How to Reach Darjeeling

Bagdogra Airport, located at 96 km, is the nearest airport to Darjeeling. You can hire a cab near the airport to visit major attractions. The nearest railhead is at New Jalpaiguri, 62 kilometres away from Darjeeling. Public transport is not that frequent in this region; try to grab shared taxis.

Top Facts About Darjeeling

  • Darjeeling is home to almost 4,000 species of flowering plants, 300 varieties of ferns, and a range of wildlife, including monkeys, elephants, wild cats, and even endangered red pandas.
  • Darjeeling produces some of the finest tea in the world.
  • Darjeeling’s Heritage Train Ride is identified as the most outstanding example of a hill passenger railway by UNESCO.
  • Benedict Cumberbatch, popular in the role of Sherlock Holmes, taught English in a monastery in Darjeeling.
  • Like Munnar in Kerala, Darjeeling was also a British abode for centuries.
  • The culture of Darjeeling is so diverse that you can see a blend of multiple languages in Darjeeling.
  • Darjeeling is home to Asia’s largest ropeway. Darjeeling-Rangeet Valley Ropeway will give the untapped view of Darjeeling.

Top Things to Do in Darjeeling

Darjeeling Himalayan toy train ride 
The Darjeeling Himalayan railway was built in 1881 by the British. The railway is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites and one of the must-try things in Darjeeling. The ride is one of a kind which will take you from the lower reaches of the mountains to the Darjeeling town. This ride will take almost a full day and will be the most memorable thing in your Darjeeling trip.

Tour the Tea Garden 
Darjeeling is the paradise of tea plantations. The finest tea produced in India is from Darjeeling, and visiting such an amazing place cannot be kept apart during your Northeast trip. Happy valley, Badamtam, Makaibari, and Ambootia are the best tea estates in Darjeeling.

Stroll down the British Era Mall 
This small town is the shopping hub in Darjeeling. Like every other Hill station, Mall road is the liveliest place. Buildings from the British raj Era and the curvy forest roads through the mall road makes it the best and give you the tranquillity you seek in the woods.

The view of Mt. Kanchenjunga 
Enjoy the view of mighty Kanchenjunga, the third-highest peak in the world from the tiger hilltop in Darjeeling. Tiger Hill is the best place in Darjeeling if the weather is clear. You have to reach the Hilltop early morning to get the majestic view of Kanchenjunga shining when the first ray of the sun spreads on the horizon.

River rafting in Teesta
If you are a person who loves adventure, head towards Teesta to have an awesome white river rafting experience, one of the best in the country. The mighty river will make your blood rush through the veins; get ready for some fun. There are a lot of service providers for river rafting; you can choose the best. The price for a 5 km raft starts from INR 800.

Places to Visit in Darjeeling

Tiger Hill in Darjeeling
The majestic view of the Kangchenjunga peaks and the nearby valley make Tiger hill a perfect holiday destination. The snow-clad mountain looks exceptionally mesmerizing during the time of sunrise and should not be missed at all. If the weather is clear enough, one may see several summits and peaks while witnessing the dawn. This lofty perch can catch a glimpse of the spectacular Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.

The ideal times to visit are in the spring (February to April) and autumn (October to November), when the site is most beautiful in the morning. The panorama on the north side of the vista fills your heart with happiness.

Batasia Loop
Batasia Loop is a beautifully designed garden area that provides a great getaway in the panoramic vista. Batasia Loop is one of the top Darjeeling tourist attractions every traveller should see because of the large expanse of manicured flora. Enjoy the scenic beauty of Darjeeling while the toy train runs around the wavy tracks.

Ghoom Monastery 
The monastery is Located near Ghoom railway station and is visited by a large number of people around the year for the peace and positivity of the monastery. Ghoom monastery is one of India’s oldest; don’t forget to add this to your bucket list during the Darjeeling trip.

Nightingale Park 
Originally known as Shrubbery, the park did not open to the general public until 2011. It’s the ideal place to relax and unwind in the middle of nature. In the heart of the park, there is a big monument of Lord Shiva and a fountain which is so beautifully built to make every visitor happy. Nightingale Park is, without a doubt, one of Darjeeling’s most beautiful tourist attractions.

Happy Valley Tea Estate 
How can you leave Darjeeling without visiting one of the top tea estates? Some of the best tea in the world is produced on the lush green slopes of Darjeeling. Visiting one of the estates and factories should be the top thing on your bucket list. Happy valley tea estate is one of the oldest estates in town, making the best-selling tea for decades.

The estate will be open to the public from 8 am to 4 pm, and the entry tickets will cost you around INR 100.

Other Places to Visit in Darjeeling Are

  • St. Andrew’s Church
  • Singalila National Park
  • Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Tinchuley
  • Darjeeling Observatory Hill
  • Bengal Natural History Museum
  • Bhutia Busty Monastery
  • Darjeeling Ropeway
  • Lloyd’s Botanical Garden
  • Dali Monastery
  • Senchal Lake & Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Mag-Dhog Yolmowa Monastery
  • Jhandi Dara Sunrise Point