About
History
During the British Raj, Darjeeling's temperate climate led to its development as a hill station for British residents seeking to escape the summer heat of the plains. Arthur Campbell, a surgeon with the Company, and Lieutenant Robert Napier were responsible for establishing a hill station there. Darjeeling became the formal summer capital of the Bengal Presidency after 1864. The opening of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in 1881 further hastened the development of the region
People & Culture
The original inhabitants of the Darjeeling Hills were Lepchas. The Khampas are recent immigrants from Tibet. The greater bulk of the people in the Hills are Gorkhas. Among the population are also the Sherpas who are well known for their courage, stamina and surefootedness and for their immeasurable contributions to Mountaineering.
Festivals
The Tibetan ethnic groups like the Lepchas, Bhutias, Gurungs and Tamangs celebrate New Year, also called Losar, in January - February. Other festivals like Maghe Sankranti, Chotrul Duchen, Buddha Jayanti, and Tendong Lho Rumfaat, to name a few, provide the "regional distinctness" of Darjeeling's local culture from the rest of India.
Food and Cuisine
Pamper your taste buds with the traditional homely food. Darjeeling offers you the best momo or meat dumplings which are steamed and accompanied by a bowl of clear soup and achaar. Nehru road has a good number of restaurants. Glenary's Bakery and Cafe is a good place for cakes, pastries, the ubiquitous Darjeeling cuppa, sizzerlers and North Indian food. Keventers is popular for its western delicacies. Don't forget to try the chicken sausages and the chocolate milk shake.
Darjeeling Tea
There are 87 tea estates in Darjeeling that have been given the right to label its produce as "Darjeeling Tea" by the Tea Board of India. These tea plantations cover over 17,500 hectares of land, producing more than 9 million kg of tea per year and engaging about 50 percent of the people of Darjeeling district. Darjeeling Tea is known for its flavour and aroma and is widely exported.
Handicraft
The many shops along Nehru Road and around the Mall are full of traditional Gorkhali & Tibetan ornaments, paintings and curios handcrafted by local artists and skilled artisans. These handicrafts bear resemblance to the imprints of traditional Lepcha, Tibetan and Gorkha cultures.Carpets, woollen garments and woodcrafts are also common.
Shopping
The Mall, located at the top of the Nehru Road is the heart of Darjeeling. It is a flat area where the roads converge. The heritage boutique stores are lined up around the Mall. It is a place popular with the tourists who come to enjoy the view, to shop or just to lounge in the sun.
UNESCO World Heritage
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has been accorded the UNESCO World Heritage status in the year 1999. The DHR is popularly known by the name 'Toy Train'. It operates on narrow tracks connecting Although steam engines have been replaced with diesel engines these days, the DHR is still very popular with the tourists. The toy train rides known as 'joy rides' offer breathtaking views of the landscape.
Flaming red rhododendrons, sparkling white magnolias, miles of undulating hillsides covered with emerald green tea bushes, the exotic forests of silver fir - all under the blanket of a brilliant azure sky dappled with specks of clouds, compellingly confounds Darjeeling as the 'Queen Of Hills'. The crest of Kanchenjunga shining in the first dawn light truly supports the title.Get In & Out
By Air
The nearest airport is Bagdogra (IXB). It is at a distance of 96 km from Darjeeling. Bagdogra Airport is 3 hours by road from Darjeeling, 50 minutes by air from Kolkata and 2 hours by air from Delhi. Tourists from other major cities can reach Darjeeling by taking a flight to Delhi/Kolkata and then to Bagdogra. You can then take a prepaid taxi or shared jeep from Bagdogra to Darjeeling.
By Train
You can avail trains to get to New Jalpaiguri Station or Siliguri. there are many trains from various parts of India passing through NJP and Siliguri . There are a number of trains from cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar and Kochi. Darjeeling is only 88kms from NJP and 80kms from Siliguri. You will get taxis and shared jeeps from NJP and Siliguri to reach Darjeeling. You can even take a toy train ride from either NJP or Siliguri through scenic mountain route that takes about 7 hours to reach Darjeeling.
By Bus
There is regular bus service including between Kolkata and Siliguri Main Bus Terminal. From Siliguri main bus terminal area, you will get buses, shared Jeeps and private taxis for your onward journey to Darjeeling. Distance between Siliguri and Darjeeling is 80kms and it will take about 2.5 hours to reach Darjeeling.
Get Around
Stay Safe
- Landslide is a common natural phenomenon seen in mountainous territory. It might be triggered by heavy rainfall in the monsoon season. So it will be wise for tourists to avoid the monsoon.
- Be careful while walking at night, as many agressive dogs roam the about in the streets after sunset. If approached by a feral dog, acting as though you are picking up a rock to throw will scare them.
Climate & Season
Summer
The summer is short from May upto June. The mean temperature during summer varies between 11 °C to 19 °C.
Mansoon
The monsoon usually starts in June and lasts through September. It can sometimes extend up to October. Heavy and concentrated rainfall is experienced in this region. The average temperature during summer varies between 11 °C to 19 °C. Landslides are common during this season.
Autumn
Autumn starts from October and lasts through November. Darjeeling becomes a popular destination for the tourists during these months. Unless the monsoon is stretched, this period becomes free of rains and showers. Temperatures during these months range between 18 °C to 6 °C.
Winter
Winter lasts from December to February. January and February are the coldest months. It can get really unpleasant for the tourists. Winter temperatures usually range from 2 °C to 9 °C . It may drop to 0 °C on occasionally. Snowfall is rare in Darjeeling.
Spring
March and April are the Spring months. This season, although short, is popular with the tourists. During this period Rhododendrons and Magnolia bloom in plenty and in different colors. The sky remains clear and temperatures are pleasantly cool.
Best Time
There are two best seasons for tourists to visit Darjeeling. One is between March to May, and the other is between October to November. During these times the temperatures are pleasant and the sky is usually clear making it possible for tourists to get a lovely view of Kanchenjunga.
The weather in Darjeeling is quite unpredictable. It can get foggy at times. Occasionally the sky may get clear when you can get a view of the Kanchenjunga.On a clear day, Kurseong is visible to the south and in the distance, along with Teesta River, Mahananda River ... more
