DARJEELING VACATIONS

Darjeeling

Often referred to as 'Dorje Ling' meaning place of the thunderbolt, Darjeeling truly lives up to the sobriquet. One of the country's more popular hill stations, Darjeeling is a place of incomparable beauty with an old world charm visible in the laid back lifestyle and the number of colonial structures. The town is surrounded by lush tea and spice plantations interspersed by savage growth of bamboo and groves of fragrant coniferous trees which lend a mystic aura to this quaint little hill town.

An erstwhile summer retreat for the British and one of the major tea growing centres in the world, Darjeeling still fascinates the holiday makers with its quaint charm, a fact visible in the umpteen number of visitors regularly seen on promenades such as the Mall and the Chowrasta.

Sites to Check Out

The Mall
The Mall road is a popular tourist joint that is witness to a large share of tourist buzz at the city. The place is lined with Tibetan shacks that sell lovely hand knit sweaters and plenty other artefacts particular to the Himalayan region. One can buy souvenirs, take a quite stroll or just admire the immense natural beauty of the place.

Chowrasta
The Chowrasta or the town square is a part of the Mall. There are a number of souvenir shops with woollen garments, tribal ornaments, rosaries, brass statues and Gorkha daggers commonly seen on display. While foreign goods are also offered for sale, local material is much more in demand.

Observatory Hill
Also known as Makal Babu Ko Thaan, the observatory hill is the oldest site in Darjeeling. A temple situated here lends it its share of religious importance. According to historical records, the Buddhist monastery which stood here was destroyed by the Nepalese during the 19th century.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
Established by Tenzing Norgay, the first ever man to conquer Mount Everest along with Edmund Hillary, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute trains budding mountain climbers with the help of contemporary techniques. There is also a collection of mountain climbing equipment on display.

Passenger Ropeway
The ropeway located at North Point has the distinction of being the first ropeway of its kind in the country. It affords a panoramic view of the valley while the snow covered mountains in the backdrop add a unique charm to the entire experience.

Hot Getaways

Tiger Hill
Situated at an altitude of 2590 mts. the place is known for the gorgeous views it affords. The sun rising from behind the mighty Kanchenjunga presents a truly magnificent sight. The highest mountain peak in the world, the Mt. Everest is also visible from here.

Kalimpong
Kalimpong is a quaint little town bustling with activity. Situated in the state of Bengal, the vibrant past of the city witnessed it being a part of Bhutan from where it passed into the hands of the British and finally became a part of the state of West Bengal.