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Darjeeling
Darjeeling town (population 83,000 and elevation 2,134
m) is located on a spur with houses hugging the hillside. The places to
visit are Chowrasta, a wide promenade atop a ridge lined with shops and
restaurants; Mall Road, starting and finishing at Chowrasta, for a leisurely
stroll amidst peaceful surroundings and splendid views; Padmaja Naidu
Himalayan Zoological Park which has the Siberian tiger, Himalayan black
bear, red panda, snow leopard and many other animal and bird species,
and the nearby snow leopard breeding center and the Himalayan Mountaineering
Institute, a training center for Visitors can also take a ride in the Darjeeling-Rangit valley passenger cable car or hop on the toy train which wheezes and winds all the way from Siliguri to Darjeeling town via Kurseong. More Hotels in Darjeeling
Tiger Hill: Standing at a height of 2590m, Tiger
Hill is 11 km from Darjeeling. The place is famous for its magnificent
view of Kanchenjunga, Mt. Everest and other eastern Himalayan peaks especially
at the time of sunrise.
Lloyd Botanical Garden: The garden, located below
the Darjeeling bus stand, is worth a dekko for its representative collection
of Himalayan plants, flowers and orchids. The serenity of the sylvan atmosphere
that the garden offers is another reason for its attraction. |
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Darjeeling
the 'Queen of Hills', is arguably the most popular tourist destination
in northeast India. Situated at an altitude of 2134m, Darjeeling, with
its exquisite scenic beauty, attracts travelers of varied interest. Darjeeling
is the Abode of Lord Shiva and offers spectacular views of Kanchenjunga
and the hospitality of colorful Himalayan people. Darjeeling and all her
tea plantations lie under the shadow of this snowy Himalayan giant. Darjeeling
is just 78 km from 
mountaineers
which also houses the Everest museum' Natural History Museum, with its
fine display of Himalaya wildlife; Observatory Hill which has Hindu and
Buddhist Shrines; Dhirdham, a pagoda style Hindu temple; Tibetan Refugee
Self-Help Center, a major center for the production of Tibetan carpets,
woodwork and leather goods; the Buddhist monasteries of Bhutia Busty,
Thupten Sangag Choling(Dali) and Yiga-Choling (Ghoom); Batasia Loop, a
marvelous feat of railway engineering; Tiger Hill for its renowned sunrise
view over Khangchendzonga and the eastern Himalaya; Japanese Peace Pagoda,
established by the Japanese Buddhist order, Nipponzan Myohoji; and Lloyd's
Botanical Garden which has a varied collection of Himalayan flora. 
Toy
Train: A visit to Darjeeling is incomplete without a ride in the toy-train
of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR). The miniature train of Darjeeling,
given heritage status by UNESCO, covers the distance of 88 km between
New Jalpaiguri station and Darjeeling.
Darjeeling
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) & Museum : Adjacent to
the Darjeeling Zoological Park, HMI runs courses on mountaineering. It
has a mountaineering museum containing mountaineering gears and the specimens
of Himalayan flora & fauna. The Everest Museum at Darjeeling HMI exhibits
the history of attempts on the great peak. The museum also exhibits equipments
used by Tenzing Norgay (who lived in Darjeeling) and Edmund Hillary on
their way to Mt. Everest and a letter written by George Mallory, the British
climber who was lost while climbing Mt. Everest and whose body was found
just a few years back.