Darjeeling is a very popular hill station that stands at an altitude of 7000 feet. It is located in the Northern part of West Bengal and is famous world over for its tea estates. With Adventure Tours of India, you can not only enjoy a tour of its tourist spots but also try out many adventure sports, that the hill station has to offer. Come to Darjeeling and see the best of everything that nature has to offer with Adventure Tours of India.
Darjeeling-Tourist Places in and around Darjeeling
When you are in Darjeeling, you can visit the famous Yiga Choeling Monastery, where you can take a look at the images of Maitreya Buddha. There are also many old manuscripts, in Tibetan script that are very interesting.
You can also tour the Museum of Natural History, which is a favorite among tourists to Darjeeling. The museum has an extensive collection of Himalayan reptiles, animals, birds and insects.
The Lloyd Botanical Garden is where the tourists can check out orchids and various kinds of Flora. There is also the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, which boasts of being the only center in India for the breeding of the snow leopard. One can see the Ussurian tigers and the Himalayan black bear at this zoo.
Not too far from the zoo, is the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. This was established in 1954, by Jawahrlal Nehru. Tenzing Norgay was the first director of this institute and remained an advisor till he expired.
While in Darjeeling, one must ride the Darjeeling-Rangit valley ropeway, which is the longest ropeway ride in Asia. People ride this mainly to get a better view of the beautiful scenery around town. Visitors to Darjeeling can also visit the tea gardens and the Mall.
Other few places, worth a visit are the, Bhutia Bustee Monastery, Dhirdam temple, Ava Art gallery and Aloobaari Monastery.
There are several places around Darjeeling too, that are worth a visit. For instance, one can take a tour to The Tiger Hill. It is at a distance of 11 kms from the main town and stands at an altitude of 2,590 meters. People say it is the best place to watch the sun rise over the Himalayan peaks.
Darjeeling-Rangit valley ropeway Another place one can travel to is Kalimpong. It stands at a height of 1,250 meters and is known for its monasteries, handicrafts and flower nurseries.
One can also tour Kurseong, which is at an altitude of 1,458 meters. It is the perfect stopover between Darjeeling and Siliguri. Mirik, a famous hill station can also be visited. It is famous for its cardamom and orange plantations besides the lake.
Perfect place for trekkers is Pahlut, which is at a height of 3,600 meters. It offers a spectacular view of the surrounding areas.
Darjeeling-Things to do
Darjeeling is an ideal holiday destination for those who seek adventure. Here one can enjoy hang gliding, trekking, river rafting, mountain biking, ballooning and even archery contests.
The most popular trek route is one that goes through Singalila range. The great thing about trekking in Darjeeling is that one can not only enjoy breathtaking views of the high Himalayan peaks but also enjoy scenic beauty on the way. From Sandakphu, one can even see Mount Everest, Makalu, Kanchenjunga and Lhotse. If you visit Kalimpong, you can trek through Relli, Pankhasari and Neora to Rochella.
Darjeeling is a great place for trying hang-gliding and ballooning. There are cliffs, valleys and hills that make it an ideal place particularly for ballooning. And of course, one can also enjoy river rafting at river Teesta. River Teesta is perfect for river rafting as it has strong currents and deep gorges, which is necessary for rafting.
Canoeing and kayaking can also be enjoyed, but one would have to go to Mirik, since the lake there is perfect for these activities.
Mountain biking is probably the favorite sport of adventure enthusiasts. The adventurers can travel from Martam to Gangtok in Sikkim., visiting Rumtek monastery on the way.
The Himalayan Mountaineering institute is just the place for those interested in rock climbing. Archery competition is held during the annual Tea & Tourism Festival. Those participating in the contest use traditional Sikkimese bows and arrows.
Elephant rides can be enjoyed at Jaldapara. There one can also check out Bengal tigers and one-horned rhinoceros. While one is in Darjeeling, he/she can also do a bit of shopping. Things that can be bought are, Tibetan crafts like carpets, rugs, wood and leatherwork. The Tibetan refugee Self Help Center is one good place from where you can get great gift items.
Darjeeling-Getting There & Accommodation
The closest airport is at Bagdogra. From this airport, there are regular flights to Kolkata. The nearest railhead is at Siliguri. There is also a toy train that runs from New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri to Darjeeling.
The closest bus station is at Siliguri.
Finding accommodation at Darjeeling, is not a difficult task. There are many hotels and Resorts that offer comfortable rooms. You can easily find a suitable hostel or hotel according to the facilities you are looking for, and of course, according to your budget.
There are many restaurants and eateries in Darjeeling. Tourists on a tour to this hill station must try milk shakes, pastries and if they are willing to be more adventurous, they can try a glass of chhang (an alcoholic beverage).
Darjeeling-Things to keep in mind
One must keep enough warm clothes in their bags before coming to Darjeeling.
If adventure sports are on the agenda, then a complete physical examination is recommended.
When trying adventure sports, such as river rafting and hang-gliding, follow the instructions given by the instructor.
Adventure Tours of India offers adventure tour booking and adventure tour packages for Darjeeling.