Darjiling Important information

Darjiling

Delightful  Darjiling,  the   'Queen  of Himalayas' perched at an altitude of 2,134 metres is said to be named after a Tibetan word, 'dorje ling' or 'Place of the Thunderbolt'. It is endowed with exceptional scenic beauty and offers a magnificent view of the grandeur and beauty of the mighty Himalayas. The beautiful town is indeed a paradise for holiday and adventure seekers as well as botanists, ornithologists, photographers and artists.

The lovely lush woods around Darjiling are full of conifers like fir, pine and birch and are known for exotic orchids and are home to rich animal and bird-life. The name Darjiling is also synonymous with the most exquisite tea of the world.

Tourist Acctration in Darjiling

• Batasia Loop
• Bhutia Basti Monastery
• Chowrasta or Crossroad
• Natural History Museum
• Dhirdham Temple
• Observatory Hill
• Lloyd Botanical Garden
• Tenzing Norgay Mountaineering Institute
• Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Garden

Batasia Loop (5 kms.) : It lies just below Ghoom and is an engineering marvel where the railway line negotiates a graceful circle and descends 1000 ft. The site affords a spectacular view of Darjiling, with the majestic Kanchenjungha in the background. There is also a War Memorial.

Bhutia Basti Monastery : This small monastery with beautifully painted facade belongs to the Bhutias, a people of Tibetan origin.

Chowrasta or Crossroad : It is the is the 'heart of Victorian Darjiling' and a hub of commercial activity. The famous Mall Road originates and culminates here and is studded with hotels, restaurants, shops and stalls. The attractive promenade affords fine view of the Himalayas. One can also enjoy a leisurely ride on a horse-back.

Natural History Museum : Arich collection of local fauna are exhibited here.

Dhirdham Temple : It resembles the famous Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.

Observatory Hill : The hill held sacred by Hindus and Buddhists affords a panoramic view of Kanchenjunga. There is a 19th century Mahakaal Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and a Buddhist Monastery. It had an observatory, which no longer exists.

Lloyd Botanical Garden : This well laid out terraced garden has a fine collection of plant specimens from the sub-temperate and temperate Himalayas. There is also a representative collection of plants from all over the world. The Orchidarium here has over 2,500 plants. An annual flower show is held here during the summer months.

Tenzing Norgay Mountaineering Institute : It lies on Jawahar Parbat and is the first mountaineering training centre of the country. The HMI Museum depicts history of mountaineering, while the Everest Museum displays memorabilia of the 1953, Everest expedition of Tenzing and Hillary. Another attraction is the huge 'Hitler's Telescope', which provides a fine view of Kanchenjunga.

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Garden : It is located near the Tenzing Norgay Mountaineering Institute and is home to some rare Himalayan fauna like, snow leopard, yak, Siberian tiger, Himalayan black bear, red panda, Tibetan wolf, Himalayan Pheasant etc.

Reaching There :

Airport: Bagdogra (90 kms.).

Rail: Darjiling is linked by the famous 'Toy Train' with New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri) (88 kms.)

Road: Well connected by road. Kolkata (626 kms.).