| Darjeeling Popular Hill Station |
| The dream land of the East, Darjeeling is a popular hill station since the British period. Day by day the flow of the tourist to the place as increased rapidly. Darjeeling is strategically very important because of adjacency with three international borders. At an average elevation of 6,982 ft (2,128 m) the place offers the snow covered view of surrounding peaks of Himalaya ranges. |
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| Surrounded by lofty mountains Darjeeling means 'the Land of Thunderbolt'. Darjeeling is a fascinating place rich in natural beauty and surrounded by the Buddhist monasteries. Its beauty is unmatchable. Darjeeling is famous for its tea garden which produces premium Darjeeling tea also known as the Champagne of the East. Darjeeling is also famous for good educational institutes, prominent of which are Loreto College and School for Girls, St.Paul's school and St. Joseph College & Schools at north Point. |
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| During the British Raj in India, Darjeeling's temperate climate led to its development as a hill station (hill town) for British residents to escape the heat of the plains during the summers, becoming known as the Summer Capital. Darjeeling is internationally famous for its tea industry and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two of the most popular treks are Sandakphu and Phalut, The shorter trek to Sandakphu passes through the forests of the Singelila National Park, with breathtaking views of the Kanchenjunga range. Continuing on to Phalut the trek takes in views of passes into to Tibet, and views of the Everest range. During the spring trekking season April to May the Rhododendrons and other shrubs are in flower, although there may be occasional rains, whilst in the winter season, October to December visibility is excellent. |
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| The British established experimental tea plantations in Darjeeling in 1841. The town continued to grow as a tourist destination, becoming known as the "Queen of the Hills". After the independence of India in 1947, Darjeeling was merged with the state of West Bengal. |
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| Many people travel to Darjeeling to find out more about Tibetan Bhuddism and Culture. The approach road to Darjeeling is enhanced by the many beautiful monasteries with their distinctive Tibetan Architecture, red and gold paintwork, and fluttering prayer flags. The most famous one is at Ghoom, about 8km south of Darjeeling, which is open to visitors. The Manjushree Centre of Tibetan Culture offers Language classes and Tibetan medicine can be studied at the Chagpori Tibetan Medical College in Darjeeling. |
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| Darjeeling's temperate various from season to season. Lasting from May to June summers are mild, with maximum temperatures of 25 °C. June to September the time when the monsoon arrives is characterized by intense torrential rains often causing landslides that block Darjeeling's land access to the rest of the country. In winter temperature averages 5-7 °C (41-44 °F), with lows around -5 °C (23.0 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in the district was 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) on 23 August 1957; the lowest-ever temperature recorded was -5 °C (23 °F) on 11 February 1905. |
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| Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Hill Cart Road (National Highway 55) are the two ways to reach the town of Darjeeling. The town is just 80 kms away from Siriguri. One of the attracting facts of the way to Darjeeling is that the Hill Cart Road follows the railway line. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a 60 cm (2 ft) narrow-gauge railway. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway of Queen of hill stations was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, becoming only the second railway in the world to have this honor. The most popular means of transport are Four wheel drives, including Land Rovers as they can easily navigate the steep slopes in the region. In the monsoons due to landslides road and railway communications often get disrupted. |
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| Bagdogra near Siliguri, located about 93 km from Darjeeling is the nearest airport. New Jalpaiguri is connected with almost all major cities of the country is the closest major railway station. The Darjeeling Ropeway was stopped after an accident killed four tourists. |
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