Darjeeling

 "The one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once-by even a glimpse would not give that glimpse for the shows of the rest of the world combined" - Mark Twain.

Nestled among the rolling mountains with the glistening Mt Kanchenjunga towering over the azure sky, Darjeeling fondly called "Queen of the Hills" provides a perfect gateway for those seeking to be in harmony with nature.

This is the land of the muscatel flavored Darjeeling tea revered by connoisseurs across the globe. This is the land of the world heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway where the century-old miniature steam engine still chugs uphill vying for space with the fast disappearing Land Rovers.

Darjeeling is perched at a height of 2042 meters/6700 feet with a backdrop of the mighty Himalayan peaks, Darjeeling has attracted generations of visitors to sample the joys of cool, healthy, gracious, and adventurous living. Surrounded by some of the highest peaks of the Himalayas on one side, and thousands of acres of Tea gardens on the other, Darjeeling holds a special interest for trekkers, adventurers, botanists, ornithologist, photographer, and artist, apart from the holiday-seeker.

Heavily influenced by British India, Darjeeling still carries imprints reminiscent of its colonial past. The toy train is one of the most striking examples of Darjeeling's British Raj influence. Darjeeling conjures visions of serenity, of vibrant green hills steeped in splendor, a land of breathtaking beauty crowned by the majestic Himalayas.

Darjeeling in northeast India provides the perfect ambiance of a hill resort with its mild climate and laid-back charm. Its verdant hill and valleys are steeped in color and are interspersed with vast stretches of lush green tea gardens. Presiding over all these is the 8,586-m Mt. Kanchenjunga looming over the northern horizon, giving a magical aura to the land that entices thousands to its environs and leaves all the senses intoxicated. The flaming red rhododendrons, the sparkling white magnolias, the 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 THE HILLS.

Until the early part of the eighteenth century, Darjeeling was under the king of Sikkim. Later Gorkhas invaded the region and annexed the area, which they eventually lost to the British. The British used the place to escape the heat and found the strategic importance of the area. They, hence, developed the area as a hill station and tea-growing area. Darjeeling is well known for its tea industry and eco-tourism. 

Darjeeling is thought to be derived from the word Dorjeeling, which literally means 'the place of Dorjee' the majestic thunderbolt. Some believe that the thunderbolt belongs to the Lamaist religion and some believe that it belongs to Lord Indra. 

Timber, Tea, and Tourism underpin the economy of Darjeeling. The tea plantations were originally developed by the British. Oranges and cardamom are also available in plenty. Traditional arts and crafts of Tibet and Sikkim are the products available for shopping. Traditional Tibetan and Sikkimese food as well as other Indian cuisines are available. 

Rain can be expected any time in a year. Summer and spring are the two seasons most popular with the visitors. Darjeeling is a famous destination for Bollywood and Bengali film shooting. 

The most popular and ubiquitous mode of transport is four-wheel drive. Land rovers, especially, are the choice of tourists. They can easily serpentine through the steep and sometimes narrow roads of the hill. 

Several local festivals are celebrated throughout the year. The festivals are colorful and the visitor should ensure that they are in Darjeeling to take part in the celebrations of one of these festivals.

Places to see Around Darjeeling:

Tiger Hills, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute & Zoo, Botanical Garden, Happy Valley Tea Garden, Japanese Temple, Rope Way, Tibetan Refugee Center and Batasia Loop etc.