DARJEELING TOUR ALL IN ONE

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So you are planning to visit Darjeeling to see the dazzling snow peaks of Kanchenjunga, beautiful green tea gardens, the famous Toy Train ride, the yummy breakfast at Keventer’s, the memorable dinner at Glenary’s, the lively atmosphere of Darjeeling Mall, buying the famous Darjeeling tea, planning to visit some offbeat places nearby like Tinchuley, Takdah & Lamahatta and many more places, then you have come to the right place.

I am going to share my experience with Darjeeling and will describe everything about the trip starting from how to reach Darjeeling, where to stay, which restaurant is best, transportation cost and time required for sightseeing.

HOW TO REACH DARJEELING

You can reach Darjeeling either by train or by aircraft.

FIRST METHOD

Firstly I am going to tell you about the train route. You may be coming from anywhere in the country but you have to drop at the New Jalpaiguri Railway station (NJP) in Siliguri. The best way to reach NJP is to catch the train from Sealdah Junction in Kolkata. There are also several trains departing from Howrah Junction, Santragachi Junction & Kolkata Junction.

I am giving below the list of trains departing from Sealdah, Howrah, Santragachi & Kolkata Junction to NJP.

DEPARTURE FROM SEALDAH JUNCTION (SDAH)

Train Name	Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Duration
PADATIK EXPRESS	12377	11:20 pm	9:15 am	9:55 Hrs
DARJEELING MAIL	12343	10:05 pm	8:00 am	9:55 Hrs
KANCHANKANYA EXP.	13149	8:30 pm	7:30 am	11:00 Hrs
UTTARBANGA EXP.	13147	7:35 pm	6:50 am	11:15 Hrs
KANCHANJANGA EXP.	13175	6:35 am	6:28 pm	11:53 Hrs
TESTA TORSA EXP.	13141	1:40 pm	2:40 am	13:00 Hrs

DEPARTURE FROM HOWRAH JUNCTION (HWH)

Train Name	Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Duration
SHATABDI EXPRESS	12041	2:15 pm	10:30 pm	8:15 Hrs
SARAIGHAT EXPRESS	12345	3:50 pm	1:40 am	9:50 Hrs
KAMRUP EXPRESS	15959	5:35 pm	6:20 am	12:45 Hrs
NEWTINSUKIA EXP.	22501	2:25 pm	11:40 pm	9:15 Hrs
AGTL HUMSAFAR	12503	6:50 pm	4:20 am	9:30 Hrs
PURI KYQ EXPRESS	15643	7:30 am	6:55 pm	11:25 Hrs

DEPARTURE FROM SANTRAGACHI JUNCTION (SRC)

Train Name	Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Duration
SCG HY EXP.	12513	10:05 am	9:25 pm	11:20 Hrs
GUWAHATI EXP.	12515	10:05 am	9:25 pm	11:20 Hrs

DEPARTURE FROM KOLKATA JUNCTION (KOAA)

Train Name	Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Duration
KOAA HDB SUPF EXP.	12363	9:05 am	6:55 pm	9:50 Hrs
KOAA DBRG EXP.	12525	9:40 pm	7:45 am	10:05 Hrs
GHY GARIB RATH	12517	9:40 pm	7:45 am	10:05 Hrs

To book these trains visit the website whose link is given below: 

https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search

 Note: Booking of tickets for NJP starts 120 DAYS in advance and there is a huge rush during DURGA PUJA. So it is advisable to book the tickets through any booking agent during that time. Otherwise, you can book the tickets yourself during the other times.

SECOND METHOD

Secondly, I am going to discuss the air route. If you are opting air path then you have to come to BAGDOGRA Airport. Several Airlines are connecting this small Airport with the different parts of the country. Among the cheap Airlines, some of the popular ones are AirAsia India, SpiceJet, IndiGo, GoAir, Air India, Vistara & Jet Airways. The cheapest average price for Up & Down from Kolkata is around Rs. 3500 / person. It will vary according to the peak season and the number of days remaining for your journey. The closer your date of the journey the more will be the airfare. I travelled for Rs. 1970 / person for Up & Down i.e. at Rs. 985 / person for each way. This was possible as I bought the tickets (14-11-2017) during an offer given by Air Asia India which was 1 year before my date of journey (25-10-2018). Just at half the price of the original price. My money would not be doubled in 1 year. So that was a good investment I think.

BAGDOGRA TO DARJEELING

FIRST METHOD

After reaching BAGDOGRA airport and collecting your luggage, head towards the PRE-PAID TAXI BOOTH inside the airport complex. From here you can book your prepaid cab for Darjeeling for Rs. 2500-3000. The outside cab will try to charge you more and it is not preferable to bargain with the drivers with your luggage in hand and family members standing and waiting for you expecting that you will finalize a cab for them very soon. It would be a very messy situation. Anyway, the choice is yours.

SECOND METHOD

Another option will be you may reach Siliguri bus stand by taking a cab from here. The fare is Rs. 460 (dated 25-10-2018) for a small car. From Siliguri bus stand you may take a bus or may take shared SUV (like TATA SUMO, FORCE etc.) for Darjeeling. In that case, the fare is Rs. 150 / person. Damn cheap! Isn’t it? If you are travelling with 4 members then you can book the middle seat just adding a little privacy among yourselves.

NJP TO DARJEELING

If you are travelling through train then after dropping at NJP station take an auto rickshaw for bus stand or shared car stand at Siliguri. The auto fare is Rs. 20 / person. As mentioned above the fare is Rs. 150 / person for Darjeeling from here.

NOTE: The name of the place where the shared car is available is called “DARJEELING MORE” Here you will find a statue of Tenzing Norgay. There is a booking counter as shown in the picture below but most of the booking can be done by talking with the drivers standing there with their cars. Talk with the drivers beforehand to drop you at the doorstep of your hotel for some extra bucks ranging from Rs. 200-300.

HOTELS IN DARJEELING

After reaching Darjeeling the next point that comes to our mind is “In which HOTEL should we stay”. I know this question comes before we step on Darjeeling and we generally book the hotels beforehand.

Firstly, I would like to say about the Government property available here. This property is excellent in terms of facilities, location & price. You will get a clear view of Kanchenjunga right from the lawn of this property. It is just 5 min walk from the vibrant Darjeeling Mall, rooms are good and big enough, tasty food & what else do we need from a hotel. This Government property is providing more than enough. Oops! I forgot to tell its name. It is DARJEELING TOURIST LODGE.

To book this lodge you have to click the link given below:

https://www.wbtdcl.com/

ROOM TYPE	No. OF ROOMS	TARIFF PER NIGHT (In INR)
Standard Double Bedded Room – Annex Building – Ground Floor	7	1400
Standard Double Bedded Room – Annex Building – First Floor	7	1600
Large 4 Bedded Room – Annex Building – Ground Floor	1	1800
Large 5 Bedded Room – Annex Building – First Floor	1	2600
Standard Double Bedded Room – Main Building	10	2700
Large Double Bedded Room – Main Building	3	3800

MY STAY IN DARJEELING

I stayed in 3 different hotels in Darjeeling

1.  DARJEELING TOURIST LODGE

2.  HOTEL NIRVANA

3.  UDAAN HOTEL ZAMBALA RETREAT

DARJEELING TOURIST LODGE

Already I have described this hotel in details. According to me, it is the best. But it is a little bit difficult to get the booking of this hotel as everyone has eyes on it. Other than this property I am going to unveil another gem. So hold your breath and roll down your eyes.

HOTEL NIRVANA

This beautiful hotel is just 1 min walk away from Raj Bhawan. You can catch the unobstructed panoramic view of Mt. Kanchenjunga through the windows of your room. The rooms are extremely tidy, well decorated, wooden floored and the service is mind-blowing. You will be served with unlimited breakfast with top notch quality. The Darjeeling Mall is just 5 min away from here.

Besides the view of Mt. Kanchenjunga from your room what makes me more enthusiastic to write about this hotel is, there is a sunrise viewpoint just outside the hotel. The place has some shaded sitting arrangements where you can sit and watch the white peak of the mountain and can spend the whole day. Also, the place is very calm and quiet. Though the best sunrise point in Darjeeling is undoubtedly the Tiger Hill it is a very tough job also. You have to wake up at 4 a.m. in the morning and book a car for Rs. 1500 to take you to the Tiger Hill and if you are unlucky then you may not see the sunrise due to fog and in that case, all your investment will be in vain. But the whole process becomes much easier by staying at Hotel Nirvana. You have to wake up a 4:45 am and within few seconds come to the sunrise point and watch the colour changing over the mighty Mt. Kanchenjunga as the sun gradually raises with time.

BONUS TIP: If possible try to stay at these hotels other than Hotel Nirvana

1. Hermitage Resort

2. The Retreat

3. Hotel Dolphin

All the above 3 hotels are adjacent to the above mentioned new sunrise point I discovered.

UDAAN HOTEL ZAMBALA RETREAT

This luxurious hotel is just beside the Darjeeling Station from where the famous Toy Train Ride starts. The rooms were very big, decorated with modern arts hanging on the walls, large stylish bathroom, long curtains were hanging from the ceiling and above all, there was 1 king and 1 queen bed in my room. You will get a complimentary buffet breakfast with lots of varieties which are very delicious too. The staffs are very polite and helpful also.

 

When we checked in the hotel we were served with 2 cups of Darjeeling liquor tea. I never ever had such exotic tea in my life. As we sipped the tea all our exhaustion vanished at the blink of an eye and the taste, flavour and colour were exquisite. Don’t forget to try it and it is complimentary. We had our lunch here. The food was slightly spicy and only veg dishes were available here. Otherwise, the experience of staying and hospitality was overwhelming.

TOP 10 LOW BUDGET HOTELS

HOTEL NAME	DESCRIPTION	RATE/NIGHT (approx) In INR	WANT TO KNOW MORE OF THIS HOTEL
HOTEL IVY CASTLE	IN-HOUSE RESTAURANT / FREE WIFI / GEYSER AVAILABLE	900	THEN CLICK HERE
HOTEL BROADWAY ANNEXE	ATTACHED BALCONY / IN-HOUSE RESTAURANT / CAR PARKING FACILITY	1050	THEN CLICK HERE
HOTEL TOWER VIEW	IN-HOUSE RESTAURANT / GEYSER / LAUNDRY FACILITY	1265	THEN CLICK HERE
MEGHMA HOTEL	ROOM HEATER / FREE WIFI /TEA - COFFEE MAKER	1400	THEN CLICK HERE
HOTEL PALBHEU	IN-HOUSE RESTAURANT / BIG NEAT & CLEAN ROOM	1469	THEN CLICK HERE
HOTEL POTALA	GOOD SERVICE / GOOD LOCATION / BIG ROOM	1500	THEN CLICK HERE
ALIMENT	GOOD LOCATION / GOOD FOOD QUALITY / GOOD SERVICE	1500	THEN CLICK HERE
YAKKHA RESIDENCY	POWER BACKUP FACILITY / GEYSER AVAILABLE / TEA-COFFEE MAKER	1540	THEN CLICK HERE
MOUNT ROYALE	BEAUTIFUL & CLEAN HOTEL / FRIENDLY STAFF / GOOD LOCATION	1578	THEN CLICK HERE
HOTEL PINE TOUCH RETREAT	ROOM WITH BALCONY / BIG ROOM / BIG LED TV	1700	THEN CLICK HERE

TOP 11 MEDIUM BUDGET HOTELS

HOTEL NAME	DESCRIPTION	RATE/NIGHT (approx) In INR	WANT TO KNOW MORE OF THIS HOTEL?
HOTEL THE RINK HERITAGE	FREE BREAKFAST / CONCIERGE / LAUNDRY FACILITY	2150	THEN CLICK HERE
HOTEL WHITE YAK	ROOM HEATER / BALCONY AVAILABLE / IN-HOUSE RESTAURANT	2160	THEN CLICK HERE
GOLDEN DOLMA	FREE WIFI / CENTRALLY LOCATED / BIG ROOM	2160	THEN CLICK HERE
HOTEL DIP PALACE	MULTI-CUISINE RESTRO / FREE WIFI / TEA-COFFEE MAKER	2276	THEN CLICK HERE
HOTEL SONAR BANGLA	FREE BREAKFAST / GOOD LOCATION / PROMPT SERVICE	2300	THEN CLICK HERE
MAGNOLIA RESIDENCY	AWESOME BREAKFAST / ROOFTOP SITTING AREA / EXCELLENT VIEW ROOM	2500	THEN CLICK HERE
MOUNT HIMALAYAN RESORT	CHILDREN PLAYROOM / FREE WIFI / EXCELLENT FOOD	2750	THEN CLICK HERE
CENTRAL HERITAGE RESORT & SPA	SPA/GARDEN/GAME ROOM / COLONIAL STYLE ROOM / GET SIGNATURE DRINK	2866	THEN CLICK HERE
HOTEL SUNFLOWER	FREE WIFI / EXCELLENT LOCATION / POLITE STAFF	2974	THEN CLICK HERE
SUMMIT YASHSHREE SUITES & SPA	SPA-MINIBAR-HEATER / ELEGANTLY FURNISHED / SUPERB SERVICE	3100	THEN CLICK HERE
JAGJEET’S HIMALAYAN RETREAT	LUXURY ROOM / EXCELLENT FOOD / GREAT HOSPITALITY	3249	THEN CLICK HERE

TOP 11 HIGH BUDGET HOTELS

HOTEL NAME	DESCRIPTION	RATE/NIGHT (approx) In INR	WANT TO KNOW MORE OF THIS HOTEL?
SUMMIT SWISS HERITAGE HOTEL	OLD COLONIAL STYLE / MULTI-CUISINE-BAR-SPA / PROFESSIONAL SERVICE	5000	THEN CLICK HERE
PINE TREE SPA RESORT	SWIMMING POOL/SPA/GYM / BONFIRE / MINIBAR / WIFI / IN - HOUSE MULTI - CUISINE	5000	THEN CLICK HERE
RAMADA	PROMINENT LOCATION / SPA - GYM - RESTAURANT / MINI-BAR / ROOM HEATER	5000	THEN CLICK HERE
HOTEL VICEROY	JACUZZI / GYM / LIBRARY / ON-SITE COFFEE LOUNGE / TOP NOTCH HOSPITALITY	7000	THEN CLICK HERE
CRESCENT RESORT	OPEN AIR LAWN / BOUTIQUE HOTEL / 2 RESTAURANTS INSIDE	7000	THEN CLICK HERE
CEDAR INN	SPA / GYM / GARDEN / AWESOME TERRACE CAFE / STYLISH DECORATION	7500	THEN CLICK HERE
MAYFAIR DARJEELING	GYM / GAMES ROOM / SPA / FIREPLACE / MINI BAR / TOP CLASS HOSPITALITY	7800	THEN CLICK HERE
HERMITAGE RESORT	KANCHENJUNGA VIEW / OPEN AIR PARTY AREA / EXCELLENT SERVICE	8798	THEN CLICK HERE
THE ELGIN DARJEELING	VICTORIAN DECORATION / FIREPLACE AVAILABLE / ORCHID DINING ROOM	11,600	THEN CLICK HERE
GING TEA HOUSE	SPECTACULAR LOCATION / FREE PICK & DROP / PIANO / BILLIARD / LIBRARY	20,000	THEN CLICK HERE
SOURENEE TEA ESTATE	SPECTACULAR LOCATION / PHENOMENAL SERVICE / TREATED LIKE MAHARAJA	23,000	THEN CLICK HERE

RESTAURANTS IN DARJEELING

GLENARY’S

Your Darjeeling trip will not be complete unless you pay a visit to Glenary’s. All kind of foods is available here starting from cakes, pastries, sandwiches, tea, coffee, sausages, sizzlers, bacon, pizzas, a well-stocked bar, restaurants serving delicious Indian, continental & Chinese dishes. You can start your day with having scrumptious breakfast and end with dinner along with premium drinks. The café is on the ground floor with an attached terrace where you can have your breakfast or snacks. The restaurant along with the bar is on the 1^st floor. The decoration is very elegant. The wooden floor makes you feel the heritage essence of the building.

Luckily my first visit to Glenary’s was on my birthday (27-10-2018) and celebrated the full evening from cake cutting on the ground floor, having snacks on the balcony and finishing the dinner on the 1^st floor restaurant. There was a live music arrangement on the first floor and we took the very first table in front of the vocalist. That was an amazing experience.

KEVENTER’S

Looking for sumptuous breakfast? Then Keventer’s is the right place. Though there is a queue in the morning for breakfast you will have a memorable experience. The quality, quantity and the price of food are fully synchronized.

This place is famous for milkshakes, a variety of sausages, chicken platter with egg, pork platter with egg, bacon and many more unique items. The best part of this joint is you can comfortably sit on the open terrace with the view of the clock tower and also the hustle bustle road underneath.

Along with the view from the open terrace, I had tried a single dish and it was too good to taste.

KUNGA RESTAURANT

This small restaurant is heaven for trying Momos in Darjeeling. The restaurant is run by a Tibetan family and they genuinely serve authentic food. The other items which are equally famous other than momos are Thukpa, Spring Roll, Soup, Fried Rice, Noodle and Fresh Fruit Juice. The place remains crowded all the time and you may have to wait for a little while. A young lady with a beautiful smile on her face will take your order. 

I had tried “Chicken Cheese Momo Fried” priced Rs. 230 for 10 pieces and had to wait for nearly 1 hour for takeaway. Yes, the waiting time was too long but the taste was really mind-blowing. So without any hesitation have a visit to this place.

HOTEL MAHAKAL AND RESTAURANT

Undoubtedly the best place for Bengali food. Along with A-la-Carte, the restaurant provides various thalis like Veg Thali, Egg Thali, Fish Thali, Chicken Thali & Mutton Thali.

The quantity is good enough and the price is very reasonable. We had taken Fish and Chicken Thali and the best part was that we were provided with Payees (Kheer) along with Chutney. I had never ever got Payeesh with any Thali and the taste was really good. So your search for Bengali food at Darjeeling ends at Hotel Mahakal & Restaurant.

TOP 20 RESTAURANTS

RESTAURANT NAME & LOCATION	SPECIALITY
SONAM’S KITCHEN (Dr. Zakir Hussain Rd)	AWESOME BREAKFAST / HASHBROWN / PANCAKE / POCKET - FRIENDLY CAFE
GATTY’S CAFÉ (Dr. Zakir Hussain Rd)	AMAZING AMBIENCE / WEEKEND LIVE MUSIC / BAR / CAFÉ / VEGAN OPTIONS
KUNGA RESTAURANT (Gandhi Road)	MOMO - THUKPA - NOODLE / TIBETAN - CHINESE - VEGAN / AUTHENTIC TASTE & REASONABLE
GLENARY’S (Nehru Road)	PASTRIES - SIZZLER - SAUSAGE / CAFÉ - BAKERY - RESTAURANT / LIVE MUSIC + TOP NOTCH QUALITY
KEVENTER’S (Nehru Road)	ENGLISH BREAKFAST / MILKSHAKE / OPEN ROOFTOP RESTAURANT / AWESOME SALAMI
HASTY TASTY (Nehru Road)	PURE VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT / THALI - SOUTH INDIAN - CHAAT / REASONABLE & TASTY
NATHMULL TEA (Chowrasta, Darjeeling)	LARGE DARJEELING TEA VARIETIES / BEAUTIFUL TEAPOTS COLLECTION / TEA BOUTIQUE
HIMALAYAN JAVA COFFEE (Nehru Road)	BEST COFFEE & GREAT AMBIENCE / PASTRIES / CLUB SANDWICH / WIFI / COFFEE IS 100% ARABICA
TOM & JERRY’S (Dr. Zakir Hussain Rd)	JUMBO BURGER & CHEESE FRIES / FRIENDLY STAFF & CUTE PLACE / BREAKFAST + LUNCH + DINNER
JOEY’S PUB (Opposite Rink Mall)	VEG + NON-VEG FOOD AVAILABLE / DIMLY LIT PLACE WITH SOFT MUSIC / DRINKS AT REASONABLE PRICE

Note: List of restaurants from 11 – 20 is given in the EBook.

SIGHTSEEING OF DARJEELING

The sightseeing of Darjeeling has been divided into 5 categories:

1.  2 POINT TOUR

2.  3 POINT TOUR

3.  5 POINT TOUR

4.  7 POINT TOUR

5.  MIXED POINT

2 POINT TOUR

This TOUR includes 2 places of interest

(I)  ROCK GARDEN

(II) GANGAMAYA PARK TOUR

ROCK GARDEN

This beautiful garden is nearly 10 km from Darjeeling Mall. The natural fountain flowing from the top has added the beauty of this place. The hired car will drop you at a point from where you have to walk upwards through the beautifully paved stony path. You can reach the top of the garden through this winding path and there are sitting arrangements at the end of each turn. The complete journey of walking to the top and coming back to the starting point will take nearly 1.5 hours.

GANGAMAYA PARK TOUR

This park is just 1.5 km further from Rock Garden. It has streams, park and some eateries. You can drench your feet by the flowing water of the streams. Some even take baths here. The soothing sound of stream water makes the surrounding mesmerizing. You can take pictures by wearing the local dress at a minimal cost. The cultural dance program is being held every day, especially during the peak season.

3 POINT TOUR

This TOUR includes 3 places of interest

(I)  TIGER HILL

(II) GHOOM MONASTERY

(III) BATASIA LOOP & THE WAR MEMORIAL

TIGER HILL

People around the world come to see the magnificent sunrise from Tiger Hill. The changing colours of Kanchenjunga with the gradual rise of the sun will make you spellbound.  You have to wake up at 3:30 am in the morning to get ready. Your pre-booked cab will pick you up from the hotel around 4 am and it takes nearly 40 min to reach the viewing point of Tiger Hill. Try to bring the best gadgets of yours to capture the sunrise.

GHOOM MONASTERY

There are 2 Ghoom monasteries in Darjeeling. The oldest Ghoom monastery is known as “YIGA CHOELING MONASTERY” and the other one is known as “SAMTEN CHOLING BUDDHIST”.

The old Ghoom Monastery or Yiga Choeling Monastery belongs to the Gelukpa or Yellow Hat sect. Inside this premise, there is a 15ft high statue of the “Maitreya Buddha” which means the Coming Buddha. Here you may take pictures at the cost of Rs. 10 / photo which you have to deposit in the donation box.

Samten Choling Buddhist is often called by the locals as Ghoom Monastery and while returning from Tiger Hill the driver will say you this as Ghoom Monastery and will complete his 1 point out of 3 point tour. So don’t be fooled by him and specifically mention to take you to the oldest Ghoom Monastery. This small monastery is a few stairs down from the road. Peace and calmness prevail all over here. There is a 26ft tall Lord Buddha statue inside the monastery. You will find little boys around 10 -15 years are playing or working inside the compound.

BATASIA LOOP & THE WAR MEMORIAL

BATASIA LOOP can be reached either by hiring a cab or included in the 3 point tour or included in the toy train ride. If you come here other than toy train then there is an entry fee of Rs. 20 / person.

This is a beautiful place from where you can have a 360-degree view of Darjeeling along with Eastern Himalayan range including Kanchenjunga. The toy train halts here for 10 min and there is a cute circular rail track around the garden for the toy train. The garden is full of Rhododendrons and many other beautiful flowers. There are also tea plants and you can take pictures as if plucking tea by wearing the local mountain dress @ Rs. 50 / person.

The place has also binocular vision point so that you can see the Kanchenjunga and also the Darjeeling town more clearly from the above.

At the center of the Batasia Loop is the WAR MEMORIAL. There are a monument and a statue of a soldier paying homage to the brave Gorkhas who sacrificed their lives for our beloved country.

5 POINT TOUR

This TOUR includes 5 places of interest

(I)     JAPANESE TEMPLE & PEACE PAGODA

(II)    LAL KOTHI

(III)  DHIRDHAM TEMPLE

(IV)   AVA ART GALLERY

(V)    HIMALAYAN TIBET MUSEUM

JAPANESE TEMPLE & PEACE PAGODA

JAPANESE TEMPLE

It is a beautiful white colored two-storied building located at a distance of 10 min drive from  Darjeeling Town. The car will drop you at the gate of the temple from where you have to climb a few steps up to reach the entrance of the temple. At the entrance, there are 2 statues of lion dogs called “Komainu” which symbolizes that they will protect the shrine from evil powers and guard the area.

On entering the temple you will find the picture of Fujii Guruji, the founder of the temple. There is a large prayer room upstairs and everybody is allowed here. The prayer timings are from 4:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. in the morning and again from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the evening. During the prayer time, you will be provided a small hand drum to join the ceremony along with the chief priest who will be seen beating a huge drum called “Ho-Ko”. Also, you may chant with them saying “Nam-myoho-renge-Kyo” which is an expression of determination. You can stay as long as you want and at the time of leaving the prayer room you will be offered “sweet prasad”.

PEACE PAGODA

Peace Pagoda is a few steps away from the Japanese temple but in the same compound. You have to climb a few steps up to reach the circular base of the Peace Pagoda. Take a round of the pagoda to see the 4 different postures i.e. sitting, meditating, standing and sleeping, of Lord Buddha and on the round walls, the life of Buddha is depicted by etching on the sandstone.

All the 4 statues of Lord Buddha are golden colored and they are very bright indeed. On your left side,  you can see the range of mountains and in front, the Japanese Temple is clearly visible surrounded by long pine trees. The place is for complete peace and calmness. While leaving you will feel that your mind has become more calm, quiet and composed.

LAL KOTHI

Lal kuthi or Lal Kothi was once a place dedicated to the Queen Bhawani Dewan Roy, built in western style by her husband Maharaja Prasad Nath Roy. The famous movie “Lal Kothi” was shot in its boundaries. The place has a beautiful garden of different colourful flowers, long benches to sit around, clean paths connecting the area and bungalow type houses. Now the place is the seat of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). You will not be allowed to enter here. You have to take a look from outside.

DHIRDHAM TEMPLE

This is a Hindu temple of Lord Shiva situated just below the Toy Train station. This temple has a close resemblance with the Pashupatinath Temple at Kathmandu in Nepal. The temple’s architecture from outside is like a pagoda. There are few trees and shrubs inside the compound and the place is very well maintained. Photography is allowed for the surrounding but strictly prohibited inside the temple.

AVA ART GALLERY

Ava Art Gallery paintings are of an entirely different kind. The paintings are actually embroidery works. At first glance, the paintings seem that they have been painted but on closer look, you will discover that they are actually fine thread work. The gallery also has an exotic collection of memorabilia and souvenirs collected by Late Ava Devi and her husband from all over the world. The entry fee is Rs. 5 / person. Photography is not allowed inside.

HIMALAYAN TIBET MUSEUM

Located near Bethany School, Himalayan Tibet Museum, a unit of Manjushree Centre of Tibetan Culture, is the hidden gem of Darjeeling. Apart from the museum, this is a center for Tibetan refugees where they live, work and pray to continue their traditions. They made beautiful woollen carpets, sweaters, shawls, brass artifacts, wooden handicrafts, T-shirts with Tibetan logos, Om Mani Padme Hum flags, incense sticks and many more things. It has a lot of information about Tibet, its history and current state. There is a video of monks creating the Mandala on display which is very much fascinating. You will feel that the spirituality of Tibet is alive here. The entry fee is Rs. 50 / person and visiting hours during summer is 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and during winter is 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed on Wednesday.

7 POINT TOUR

This TOUR includes 7 places of interest

(I)        PADMAJA NAIDU HIMALAYAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK & HIMALAYAN                                  MOUNTAINEERING INSTITUTE & BENGAL NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

(II)       DARJEELING ROPEWAY

(III)     TENZING & GOMBU ROCK

(IV)     HAPPY VALLEY TEA ESTATE

(V)      TIBETAN REFUGEE SELF HELP CENTER

(VI)     LEBONG RACE COURSE

(VII)   GORKHA FOOTBALL STADIUM

PADMAJA NAIDU HIMALAYAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK & HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINEERING INSTITUTE & BENGAL NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

This place has just 1 entry ticket of Rs. 60 / person for Indians and Rs. 100 / person for foreigners and you can see all the three points i.e. ZOO + HMI+ BNHM. The ticket is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and there is a camera charge of Rs. 10.

HIMALAYAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK

After entering the park and forwarding a few steps you will found a pole giving directions about what can be found in the directed ways. The arrows which are pointing forward will tell you that BLACK BEAR, HERBIVORES, SNOW LEOPARD, WOLF, TIGER, BNH MUSEUM & HMI are ahead and the other arrows show that RED PANDA, PHEASANTS, LESSER CARNIVORES & REPTILES are in the backward direction.

But I would say to go forward as you have to cover a lot of things in this direction. Firstly you will see Black Bear on your right side and it is very near to the boundary wall. So keep your camera ready for the quick shot. After that on advancing a little forward, you will find mountain Deer and adjacent to that boundary a huge black Yak, on your left side.

Capturing a few snaps move further upward and then you will reach a junction where the road goes forward towards the HMI and another backward taking a complete U-Turn towards BNH MUSEUM, Leopard & Tiger cages. At this junction, there is an eatery where you can have noodles, Chinese dishes, tea, coffee, cold drinks and ice cream. After entering through the gate of HMI and proceeding a few steps there is a club for INDOOR WALL CLIMBING training. Also, there is a tourist toilet beside this building. The road then takes a right turn and you will find a big compound beautifully decorated with flowers and going a few steps downward there you will find the famous HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINEERING INSTITUTE.

After taking some pictures come to the main road and there are direction arrows pointing you towards the HMI museum. This museum has three sections – Mountaineering History, Mount Everest Expedition and a panorama of Himalayan life.

A must visit place for everyone. Outside the museum, there is a statue of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa resembling the victory over conquering the Mount Everest. After minutely observing everything inside the museum like photographs, equipment related to Himalayan climbing, dress and personal belongings of hill folks, follow the same route to come back to the junction mentioned earlier. Now from here the cages of ROYAL BENGAL TIGER, CLOUDED LEOPARD, COMMON LEOPARD, SNOW LEOPARD, BLACK LEOPARD, and HIMALAYAN WOLF start. As you advance forward after watching the cages a dome-shaped structure will appear which is basically home of different colourful birds like Blue and Gold Macaw, peacock and many more species. On further advancing forward you will find the BNH Museum.

The BNH Museum is a fascinating plethora of more than 4000 specimens being exhibited. A huge collection of stuffed animals, birds and insects but seems very lively and will be a beautiful experience for the kids especially. The museum is a testament to the indigenous flora & fauna of the region. After viewing this museum go towards the pole you encountered while entering and pay a visit to see the RED PANDA, REPTILES etc to complete your journey inside the ZOOLOGICAL PARK.

DARJEELING ROPEWAY

Ropeway Tour is one of the main tourist attractions of Darjeeling. The tour is of 40 min duration and the cable car travels over the RANGEET VALLEY TEA ESTATE. The view of the tea garden from the top is mesmerizing. The total distance covered is 5 k.m. for up & down and the ticket costs Rs. 200 / adult and Rs. 100 / child aged between 3 to 7 years. The ticket counter opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at 4:00 p.m. There are only 12 cabins each accommodating 6 persons only. So there is a long queue in front of the ticket counter during peak season. Try to reach there as early as possible.

TENZING & GOMBU ROCK

Tenzing & Gombu Rock, commonly known as Monkey Rock, situated at Lebong Cart Road. Preliminary practice for rock climbing conducted by HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINEERING INSTITUTE is done here. These rocks are named after Late Tenzing Norgay and his nephew Nawang Gombu.

These rocks are so famous as Tenzing Norgay and Nawang Gombu were used to practice their rock climbing skill here. There are few stalls in front of the rock where you can get Darjeeling tea packet, momos, bhelpuri, necklaces, bangles made of beads etc.

HAPPY VALLEY TEA ESTATE

After passing by the Tenzing & Gombu Rock, Happy Valley Tea Estate is just a few minutes drive. There is another option to reach this Tea Estate. A pick & drop facility is available from Chowrasta if you call in advance and it is free of cost. There is an entry fee of Rs. 100 / person and it is adjustable if you buy tea from inside.

They will provide you with a guided tour through which you will come to know how tea is made and processed, how every tea differs and how the tea is sourced from the plants in various seasons. In the end, there is a tea tasting session after which you can buy tea. It is really a very informative tour and worthy. If you don’t want to take this guided tour then the cab driver will drop you at a place from where you can go downwards up to a certain point from where you will get the beautiful view of the tea garden. Also, local mountain dresses are available at a nominal rent of Rs. 50 and you can take beautiful pictures of yourself amidst the tea garden. This experience is memorable and definitely avail it. There are also many stalls along the roadside numbered like 1, 2, 3.. from where you can buy tea also and they are very cheap. These shops claim that they are selling organic tea but I am not sure about the quality.

TIBETAN REFUGEE SELF HELP CENTER

Established in 1959, this place is the home of the refugees who escaped from Tibet. The spirit of these people shows us or you may say encourage us not to give up ever and overcome the hurdle by every possible mean which may come in our life.

Here the people earn their livelihood by doing hard work day and night in which they are very efficient. They make the exquisite quality of woollen carpets, scarf, gloves, bags, pouches, cloth paintings, brass & metal handicrafts and curios. There is a small board showing “FIXED PRICE” which wants to mean that these old people are not in the situation to bargain. There is also an interesting, politically charged photographic exhibition portraying Tibetan history through BLACK & WHITE photos. This is not the tourist attraction, it the story of the people. One should visit this place.

LEBONG RACE COURSE

Once this place was used to be the world’s highest and smallest race course. It was established along with LEBONG CANTONMENT in 1882. In 1980 it has been taken by the Indian Army and it is no longer a race course. The entry is allowed with due permission from the sentry posted at the gate. Undoubtedly it is one of the best viewpoints of Mt. Kanchenjunga in Darjeeling. Don’t forget to visit the little army café in the race course for a hot cup of coffee along with Pav Bhaji, idli or dosas.

GORKHA FOOTBALL STADIUM

This small but beautiful stadium located at Lebong can accommodate 15000 people. Every year Independence Day is celebrated here. The stadium has been constructed by cutting the hills. It is really an incredible Engineering achievement. Apart from playing football here, it is also the landing ground of Paragliding. Don’t miss this place if you are interested to roam each and every corner of Darjeeling.

MIXED POINT TOUR

This TOUR is basically like a customized tour in which the most significant places are covered. The typical mixed point tour program is given below:

(I)       JAPANESE TEMPLE & PEACE PAGODA

(II)      PADMAJA NAIDU HIMALAYAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK & HIMALAYAN                                  MOUNTAINEERING INSTITUTE & BENGAL NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

(III)     DARJEELING ROPEWAY

(IV)     TENZING & GOMBU ROCK

(V)      TIBETAN REFUGEE SELF HELP CENTER

(VI)     HAPPY VALLEY TEA ESTATE

FROM WHERE YOU SHOULD BOOK THE CAB FOR SIGHTSEEING?

After knowing all the sightseeing places the obvious question that comes in mind “From where do we hire the car?”

For this, I have 5 options for you.

1.   “A” UPPER CLUBSIDE DRIVERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION: It is located at Gandhi Road or the best direction so that you can understand instantly is, it is located just opposite to the famous KEVENTER’S.

2.   PRE-PAID TAXI (Darjeeling Transport Corporation): It is located near Hotel Ascot. It is Govt. Tariff Taxi Hub. Here all the fares according to the point of sightseeing are fixed and you can rely upon.

3.   NEAR CLOCK TOWER: As you advance downwards towards CLOCK Tower after crossing Keventer’s, there is police checkpoint and just 10 steps ahead of it there is a Taxi stand on your right. From here also you can book the car.

4.  KRISHNA LAMA: He is basically a tour operator. He will arrange a car for you. I myself booked my car through him. I had compared many local tour operators but his rate was the cheapest and also very polite in nature. You can contact him also. His mobile number is given in my Ebook.

Click here to get the Ebook

5.  MILAN RUCHAL: Milan Ruchal or Milan Da was my last 2 days guide in Darjeeling. He has a brand new Wagon R. So only contact him if you are a maximum of 4 people in a group. He is very helpful and the best thing about him he will not ever time bound over a place. He himself says you can stay as long as you want here. If you ever travel with him then show him my photo. He knows me very well. His mobile number is given in my Ebook.

Click here to get the Ebook

6.  DIPU DAS: If you are 6-7 people in a group then you can call Dipu Das. He has a TATA SUMO GOLD SUV which is very good in condition. One of my relatives travelled with him and he showed them all the sightseeing with the utmost care. His mobile number is given in my Ebook.

Click here to get the Ebook

COST FOR SIGHTSEEING

Finally, the cost of sightseeing for different tour points will be revealed. I am going to give an average price of the cab fare as it will slightly vary with your bargaining power.

TOUR NAME ACCORDING TO No. OF POINTS	DURATION (In Hours)	5 SEATER (In INR)	7 SEATER (In INR)
2 POINT TOUR	3	1500	1800
3 POINT TOUR	3.5	1200	1500
5 POINT TOUR	3	1200	1500
7 POINT TOUR	4	1500	1800
MIXED POINT TOUR	4	1500	1800
MIXED POINT TOUR WITH ROCK GARDEN & GANGA MAYA	7	2500	2800

OTHER ACTIVITIES & PLACES IN DARJEELING OTHER THAN THE POINTS DISCUSSED ABOVE

TOY TRAIN

The toy train in Darjeeling has a great heritage value. The ride is one of the exciting activities in Darjeeling. All of us usually ask when a person come back from Darjeeling that had he done the Toy train ride or not. Unless you have a toy train ride the tour seems to be incomplete or will always feel discomfort if you don’t do this. Anyway, I am going to tell you everything starting from time schedule of toy trains, its fare, duration of the ride & what you will come to see in this ride.

TOY TRAIN RIDE FROM DARJEELING TO DARJEELING

TRAIN NAME & No.	DEPARTURE TIME	ARRIVAL TIME	DURATION (In Hours)	FARE (In INR)
JOYRIDE STEAM (52593)	09:40 a.m.	11:40 a.m.	02:00	1405
JOYRIDE STEAM (52594)	10:00 a.m.	12:00 noon	02:00	1405
JOYRIDE DIESEL (52591)	10:10 a.m.	12:05 p.m.	01:55	805
JOYRIDE STEAM (52595)	12:10 p.m.	14:10 p.m.	02:00	1405
JOYRIDE STEAM (52596)	12:20 p.m.	14:20 p.m.	02:00	1405
JOYRIDE DIESEL (52597)	12:45 p.m.	14:30 p.m.	01:45	805
JOYRIDE STEAM (52598)	16:05 p.m.	18:05 p.m.	02:00	1405
JOYRIDE STEAM (52592)	16:10 p.m	18:25 p.m.	02:15	1405
JOYRIDE DIESEL (52599)	16:20 p.m.	18:20 p.m.	02:00	805

To book the tickets in advance visit the website whose link is given below:

https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search

NOTE: The booking of tickets for JOYRIDE opens 120 days in advance and the child below 5 years will not require any ticket.

As you can see in the above chart there are 2 types of train – one is the steam engine and the other is diesel driven. The train will leave from the beautiful Darjeeling station. There are 2 rows of seats inside the train and try to take the window seat of the right side row facing the head of the train. The train will follow the track with the road on its left and you can see the magnificent range of mountains on your right with mild cold air flowing over your face.

Sometimes the train passes maintaining just a few inches gap from the houses or shops along the way with whistling at regular interval. The first stop is at BATASIA LOOP where it takes a halt of 10 min. To know more about Batasia Loop see the paragraph under 3 POINT TOUR. After 10 min halt, the train will take a double loop and will halt at GHUM STATION for 30 min.

GHUM STATION & GHUM MUSEUM

GHUM STATION

It is the highest heritage railway station in the world of having an altitude of 7407ft. The entry gate of Ghum Museum is opposite to the Ghum platform.

On entering through the gate you will notice the steam locomotive “Baby Sivok” built in the year 1881. It is in good shape in spite of so many years passed by. A wooden stair has gone up leading to the Ghum Museum.

GHUM MUSEUM

On entering the museum you will notice a red carpet on the floor is hitting straight the wall where a nice photo of Toy Train in the Batasia Loop is hanging, giving you the full top view of the garden.

On the left side, there is another room where some valuable black & white pictures depicting history are hanging on the walls. Also, you will notice the lanterns used for signalling, the ringing station bells, a model of a toy train, comptometers and many more things that have beautifully decorated the tables of the museum. After spending some time in the museum when you come back to the platform for your return journey you will notice that there is a shop named “SOUVINEER SHOP GHUM” selling some beautiful gift items. You may buy some items from here as a symbol to remember the Ghum station. Now come back to your window seat and the 2 wagons small train will drop you to the Darjeeling station within 1 hour. On your return journey enjoy the wonderful landscape that comes along your way. This journey will remain etched in your mind throughout your life.

DARJEELING MALL

The most vibrant place of Darjeeling is the “DARJEELING MALL”. This is a large, flat ground with benches at the periphery and different shops lined at one side. At one end of the mall, there is an elevated platform where cultural programs or live music performance usually take place. One of the interesting things I have noticed here is that, whether on the elevated platform or on one side of the mall, every evening some musical performance will definitely take place especially during the peak season. This makes the mall area more charming. In front of the elevated platform, there is a statue of the Nepali poet Bhanubhakta Acharya, who is well known for his great job of translating Ramayana in Nepali from Sanskrit.

The morning and evening beauties of the mall are completely different. In the morning you will find people are gossiping or sitting alone on the benches, some are engaged at cleaning the mall, some are taking a deep breath and posing some yoga postures, dogs are sleeping at one side by winding their bodies, pigeons are flocking here and there, in one word there is a calm atmosphere all over the mall. But the scenario is completely different in the evening. People are more enthusiastic, moving towards Nehru road for shopping or to have some great food available along the road, some are listening to live music for a while; the whole atmosphere appears as cheering up the people to live their life to the fullest. There is a Café Coffee Day shop at one side of the ground, and on the other side, some of the shops that are lined up are Oxford book & stationery beside Chalet Hotel, SBI Bank ATM, Amigos Tours & Treks, Chowrasta Studio cum Restaurant, Chowrasta Stores Wines and many more. If you are searching for Glenary’s or Keventer’s then the best landmark is to go straight keeping the Pineridge Hotel on your left. Along this road, there are lots of garment shops on both sides selling gloves, sweaters, shawls and many more things. Here the prices of winter garments are much cheaper than any metropolitan city. But I found the prices of these items are even cheaper at the shops lined up along the Laden-la Road.

SOME OF THE BEST PLACES TO BUY TEA IN DARJEELING

HAPPY VALLEY TEA ESTATE

Happy Valley estate is one of the most authentic places to buy 100% original Darjeeling Tea. The tea garden has been certified by UNITED NATIONS FAO project as a model estate and also certified as organic by USDA, JAS, IMO and HACCP. They produce the premium quality 1^st flush teas and 2^nd flush teas and they have an excellent reputation all over the world.

Some of the premiums 1st flush tea varieties are Goomtee Clonal Exotica, Jungpana and The Castleton Moonlight. The estate has a website for online ordering from where you can buy these premium teas also.

Visit their website by clicking the link given below:

www.darjeelingteaboutique.com

GOODRICKE, THE HOUSE OF TEA

Goodricke, The House of Tea located on the Nehru Road, is a lounge to serve you freshly brewed tea to refresh you. You can enjoy here from a cup of tea to a large pot ranging from Rs. 50 / cup to Rs. 360 / large pot. They will serve you in the transparent cup so that you can see the true colour of these authentic teas. They have a wide range of tea collection sold in packets ranging from Rs. 100 / 100gm to Rs. 15,000 / kg. Some of the well-known varieties they sell are Badamtam Organic Tippy Clonal AV2, Thurbo Moonlight and Castleton Muscatels.

NATHMULLS TEA & SUNSET LOUNGE

Nathmulls Tea Boutique is located in Laden-la Road. Recently they have opened another outlet named as Sunset Lounge near Chowrasta Mall.  They have a wide range of variety like black tea, white tea, green tea and oolong tea. Also categorized the teas according to 1^st flush, 2^nd flush and autumn flush.  Some of their famous products are Arya Summer Charm – Organic Black Tea, MIM Darjeeling Oolong Tea, Organic Summer Euphoria Tea and Puttabong Tukvar Darjeeling Black Tea. To taste these exotic teas either you can visit their shops or you may order online. Want to get the full range of their products? Then visit their website by clicking the link given below:

https://nathmullstea.in/

 

Want To Get All The Information Of Darjeeling Tour In 1 Place?

Then Click Here To Get My Ebook !!!

 

WHAT TO PACK FOR WHILE TRAVELLING.

A BUDGET TRAVELLER

There are 8 things I never go travelling without:

1. Security Belt With Hidden Pocket

I never hit the road without my security belt. It is a regular looking belt with a secret pocket inside. Hide your notes inside the zip and wear it through airport scanners without any hassle. This is hands down the best way to hide your cash. Find Here

2. Camera

I may keep my luggage less but can’t miss the camera. It is the soul of my journey. There are several type of travel cameras available in the market like Point & Shoot, Advanced Compact Camera, Mirror less, DSLR etc. and each one has its own list of benefits.

I am listing some of the best cameras in each category:

(I)   Best Compact Point & Shoot Travel Camera: Find Here

(II)  Best Advanced Point & Shoot Travel Camera: Find Here

(III) Best Mirrorless Travel Camera: Find Here

(IV) Best Travel DSLR: Find Here

3. Sufficient Back Up Of Your Photos

I suffered a lot in the early days of my travelling due to data storage shortage. I used to carry few GB’s of memory cards. Obviously within 2 or 3 days ended up those and began to delete the captured photos to free some space. So get fully loaded with memory cards while travelling. Need ultra-fast memory card? Then Find Here

4. Trolley Bags

It is hard to decide which trolley to buy as there are so many varieties available in the market in this segment. But it is better to buy branded products rather than buying some cheap ones. Want to see the trolley I carry while travelling? Then Find Here

 5. Torch

It is one of the most essential items while travelling. The best way to know a place is by walking around. But the roads are not always well lit up and then a torch comes out to be a true friend. Always add it to your luggage. Want to add a sleek and sexy flashlight in your baggage? Then Find Here

 6. Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Whether you are laying on the beach or on the top of the mountain, now you can bring music everywhere. No need to get dependent on powerpoint to play music anymore. Thanks to Portable Bluetooth Speaker. Want to know more? Then Find Here

 7. Gimbal

So you have a great Smartphone with unlimited features and excellent camera. But the captured videos are very shaky. Isn’t it? That’s why I use Gimbal. It stabilizes the video filming. Interested to know more on gimbal? Then Find Here

8. Power Bank

Travelling all day and capturing memorable pictures but at the time of return the Smartphone got switched off and unable to receive an important call. OMG! Don’t worry. Carry a Power Bank with you. Want to get it? Then Find Here

 

CLICK THE LINK GIVEN BELOW TO GET THE DETAILED INFORMATION ON:   

TINCHULEY TOUR

MIRIK TOUR