Introduction
Darjeeling in West Bengal, India is a popular tourist place and a hill station. It is at a height of around 6500 feet (around 2000 meters). The third highest mountain Kanchenjunga is to the north of Darjeeling. There are many tourist attractions in Darjeeling. Many tourists visit this place every year.
Darjeeling, west Bengal, India
Darjeeling toy train
This train ride is a very popular tourist attraction in Darjeeling. There are two types of rides. The short trip is from Darjeeling train station to Ghum train station and back to Darjeeling. The round-trip ride takes around 2 hours covering a distance of 28 km. The diesel engine ride costs about Rs.1000 ($12) and the steam engine about Rs. 1500 ($18). The long trip ride is from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling train station and takes around 8 hours.
Steam engine
Darjeeling Zoo and Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
They are in the same complex located at Jawahar Parbat (Birch Hill). Spread over more than 67 acres, these are popular visiting places for tourists. The animals adapted to high altitudes are in this Zoo. The Zoo is located at a height of about 7000 feet (2150m). The rare animal Red Panda can be seen in this Zoo. Many enthusiasts of mountaineering get trained at HMI. It is open from 8.30 AM to 4 PM. The entrance fee is Rs.110 (about $1.3) for Indians and Rs.180 ($2) for foreign nationals.
Darjeeling Zoo
The Peace Pagoda tourist attraction
Located at Jalapahar hill in Darjeeling, it is one of the many Peace Pagodas built around the world to unite all people in the world for peace. The premises has a Japanese temple. The Peace Pagoda is one of the popular tourist attractions in Darjeeling. The peaceful atmosphere with picturesque view of the surroundings makes it a must-see attraction in Darjeeling. Many tourists visit this place every year. Open from 4 AM to 7 PM. There is no entrance fee.
Peace Pagoda
Pashupati Market
This is in Nepal near the India border. This can be visited from the Mirik side of Darjeeling. For Indians, any authorized document of India is acceptable to visit the place. It is about 30 km from Darjeeling town. Many tourists visit this place, mostly, to see the border country. The two view points on the way from Darjeeling to Pashupati market are the Pine view Point and the Simana view Point. Open from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Pashupati Market, Nepal
Indo-Nepal border, Mirik
Mirik tourist attraction
It is a popular tourist attraction for Darjeeling tourists. It is famous for its scenic beauty and is at a height of about 5000 feet. The most popular attractions in Mirik are the garden and the lake (Sumendu lake). Mirik garden and lake are about a distance of 40 km from Darjeeling and takes about 2 hours one way. On one side of Sumendu lake is the Mirik garden and on the other side are the Pine trees. Bokar monastery and tea gardens are in the surrounding areas of Mirik lake. Open from 7 AM to 7 PM. The entrance fee is about Rs.25 ($0.30) per head.
Mirik lake
Mirik garden
Tea gardens
They are abundant in Darjeeling. There are some of the best tea gardens in the world. Various varieties of tea leaves are grown here. Millions of kilograms of tea are grown here every year. Many tourists visit Darjeeling tea gardens all year round. Tea gardens are a popular tourist attraction in Darjeeling. Darjeeling tea has GI tag (geographic indication tag).
Rangeet valley tea garden
Gopaldhara tea garden
Tenzing and Gombu Rocks
They are on either side of the Lebong Cart Road. Tenzing Norgay was the first to climb Mount Everest along with Edmund Hillary in 1953. Nawang Gombu was the first person to climb Mount Everest twice. These rocks are a popular tourist attraction in Darjeeling. Many tourists visit this place every year.
Tenzing Rock
Gombu Rock
Nehru Road
This road is near ARA Restaurant in Chowrasta. There are a lot of shop s on either side of Nehru Road. It is the shortest road and takes about 10 minutes to walk down the road. Clothes, cosmetics and many other products are available on Nehru Road. You can do shopping here. There are restaurants, tea and coffee shops on Nehru Road. The famous Glenary’s bakery and restaurant is on this road. Das Studio, the popular landmark on the Nehru Road is near Glenary’s. The famous Keventers restaurant is on the other end of the Nehru Road.
Nehru Road, Darjeeling
Darjeeling Chowrasta
This is an intersection where people gather and relax. The Chowrasta is a pedestrian area and no vehicles are allowed. The roads meet that meet here are the Nehru Road, the Zakir Hussain road, the East mall road and the West mall road. There is an observatory hill on the mall road. There is an amphitheater here. You can see a lot of Pigeons.
Pigeons at Darjeeling Chowrasta
Ghoom Monastery
This is having 15 feet (4.6 meter) high Maitreya Buddha statue is one of the tourist attractions in Darjeeling. This is near the Ghum train station.
Ghoom Monastery
Some other places are Tiger hill, Cable car and Dali Monastery