Travel to Darjeeling

Darjeeling: Idea of Perfect Indian Hillock

Spread over the steep mountain ranges and encircled by green tea plantations, Darjeeling is the first place that comes to anyone’s mind when thinking of any hill station. There are about 86 tea estates here that produce Darjeeling tea and it cannot be grown in any other part of the world. Thus, one can easily guess the unique personality of Darjeeling Tourism. It was previously called as 'Dorje Ling' meaning the 'city of thunderbolt'. It originally belonged to the state of Sikkim. Later in 18th century, Bhutanese and Gorkha overtook it. The Britishers finally gained control over it and developed it as a sanatorium for troops and as a pass to Nepal. Travel to Darjeeling and feel the colonial past, especially in its churches and architecture.

One can start the trip to Darjeeling by making a pre-dawn visit to Tiger Hill. The sunrise from this vantage point is indefinable and will leave an everlasting memory. Close to the hill is the Senchal Lake, lauded for a Kali Temple in Darjeeling and a multitude of prayer flags. The other sightseeing attractions of Darjeeling are Sotholing, Aloobari, Thupten Sangachoeling and Sonada Gompas. Wildlife buffs can also check out Padmaja Naidu Himlayan National Park. About 3 km north of Darjeeling is India’s oldest passenger ropeway, 5 km in length, spread over the Rangeet River. There is Lloyd Botanical Gardens with an impressive collection of plants, flowers and orchids near the market. After exploring all these hotspots, travellers can visit a tea plantation in Darjeeling and later sit in any wayside cafe to savour the local brew.