Darjeeling is also called ‘Queen of the hills‘. This famous hill station in the state of West Bengal in India is one of the highlights of In
dian tourism and West Bengal tourism benefits significantly from the vast number of Indian and international tourists that visits Darjeeling every year. The town is also the capital of the Darjeeling district which is the northernmost district of West Bengal bordering Nepal. The town offers fantastic vacations in summer as well as winter. The view of the Himalayas, particularly the magnificent view of the Kanchenjungha is one of the major attractions of Darjeeling.The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, popularly known as the toy train,has become the symbol of Darjeeling.
Major tourist attractions in Darjeeling:Every nook and corner of Darjeeling fascinates the tourist. The mall, the sloping streets, the beautiful colonial buildings, the pines, temples, monasteries and even the whistling toy train combine to make Darjeeling one of the best hill stations in India. The major tourist spots in Darjeeling are-
- Himalayan Mountaineering Institute:This institute is an interesting tourist spot offering information about mountain climbing and the history of mountaineering in the region. Mountaineering gears are on display here along with rare pictures related to Mt Everest and other important mountain expeditions. The institute was established in1954 after the successful conquest of Mt Everest, and offers training in mountaineering and rock climbing.
- Bhutia Busti:This beautiful monastery situated on CR Das road was transferred in 1879 from its original location on the observatory hill. The monastery has an interesting library that contains many old Buddhist texts and scrolls.
- Observatory Hill:This place is a popular point from where tourists can get a magnificent view of the entire region and Mt Kanchenjunga on a clear, sunny day.
- Ghoom Monastery:Ghoom is the last destination of the famous Darjeeling toy train. Located six kilomerters from Darjeeling, Ghoom is home to the famous Ghoom monastery at an altitude of 2407 meters. The main attraction of the monastery is the 4.5 meter statue of Maitreya Buddha.
- Darjeeling Mall:The mall is one of the most popular places in Darjeeling. It is the center of tourist activities in the town and most of the hotels are clustered around the mall. The mall is also the location of the taxi stands from where tourists can hire taxis to the sites in and around Darjeeling. Many shops including old bookshops and curio stores are a major draw in the mall. The first site to welcome tourists at the mall is the local people offering pony rides and photographers clicking pictures of people as they ride the ponies. People tired from walking can take a break and sit on the many benches placed in the mall and sip the excellent tea sold by local tea vendors. There are many restaurants, cafes, and ice cream parlors around the mall. Early morning and evenings are the best time to stroll in the mall.
the handicrafts museum. Kalimpong, Takdah, Mirik, Lava, Lolegaon and Sandakphu are some of the important tourist spots near Darjeeling. A tour of Darjeeling offers wonderful opportunities for shopping and many adventure activities.Darjeeling, known as the queen of the Himalayas is situated in the Northern Part of the Indian state of West Bengal. The city is located in the Siwalik Range of the lesser Himalayas and is famous for its tea industry. The city is also famous for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways which is one among the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are a large number of tourist destinations in Darjeeling making this place a wonderful holidaying experience. To the east, a dull orange sun emerged painting the sky with brilliant strokes of magenta, gold, orange and fuchsia. The snow capped Everest, Kabru, Kanchenjunga, Jannu and other peaks slowly emerge from slumber to start a new day. The sun worshippers gasp at the magnificent sight. As the fog lifts in the slowly penetrating sun, the town gradually comes alive. Amidst brewing of tea, the sing-song Gorkhali which is the local dialect, rises and falls like music.- Area : 3149 square km
- Altitude : 6710 feet
- Languages : Hindi, Gorkha, Bengali, Nepali, Tibetian and English
- Best time to visit : March to June and again from October to December
- STD Code : 0354
Among the major tourist attractions in the Darjeeling city, the most important is the Tiger Hill. It is situated about 2590 m and gives a 
splendid of the sunrise over Kanchanjunga. Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak is clearly visible from the Tiger Hill. Another important place to visit in the city is the Rock Garden and Ganga Maya Park. These parks are located about 10 km from the town and have developed into wonderful picnic spot.The place has a scenic beauty and one can walk down to the Darjeeling Mall from here . Other important places in the city include the Ava Art Gallery, Mall, Batasia loop, Lloyd Botanical Garden, Nightingale park, Darjeeling-Rangit Valley Passenger Cable Car popularly called the ropeway, observatory hills, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the monasteries to name a few. One can also visit places around Darjeeling like Kalimpong, Kurseong, and Mirik.
Temperature:
- Avarage Mean Annual Temperature: Max 14.9°C and Min 8.9°C
- Rainfall : 3092 mm
- Clothing: light woolen in summer and heavy woolen in winters.
There are a large number of Star, Heritage and Budget hotels which provide wonderful accommodation facilities in the city. The most important among them include the Windamere Hotel, Hotel Ivanhoe, Fortune Hotel Central, Himalayan Resort, Sinclairs, Anand Palace, and Bellevue Hotel to name a few. The city has also a very good transportation network with Bagdogra being the nearest airport and New Jalpaiguri being the nearest railway station. National Highway No. 55 passes through the city connecting Darjeeling with other parts of the Country.
