hill treats you to indescribably exhilarating views of Kanchenjunga. No words can describe the glory of the Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, with the other two being K2 and Mount Everest. Tiger Hill is nearly 12 km from Darjeeling and is best visited at the crack of dawn on a clear day. With the rising sun, the snow clad Kanchenjunga turns from dazzling shade of colour to the next. Lucky visitors can even see the Mount Everest on certain exceptionally clear days.

Darjeeling Toy Train

Decorated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ‘The Darjeeling Railway’ or Toy Train makes for a delightful experience. This little train starts from Siliguri and chugs its way to Darjeeling, huffing and puffing on the steep hilly terrain. The views along the way simply mesmerise the visitors as the train passes through lots of scenery. The famed ‘Batasia Loop’ is also part of the route of the train. However, one needs patience to travel by this train as it winds its way very slowly and takes about 8 hours to reach from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling.

Thongsa Gompa

The Thongsa Gompa or Bhutanese Monastery is yet another hotspot for tourists visiting Darjeeling. Established in 1692, it Kalimpong region’s oldest monastery. The Gompa that one sees as of today is not the original one. It is said that the first Gompa was built under the king of Bhutan’s direct guidance during the Bhutanese rule. It was demolished by the Gorkhas, when they overran Darjeeling and the present day Gompa is the renovated version. Everyday, prayers are offered here by Buddhist monks. Almost each and every corner of the Gompa is open to visitors. This peaceful ambiance of the Thongsa Gompa is highly conducive for meditation and dedicated efforts are made here for spiritual upliftment.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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