Places to Visit in Darjeeling, There are numerous tourist places to visit in Darjeeling, a breath-taking town settled cosily on the foothills of Himalayas. The untouched beauty of this incredibly beautiful town is a respite from the bustling city life and thus, attracts visitors from all over the country.
Amongst the countless tourist attractions in Darjeeling, Tiger Hill seems to have made quite a mark among tourists, because this place is a complete package for nature as well as snow lovers. Another highlight of visiting Places to Visit in Darjeeling is its Himalayan Railway, known for its Toy Train experience which offers pleasant mountain views.
Next to the list is Darjeeling’s Ropeway, set up to give the tourists awe-inspiring views of verdant tea estates that aren’t easily accessible. Apart from the above attractions, places like Batasia Loop, Ghoom Monastery, Rock Garden, and Peace Pagoda should definitely be on your list. Clearly, when it comes to places to see in Darjeeling, the list is simply inexhaustible.
Tiger Hill
The highest peak in the Darjeeling-Kurseong range, Tiger Hill is a famous vantage point in Darjeeling. Sitting at an altitude of 8,442 ft (2,573 m), the summit offers resplendent views of Mt Kanchenjunga at sunrise.
When the sun rises, its orange light hits the snow-capped peak in a dazzling way. If you look far away, Mount Everest is also visible from here if the sky is considerably clear.
It is one of the most charming Places to Visit in Darjeeling that you should not miss visiting. For witnessing the sunrise, you need to start as early as 4 o’clock in the morning.
Tourist cars queue up near the summit and the place gets crowded as the sunrise approaches. So, it is better to reach there beforehand and secure a place in the observatory.
Tiger Hill summit is located around 11 km from the main town. It is accessible by car and is about 45 minutes drive from Darjeeling town.
Batasia Loop
Located right below Ghoom Railway Station, Batasia Loop is a train halt point on Siliguri to Darjeeling route. It is an engineering marvel of British period which was commissioned to counter a steep fall after the train crosses Ghoom station en route to Places to Visit in Darjeeling.
Witnessing the toy train move around the loop is a fantastic experience. In the center of the Batasia Loop, there is a Gurkha Soldiers war memorial surrounded by a garden. If you are not up for the toy train ride, it is easily reachable by a car from Darjeeling town.
Peace Pagoda
Nestled on the Jalapahar Hill, the Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda stand as a symbol of world peace and harmony. Both the structures are located in the same complex. The temple is also known as Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Temple.
A Japanese Buddhist monk, Nichidatsu Fujii, laid the foundation stone of the pagoda in 1972. Inside the pagoda, there are four images of Lord Buddha depicting the four avatars.
Visitors are given drums and sticks to join rhythmic drum beating during prayer time. It is absolutely otherworldly experience when you can feel divine vibes all around the place.
From the center of the town, it takes roughly 15 minutes to reach there by car. It remains open from 4:30 am to 7 pm for tourists.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
Zoological gardens are normally off the itinerary for me. However, Zoological Garden in Darjeeling is really worth a visit.
Officially known as Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, it was established in 1954 for the conservation of endangered high-altitude animals. In 1975, the park was renamed in the memory of late Padmaja Naidu, former governor of West Bengal.
A well-kept zoological park, it houses numerous Himalayan animal species including red panda, snow leopard and Himalayan wolf.
So, if you have not sighted these rare species in the wild, you can see them here. Red pandas and snow leopards are the star attractions for visitors.
The park also runs captive breeding initiatives for many such animal species of the Eastern Himalayan region. It is definitely one of the amazing Places to Visit in Darjeeling to visit for the wildlife admirers.
Happy Valley Tea Estate
Happy Valley Tea Estate is the closest tea garden to Darjeeling town, situated about 3 km from Chowk Bazar. It was established as Wilson Tea Estate in 1854 by a Britisher. Later in 1903, a Bengali gentleman, Tarapada Banerjee took over the tea estate.
It was renamed as Happy Valley Tea Estate in 1929 after being merged with a neighbouring tea garden. Perched at an altitude of 6,900 ft (2,100 m), it is one of the highest tea gardens in the world.
A visit to this tea estate gives opportunities to learn about the entire process of tea processing from leaves plucking to drying. For tea connoisseurs, it is one of the Places to Visit in Darjeeling to visit. As you take a tour of this garden, the special tea aroma fills the senses.
It is open from 8 am to 4:30 pm, 5 days a week (Tuesday to Saturday). During winters, it is usually closed for visitors when plucking and processing are not taking place.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
A famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is the oldest of the three Mountain Railways of India. The other two are Nilgiri Mountain Railways in Tamil Nadu and Kalka Shimla Railway in Himachal Pradesh.
It was constructed between 1879 and 1881 to connect the Darjeeling Hills with the plains. DHR runs on a 2-feet gauge track and is fondly known as the Toy Train.
From New Jalpaiguri to Places to Visit in Darjeeling, the 88 km long track passes through fantastic loops and zigzag reverses. It is approximately a 7 hour train journey through the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region.
They also offer a 2-hour Joy ride between Darjeeling and Ghum, India’s highest railway station at 7,407 ft. The train halts at Ghum for about 30 minutes when you can take an amble through the DHR museum.
Best Time To Visit
Best Time To Visit I would recommend the Summer season, from March to May, for visiting Places to Visit in Darjeeling. The weather stays pleasantly cool and skies are clear during these months. So, you can see the imposing peaks of the Himalayas from various viewpoints.
With the onset of monsoon in June, it starts to rain heavily. Incessant rains sometimes cause landslides in the region. Avoid traveling to Darjeeling in the rainy season from June to September.
The next best season is right after monsoon from October to November. Winter (December to February) is harsh and the temperature drops significantly, making it freezing cold. Owing to mist and fog, you might not be able to see the Himalayan mountain peaks.