7 Attractions and Things to do in Darjeeling ...

By Neecey

You’ve probably heard of this Indian town because of its association with tea, but there are lots of great things to do in Darjeeling you might not know about. When I say Darjeeling, I’m talking about the town and a district of about 1200 square miles in the northern Indian state of West Bengal. This is classic Lower Himalayan country, which is why tea plantations thrive here. It also means the things to do in Darjeeling have a wonderful landscape as their playground.

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1

Ride the Rangeet Valley Passenger Cable Car

Ride the Rangeet Valley Passenger Cable Car One of the reasons you want to vacation in Darjeeling is the natural beauty. From the cable car you have the best view of the green valley with waterfalls, streams, forests and tea plantations and it’s easily one of the best things to do in Darjeeling. The cable car stops so you can take a walk through the plantations and get close-up to the tea gardens. The view is made even more fantastic by snowcapped mountains in the distance.

2

Visit the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center

Visit the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center Just because you are on vacation doesn’t mean you can’t be caring. All you have to do is visit the center that was founded in 1959 to help Tibetan exiles. The exiles that followed their leader the Dalai Lama had to flee and to survive they make many beautiful items by hand like leather goods, shawls, carved wood and carpets. The center has become one of the attractions of Darjeeling because it’s a great place to buy handmade items and to see the principle of self help in action.

3

Ride the Batasia Loop

Ride the Batasia Loop A really fun way to travel through the Darjeeling landscape is along a narrow gauge railway track that loops and carries a toy train. It’s pretty spectacular because there’s a sharp descent. The track is beneath Ghoom and only 5 kilometers from Darjeeling Town. This exhilarating ride shows off waterfalls, cultivated gardens, streams and mountain peaks.

4

Visit the Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda

Visit the Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda Visiting the Japanese Temple on Jalapahar Hill is one of the popular things to do in Darjeeling because it’s so peaceful. Observing the prayers and listening to the soothing chanting is one of the most gentle ways to relax. The temple is traditional Japanese architecture and near to the Peace Pagoda with four big Lord Buddha avatars. The pagoda is at a high elevation providing lovely views to as far as Kanchenjunga.

5

Visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute

Visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute One of the fascinating places to go in Darjeeling is the HMI and should be reserved for a visit when you have more than just a few hours, and especially if you are interested in climbing. This is where international climbers congregate and there’s even a mountaineering school. You can wander around the museum and mingle with visitors and climbers. You won’t go hungry because there’s a restaurant and also a souvenir store. The institute is on Birch Hill and is in honor of Tenzig Norgay who topped Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. This interesting location is also the home of Darjeeling Zoo so make sure you visit rare wildlife such as Tibetan wolf, red pandas, snow leopards and more. These are all rare, high altitude animals.

Famous Quotes

One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.

Albert Schweitzer
6

Enjoy the Ganga Maya Park and Rock Garden

Enjoy the Ganga Maya Park and Rock Garden Ganga Maya is a beautiful park with a stream, fountains and gardens spread out in a lush valley. When you need a break from Darjeeling Town, it’s about 13 kilometers away. Only 3 kilometers away from Ganga Maya is the unusual Rock Garden with terraces and levels chiseled into the rocks. You’ll love the rock seats next to the waterfall. You’ll surely agree both these parks are worthwhile sights of Darjeeling.

7

Shop at the Chowrasta and Darjeeling Mall

Shop at the Chowrasta and Darjeeling Mall Since you are in Darjeeling Town you should visit the mall in the public square at the centre of four roads. This is where you, the locals and visitors relax, people watch and shop at the unique boutiques. This lovely mall has excellent amenities, benches, trees and mountain views. The mall is known as Darjeeling or Chowrasta. A good tip for you to know is there are many local artisans with studios, factories and galleries and their exquisite creations can be seen in stores in the vicinity of the mall and Nehru Road. It’s a great place to find some unusual and unique souvenirs.

I know I said the things to do in Darjeeling are not always related to tea but I should mention that visiting a tea plantation is an interesting excursion. I went to one in Sri Lanka and thoroughly enjoyed my visit, so if you are going to Darjeeling, stick tea on your itinerary. Is Darjeeling the sort of place you would choose to visit?

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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Maybe you should read on kodaikanal..... Darjeeling is nothin compared to kodaikanal

Point 1. The cable car picture taken is not in Darjeeling. It's in Gangtok, which is the capital of Sikkim. People should get their facts straight and confirm before posting it.

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