Darjeeling - Queen of The Hills

Darjeeling is a charming town in the Indian state of West Bengal, nestled among the Lesser Himalayas and covered in emerald green tea fields. The third-highest mountain in the world, Kanchenjunga, often spelled Kangchenjunga, majestically dominates this lovely town. Popularly referred to as the “Queen of the Hills,” Darjeeling is a popular tourist destination renowned for its natural splendor, historic woods, charming homes, hospitable residents, and the mountain scenery it offers.

Thousands of people are drawn to Darjeeling today seeking a peaceful escape from the maddening crowds. Travelers of all types—tourists, hikers, ornithologists, photographers, botanists, and artists—will find in Darjeeling an experience that will live long in their memories.

One of India’s most beautiful hill stations, Darjeeling is situated in West Bengal’s northern region. It’s all about breathtaking views of the snow-capped Kanchenjunga, rivers running down the mountainside, beautiful tea gardens, and surroundings with firs, pines, and ferns, all mixed with kind people and a modern yet colonial charm.

Darjeeling, which served as India’s summer capital during the British Raj, has emerged as one of the country’s most popular hill resorts. This popular hill town in West Bengal is the ideal destination for a wonderful vacation. Located at a height of 2,050 meters above sea level and surrounded by miles of tea plantations, Darjeeling has a pleasant temperature all year long.

Explore Darjeeling

UNESCO has granted the Toy Train, which was first built in 1881, World Heritage Status. As it chugs along, the train provides beautiful views of the Mountains as it rises from the plains to a height of more than 2000 meters above sea level.

The renowned “Darjeeling Tea” is made in Darjeeling at more than 86 different tea plantations. Take your pick between enjoying a cup of locally made chai at the tea estate or venturing out into the plantations to select a few tea leaves yourself.

From here, you can see the Kanchenjunga peak, which is the highest mountain in India and the third highest point in the entire world. Monasteries, botanical gardens, a zoo, and the longest cable car in Asia, the Darjeeling-Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway, are a few of Darjeeling’s most well-liked attractions. The sunrise over the mountains may be seen in all its blazing splendor from Tiger Hill.

History of Darjeeling

The name Darjeeling is derived from the Tibetan words “Dorje,” which means “thunder,” and “ling,” which means “piece of land,” which means “the country of the thunderbolt.”

Darjeeling was formerly a part of Sikkim and, earlier still, of Nepal before being purchased by the East India Company. A border dispute between Sikkim and Nepal erupted in February 1829, and Lord William Bentinck, the governor-general of India at the time, went out to settle it. He discovered along the way that the sleepy hill hamlet had tactical advantages for trade and military outposts. Later, it was discovered that the area would make a perfect location for tea plantations.

The neighborhood received significant development and developed into a popular tourist destination for British officials. As a result, it acquired the title “Queen of hills.” The area became one of India’s most well-known hill stations after India’s Independence.

Culture of Darjeeling

The culture of Darjeeling is distinct and varied. Due to employment opportunities in tea plantations during a bygone age, the city is now home to a diverse population of immigrants from Nepal, Sikkim, Tibet, Bhutan etc. The two main religions practiced by the people are Vajrayana Buddhism and Hinduism.

Losar, which is basically Darjeeling’s new year and is celebrated in January or February depending on the moon’s position, is one of the city’s biggest events (lunar calendar). Another significant annual festival is the Darjeeling Carnival. Folk dance and art are on show at the event.

The same is done by regional rock bands. Makar Sankranti, Chotrul Duchen (a Buddhist festival honoring the four occasions of Gautam Buddha’s life), Tendong Lho Rumfaat, and others are significant holidays.

Flora and Fauna in Darjeeling

Darjeeling is home to more than 4,000 plant species, 300 different types of ferns, 600 different bird species, as well as numerous mammals and wild animals.

There are many moist alpine trees, fine uncommon orchids, and trees like chestnut, cherry, sal, birch, oak, and elm. On the hills, rhododendron also flourishes.

Numerous bird species, such as woodpeckers, orioles, sunbirds, flycatchers, finches, Bengal floricans, and herons, among others, call it home. Numerous animals can also be found there, including tigers, leopards, hog deer, rhinoceroses with one horn, etc.

What is the best time to visit Darjeeling

When the weather is nice, between April and June is the ideal time to visit Darjeeling. Many individuals, however, also favor going there in the winter, from October through December. Showers are expected in the months of July and August. It is not recommended to visit Darjeeling during these months because of the numerous blockages caused by severe rain in the hill station.

The weather rapidly changes from October to March; by the end of October, a faint chill is in the air. The coldest part of winter lasts from the middle of November to the beginning of January, with temperatures between 7 and 5 degrees Celsius.

The start of the city’s summer season is from April to June. Darjeeling is nice and not overly hot throughout these months. The maximum temperature is 25 degrees.

It is perfect for exploring the tourist hotspots because of the blazing bright sunlight. Again, September is a great month to travel because there is less rain and more lush vegetation at this time of year.

Restaurants and Local Food in Darjeeling

Darjeeling has many options to satisfy the taste buds of food lovers, spoiling them with delicious food and lip-smacking delicacies in the vibe of beautiful views.

Traditional Tibetan and Sikkimese cuisine, Thai delicacies, and good old North Indian dishes are just a few of the options available. Essentially, the cuisine in this region combines distinct characteristics of Bengali, Nepali, and Tibetan ingredients, styles, and recipes.

Despite the abundance of options, one of the first dishes on the menu here features the best and finest tea available in the region, which you must taste.

Momos, Thukpa, Aloo Dum, Sael Roti, Naga Platter, Nepali thali, Tongba, Channg, and many other popular foods are among the must-try treats. Not to mention that everyone enjoys drinking tea.

F.A.Q.

How to Reach Darjeeling

How to reach Darjeeling by flight

The closest airport is Bagdogra Airport. Direct flights from Delhi, Guwahati, and Kolkata are offered by regional airlines including Air India, Jet Airways, Indigo, SpiceJet, and others. When you arrive at the airport, you can rent a cab to drive you in about 3 hours to Darjeeling.

Nearest Airport: BAGDOGRA – 38 km from Darjeeling

How to reach Darjeeling by road

Siliguri and Darjeeling, which are separated by about 70 kilometers, are regularly serviced by bus. From surrounding towns like Kurseong and Kalimpong, bus services are also accessible. As an alternative, you can drive from adjacent towns like Siliguri, Kalimpong, and Kurseong down to Darjeeling. The road system is fairly good, and the surrounding mountains are breathtaking.

How to reach Darjeeling by train

New Jalpaiguri, 62 kilometers from the main town, is the closest railway station. All of the major Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Cochin, and Chennai, are connected by it. The well-known toy train service operated by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways departs from New Jalpaiguri and takes approximately 7 hours to reach Darjeeling.

Local transport in Darjeeling

For navigating the hill’s steep and occasionally congested roads, a four-wheel land rover is the most common and widely used kind of transportation.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Reviews

 4.9/5

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is popularly known as Toy Train. The highest hill railway in India is one of the primary attractions for tourists from around the world.

Batasia Loop

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 4.9/5

An engineering marvel is the Batasia Loop. A magnificent technical achievement is located 5 km from Darjeeling.

Tiger Hill

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 4.9/5

This location, 13 kilometers from the town and at an elevation of 2590 meters, is renowned worldwide for its breathtaking sunrise views of “Kanchenjunga”

Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway

Reviews

 4.9/5

The Darjeeling Ropeway is a rope-way in the town of Darjeeling in the Indian state of West Bengal. The 5 km long rope-way is a tourist destination in the town.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute

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 4.9/5

The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was established in Darjeeling, India on 4 November 1954 to encourage mountaineering as an organized sport in India.

Shrubbery Nightingale Park

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 4.9/5

Located in the mesmerizing hill station of Darjeeling, the Nightingale Park is a public park area frequented by the tourists to relish gorgeous views of the Kanchenjunga ranges.