Best spots for tourists in Darjeeling

Darjeeling is a hub of some amazing tourists spots that cannot be missed. It is a small town rich in natural beauty and is a perfect holiday destination during the summers.

Here's a list of the best spots for tourists in Darjeeling.

• Tiger Hill, Darjeeling: Enjoy the magnificent view of both Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga together. Tiger hill is one of the most visited places in Darjeeling. The splendid sights of the sunrise are magical here. A huge crowd can be seen gathered at the tiger hill to witness this beautiful sight.

At sunrise, the peaks of Kanchenjunga are illuminated before the sun is seen at lower elevations. From Tiger Hill, Mount Everest (8848 m) is just visible. Kanchenjunga (8598 m) looks higher than Mt. Everest, as it is several miles closer than Everest. The distance in a straight line from Tiger Hill to Everest is 107 miles (172 km).

If you visit Tiger Hill, don't forget to wake up early and experience the shimmering Himalayas in the golden light of the sun. Take your cameras and capture the beautiful sunrise that you will never forget. Its peaceful and worth the sight.

• Batasia Loop: A beautiful view with remarkable engineering marvel of Darjeeling Himalayan Railways. Batasia Loop also attracts tourists for the view of Kanchenjunga and other Himalayan peaks. If you are travelling in a toy train you will come across this beautiful loop that looks very natural and beautiful. The loop is surrounded with amazing flower gardens which makes the sight even more beautiful.

Batasia means airy space. There also are seating areas where you can sit and feel the cool Breeze. The weather is quite cool and pleasant.

You will also find an eco garden at Batasia Loop which provides information about organic farming and plantation in Darjeeling.

• Chowrasta: It is a landmark of Darjeeling and holds great historical significance. It is a public square where four roads meet. It is also known as the heart of the town. It is now a focal center of tourist attraction. It gives an amazing view of the incredible Mt. Kanchenjunga. It witnesses many social, cultural, educational and political activities throughout the year. A statue of Bhanu Bhakta, a popular Nepalis poet is situated on the far North of the square. It is a brown granite plinth that watches the visitors from afar.

On the east edge of Chowrasta is the “Hawa Ghar” which means “wind house”. It is a permanent roofed concrete stage like structure where cultural programs, performances and the occasional political speeches take place.

Another special activity that is popular at Chowrasta is the feeding of pigeons. The city square has a share of the pigeon population.

• Ghum : It is a small hill station in Darjeeling. The Ghum railway station is India's highest railway station situated at an altitude of 2,258 meters (7,407 ft) and 14th highest railway station in the world. It is a home to several religious shrines. It also connects with Batasia loop, a bend of Darjeeling Himalayan railway. A ghum museum is located just beside the ghum station which is a must visit place for railway enthusiasts. Ghum is also famous for its cloudy weather that is what attracts the visitors to spend their vacation on a cloudy hill station that keeps you away from the chaos of the city. Another reason to choose ghum as your next travel destination is its roadway “connectivity”. The roads are easily connected with the main cities and nearby small towns which makes it a lot easier for transportation. Ghum is a quite offbeat destination around Darjeeling. If you wish to take a train from Siliguri to Darjeeling, you will experience an incredible architectural marvel that has existed since history.

About 3km away from Ghum, a man made reservoir, Senchal lake is situated.

Do not worry about where to stay at Ghum. Homestays are widespread across the hill station that give you great service with good hospitality.

When it comes to food, you will get a blend of Indochinese cuisines and a lot more. Meanwhile do not forget to try out the traditional Nepalese cuisinees.

Ropeway: If you are an adventure junkie and you land up in Darjeeling on your next trip, a ropeway is a must for you.

The Darjeeling ropeway is a 5 km long ropeway connected from North Point to Singla The ropeway passes over dense forests, mountain ridges, water falls, flowing rivers, green valleys and tea gardens and offers mesmerizing views of the beauty of Darjeeling.

It is also called Rangeet ropeway as it gives the spectacular view of the Rangeet River and its surrounding valleys.

The little Rangeet overflows with trout and the valleys have amazing wildlife, flowers and butterflies.

It is an ideal spot to watch the panoramic view of Darjeeling with a thrilling experience.

Tea Gardens:

Darjeeling tea is a world famous specialty about Darjeeling and the sight of the greenish tea valleys all around will keep you stunned. Since the tea gardens are at a higher altitude, it creates an ideal environment for the tea plant hence, Darjeeling tea is said to be the best tea in the world.

With its tantalizing aroma and captivating flavor, a cup of Darjeeling tea is just irresistible.

You can book a resort near the tea gardens and enjoy your time around the tea gardens. There are around 80 tea gardens in Darjeeling.

Read more