DISCOVER IN INDIA
Darjeeling is a town in India's West Bengal state, in the Himalayan foothills. Once a summer resort for the British Raj elite, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, or “Toy Train,” completed in 1881. It's famed for the distinctive black tea grown on plantations that dot its surrounding slopes. Its backdrop is Mt. Kanchenjunga, among the world’s highest peaks.
Most tourists visit Darjeeling in autumn (October and November) and spring (mid-March to mid-May) when skies are dry, panoramas are clear and temperatures are pleasant. Winters can be cold here, so bring an extra jumper if visiting from December to February. The rainy months (June to September) can be extremely wet and are best avoided.
Darjeeling sprawls over a west-facing slope in a confusing web of interconnecting roads and steep flights of steps. Expect an uphill hike to your hotel if arriving at the train station or jeep stand. The two main squares – Chowrasta, near the top of town, and Clubside junction – are linked by pedestrianised Nehru Rd (aka The Mall), which doubles as the main shopping street. Hill Cart Rd (aka Tenzing Norgay Rd) runs the length of the bustling lower bazaar and is Darjeeling’s major vehicle thorough fare.
Places to Visit:
 The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, also known as the Darjeeling Toy Train, is a prominent crowd-puller in the beautiful hill station of West Bengal. It is an outstanding engineering marvel, noted for being the best example of a hill passenger railway. This narrow (2 feet) train, listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO, takes you on 83 km long rail journey from Darjeeling to the railhead in Siliguri. This journey is an amazing way to ascent hilly terrains and to behold stunning views of the Himalayas |  Drive through beautiful green meadows and picturesque valleys to reach Mirik, the serene tourist spot in the hills of Darjeeling. Soak in the beautiful vistas and relax by the charming Sumendu Lake. Boating and canoeing are popular activities here. If you like trekking you’re in for a treat with plenty of trails that give you an enchanting insight into Darjeeling’s exotic forests. |  CHAPRAMARI-"Lying in the Eastern Himalayan foothills in Jalpaiguri district, the Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary offers 960.31 hectares of fabulous scenery and rare flora and fauna. The name of this wildlife refuge is derived from two words- 'Chapra'- meaning a variety of fish and 'Mari'- meaning abundance. Earlier a notified wildlife reserve, this place was declared a sanctuary in 1998 by the government of India. |
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 TEA GARDEN-A visit to a tea plantation is a must when in Darjeeling. There are more than 86 gardens that produce the famous Darjeeling tea. Visit tea estates and take a guided tour and learn all that goes in to processing tea. The estates in this region are renowned for the high quality Dooars and Terai teas. You can get a taste of all these teas at the plantations itself for Rs. 5 to Rs. 10. |  TIGER HILL-iger Hill, the highest point, a short drive away from the town is ideal for hiking and trekking through the day. Besides amazing views of the Kanchenjunga Range, the Tiger Hill renders perfect views of the sunrise. During peak tourist season, you'll see hundreds of tourists get up as early as four in the morning to view the beautiful sunrise from the observatory on top of the hill. The wind is so strong here; it will make you shiver with cold in a matter of minutes. |
Hotels in Darjeeling:
Address: No.26, H.D., GP Lama Road, Champasari, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734101. Phone:0354 225 5099
Contact - 090079 95888. A minute's walk from the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway attraction, this secluded hotel is 2.9 km from Peace Pagoda Darjeeling.
1/1 Robertson Road, Close to The Mall , Laden La Road, Close to Market. Hotel Sonar Bangla, 280 m from Darjeeling Railway Station and 6.5 km Jorebungalow Taxi Stand, features a lounge, restaurant and travel desk. Hotel Sonar Bangla is a 3 star property that is located in proximity to the Mall Road in Darjeeling. Divided into different categories like Deluxe AC, Deluxe non-AC, Super Deluxe and Premium AC, the rooms of the hotel feature amenities like direct-dial phone, room heater and TV
4, Cooch Behar Road, Adjacent to Darjeeling Telephone Exchange, 734101 Darjeeling, India. Phone-097330 22208