Sightseeing at Majestic Darjeeling - Queen of Himalayas
You cannot really claim to have seen Eastern Indian till you visit Darjeeling. Visitors will take delight in our guide which covers Darjeeling Railway, Tiger Hill, Darjeeling Ropeway, Japanese Peace Pagoda and Sandakphu Trek by our world class travel editors.
Known as the Queen of the Himalayas, Darjeeling is a popular hill station in North East India, a little distance away from Kolkata. It’s one of the most breathtaking of all Indian hill stations and used to be a summer retreat for the British during the colonial era on account of its pleasant weather throughout the year. Spread over a steep hill, full of verdant tea plantations on rolling hills, today it is a popular tourist destination for its scenic beauty and cool climate. Everyone who has been to Darjeeling would attest to the fact that it is one of the most beautiful places in all of India and quite unforgettable too. If you want to visit the mighty Himalayas Darjeeling would be one of the best choices for you as the vista that it offers of the Himalayas is just unmatchable. Here’s a guide for Darjeeling Sightseeing for Tourists for you if you are planning a holiday in Darjeeling.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway or the Darjeeling Toy Train is one of the most famous attractions of the hill station. Still running on a steam engine (although the option of a diesel engine is also available for passengers who may not want to travel in a train hauled by a steam engine) and covering only 88 kilometers, this is an old timey train and there’s nothing like the charm of traveling in a train like that while you get to see the mesmerizing scenes of the Himalayas pass you by outside. Because it is significant to Darjeeling and India’s heritage, UNESCO declared it to be a World Heritage Site. You can either take the Toy Train Joyride from Darjeeling to Ghum, the highest altitude station on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway track, and where you’ll get to go through the Batasia Loop where the train takes a 360 degree turn, or the Toy Train Jungle Safari which goes from Silliguri to Rangtong and back, while going through the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary.
Tiger Hill
This summit in Ghum is the sunrise spot of Darjeeling where tourists flock to see the magnificent sunrise every morning. Seeing the sun rise from here and the view of the Kanchenjunga peaks is truly an otherworldly experience. You won’t ever get to see a sunrise like this in a city and the majestic mountains of India, reaching up to the blue cloudy skies, make the view one that you’ll remember forever. If you are going to be in Darjeeling in the summer then you should make sure to reach the Hill by 4.15 AM for which you’d have to leave by 3.30 AM, but in winter you can leave by 4.15 AM since the sunrise would be delayed. Make sure to be ready for a short climb to reach the spot from where you’ll get the best view of the sunset.
Darjeeling Ropeway
Darjeeling Ropeway is the perfect way to peacefully gaze at the entirety of the panoramic vista of the place with its lush valley and snow capped mountains. Situated 7000 feet above ground, it’s a cable car system – in fact, India’s first cable car system – with 16 cable cars that can accommodate 6 people each and which travel from the North Point in Singamari to the Singla Bazaar near the Ramman river. You’ll get to see Darjeeling’s tea plantations, waterfalls, mountains, including Kanchenjunga, all while moving slowly in the cable cars. At the end you will get to explore the plantations before making the journey back.
Japanese Peace Pagoda
Built by a Buddhist monk from Japan, Nichidatsu Fujii , who built all the Peace Stupas in India, Darjeeling’s Peace Pagoda, like all Peace Pagodas, is a stupa built to inspire peace among people of all races, castes, and religions. Japanese Budhhist monks started building Peace Pagodas all over the world after World War II in order to promote the message of world peace and harmony. Of the 80 such Peace Pagodas built in the world, Darjeeling’s Peace Pagoda is one of them. It was designed by M Okha, with gold avatars of Buddha and artwork depicting his life etched on the sandstones. There is also a Japanese temple nearby that you could visit while visiting the Pagoda.
Sandakphu Trek
If you are up for and in the shape for a demanding trek then you should definitely go on one in Darjeeling. You can trek the Sandakphu Peak, which is the highest peak in West Bengal. It will be a tough trek but it should prove to be rewarding when you get to the top and get to see the excellent view. You’ll also enjoy the way to the top if you appreciate lush greenery and fresh flowers, which you would find plenty of on this trek. You are recommended to carry your own camps although you might find guest houses at some campsites, and also to carry proper trekking gear as well as a medical kit just in case. You would also need to obtain a trekking permit before you are allowed to go trekking here.
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