The town of Darjeeling, the most populous hill station in West Bengal, is now a major commercial tourism destination in Eastern India and is home to the world-renowned mountain railways. It is now a central hilly hamlet in the eastern zone, a unique feature in the lesser Himalayas. Darjeeling’s ecosystem has been exposed and jeopardized due to inadequate planning and increased tourism in recent years. The best time to visit Darjeeling is year-round, except during the monsoon season. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway gained recognition and prominence by being awarded the ‘UNESCO World Heritage tag.’ It still uses steam engines to operate daily, which is a unique feature.
The best time to visit Darjeeling is from October to April.
The best time to visit Darjeeling is from October to April, when travelers can enjoy the most scenic views, as the weather remains pleasant and conducive to outdoor activities. Travelers also visit Darjeeling between May and September to escape the summer heat, but face climatic challenges.
Darjeeling makes Eastern India proud of its natural glory and offerings.
- Darjeeling remains the most essential hill station in East India, surpassing its peers. The Darjeeling Himalayan Mountaineering Institute offers basic and advanced mountaineering courses in India.
- The essence of the third-highest peak of Kanchenjunga is felt from Tiger Hills.
- Tourists and travelers continue to appreciate the beauty of Nature and its offerings.
How do you reach Darjeeling?
1. Travelers can reach Darjeeling from Bagdogra Airport. It takes around 3 hours to reach Darjeeling by car from Bagdogra Airport.
2. Travelers can reach Darjeeling from New Jalpaiguri by road transport. They can also take the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway from NJP to Darjeeling. Toy rides operated by steam engines take 8 hours to reach Darjeeling.
3. Tourists can reach Darjeeling from Siliguri by taking a cab, which takes approximately 2.5 hours. Reserved and shared vehicles are available from the bus stand.
4. Travelers can reach Darjeeling from Kalimpong by reserved and shared vehicles. It takes 3 hours to reach Darjeeling from Kalimpong.
5. Travelers can also travel to Gangtok and reach Darjeeling by private or reserved vehicles. Depending on the road conditions, it takes 4 or 5 hours to reach Darjeeling from Gangtok.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was the first to operate in India.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway remains a significant discovery in India’s railway planning and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was the first significant discovery in India, preceding the development of other railways in the Nilgiris, Western Himalayas, and Himachal Pradesh. Daily trains operate between NJP and the town on the narrow-gauge railway, providing affordable and cost-effective communication between busy cities and mountain towns.
DARJEELING FAQ
It sometimes snows in Darjeeling, but not consistently.
The Bagdogra airport is near Darjeeling.
Darjeeling is colder than Gangtok.
January is the coldest month in Darjeeling.
Tourists can reach Darjeeling by taking the steam-powered mountain train from NJP.
CONCLUSION
Darjeeling is renowned for producing some of the finest teas in the world. It is also famous because of the Mountain Railways between NJP and Darjeeling. Travelers can also feel the essence of the third-highest peak from Darjeeling.