Places to Visit in Darjeeling

When you talk about Darjeeling the first thing that comes to mind is a quaint colonial town nestled within the mighty Himalayan ranges, where on clear days the Kangchenjunga mountain says ‘Peek-a-boo.’ Footlooseinme will take you to this popular, famous, nostalgic, colonial and once the summer capital called Darjeeling. Many people have a special place for Darjeeling in their hearts and now this popular crowded place is more than just a hill station it is their emotion. So let’s explore the places to visit in Darjeeling.

Once the summer retreat of the British East India Company, Darjeeling has now made its presence known to the world for its tea and tourism. The region’s soil quality, topography and climate make the tea special. Once you take the road to Darjeeling you are greeted by the lush green tea gardens on either side of the winding road where the cute toy trains accompany you with occasional whistles. On clear days, Mount Kangchenjunga appears at the backdrop to allure you to the queen of the hills Darjeeling. Very few people can resist this temptation and rush to their favoured hill station again and again, making it even more popular.

Now let’s check the Places to visit in Darjeeling:

• Tiger Hill: The most popular spot among the places to visit in Darjeeling to watch the Sunrise is Tiger Hill. It is located at a distance of 11 km from the town. A semicircular platform or a viewpoint made on the hill provides a panoramic view of the peaks of Mount Kangchenjunga and Mount Everest. The first rays of the Sun hit the snow-clad mountain ranges turning them golden. Thousands of visitors fight for the perfect spot to capture this spectacular sight in all seasons (even in the winters braving the severe chilling winds.)

• Batasia Loop: Batasia Loop is one of the iconic locations among the places to visit in Darjeeling. This place is a ‘spiral railway’ built to minimise the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway’s elevation. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is popularly known as the Toy train. ‘Spiral railway’ is a technique used by the railways to ascend steep hills. Batasia Loop overlooks the Kangchenjunga while the landscape is beautifully decorated with the eco garden. The war memorial, dedicated to the Gorkha soldiers who laid their lives in war after the Indian independence adorns the central part of the loop.

• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (the DHR) or the toy train is a historic and iconic part of Darjeeling just like the tea. Make sure to check this among the places to visit in Darjeeling. Diesel engines handle most of the locomotives of DHR. A couple of steam engines still operate to keep the old-world charm alive.

• Rock Garden: This is another popular tourist destination among the places to visit in Darjeeling. A beautiful landscape garden surrounds the natural waterfall known as Chunnu Summer Falls.

• Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park: Better known as Darjeeling Zoo, this zoological park is home to many exotic species of birds and mammals. The zoo is also an off-display breeding centre for many species like snow leopards, captive breeding of Red Pandas and other species. This zoo equally attracts children to the elderly and is one of the important tourist spots among the places to visit in Darjeeling.

• Bengal Natural History Museum: The museum is located within the precincts of Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park. This museum exhibits fossils, artefacts and specimens of numerous birds and snakes.

• Himalayan Mountaineering Institute: The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is also known as the Everest Museum. This institute was established to encourage mountaineering as an organised sport in India. Tenzing Norgay was the first Director of Field Training at the institute when it was established in 1954.

• Chowrasta: The Chowrasta or the Mall is the heart of Darjeeling and the list of places to visit in Darjeeling is incomplete without it. It is the hub of the town where roads converge. Old and colonial buildings are seen around here. Walk down the street to indulge in a shopping spree with various shops on either side of the road. Walk down the narrow lane to visit the Step Aside Museum where freedom fighter Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das breathed his last breath. Don’t forget to treat yourself to the delicacies of Darjeeling’s iconic restaurants, namely – Keventers and Glenary’s.

• Dali Monastery: The magnificent Dali Monastery is also known as the Druk Sangag Choling Monastery. It belongs to the Kagyupa Order of Tibetan Buddhism. This is the largest monastery in the area. (Check out my previous posts on Hemis Monastery in Ladakh.)

• Ghoom: Ghoom or the Ghum is the must-see destination among the places to visit in Darjeeling. This railway station is the highest point of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway at an altitude of 7047 ft.

• Darjeeling Peace Pagoda: Darjeeling Peace Pagoda is a comparatively new addition to the list of places to visit in Darjeeling. The pagoda and the Japanese temple house the four avatars of Buddha including Maitreya Buddha.

• Tea Gardens: Don’t forget to visit the lush tea gardens here. They produce the famous and finest Darjeeling tea. 

There are many other places to visit in Darjeeling. I tried to cover the most important places within the city precincts that can be covered within a day.