Darjeeling, which literally means ‘’the Land of Thunderbolt’’, derives its name from ‘dorje’ meaning thunderbolt and ‘ling’ meaning place. This enchanting land of clouds and thunderbolts is one of the major tourist destination in the eastern part of the country, with several breathtaking and picturesque locales to see. Read on to know more about this beautiful hill station.
Perched at an height of more than two thousand meters, Darjeeling is one of the most visited tourist places in the country. Located in the state of West Bengal, Darjeeling is a major contributor in state’s GDP and player in boosting the state’s tourism as well. There are several Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi to Darjeeling flight that you can take to reach the destination. Darjeeling’s serene beauty is filled with little clusters of towns and marketplaces with Buddhist monasteries and daring adventure activities.
Darjeeling has always been a popular hill station in the Himalayas and has an enriching history that mingles with that of Nepal and Sikkim. For years, Darjeeling was under dispute as both Nepal and Sikkim laid claims over. It was when the Britishers took over, and Darjeeling became a part of India. Presently, the hill station is one of the most visited hill stations in the country, attracting tourist footfall from all over the world, all year round.
The hill station is surrounded by massive jungles of deodar and pine trees in the valley, with few slopes cleared for tea cultivation. Darjeeling is famously accountable for some of the best tea in the world and is also counted amongst the top exporters as well. Chances are that energetic cup of tea that you’re sipping right now, has Darjeeling roots. Strolling through the green covers of tea estates and trying some leave picking with a large bamboo made basket resting on your back is a whole new experience. The Happy Valley Tea Gardens is one of the prominent picturesque estates in the region. With the mighty mountains in the backdrop, you’ll be tempted to click a moment worth remembering. You can hire a tour guide and interact with the local workers and know more about their lifestyles and the history of the estates.
Apart from the tea gardens, there are many attractions to sweep you off your feet. Some of the major attractions to see in Darjeeling are the UNESCO world heritage Himalayan Railway, Senchal Lake, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Ghoom Monastery, and Bengal Natural History Museum. For shopaholics the local markets in the hill station are also quite popular. Another fantastic thing that you should definitely experience is a journey in the toy train. This train ride meanders through enchanting Himalayan ranges and uneven tea estates.
Enough excitement also awaits for the adventurous lot with several adventure activities like parasailing, trekking and mountaineering to give a shot. Some of the other stunning places to explore in the hill station are the Aloobari Gompa, Ghoom Monastery, Japanese Peace Pagoda and Bhutia Busty Gompa.
