Explore the top 10 places to visit in Darjeeling, the queen of hills, which is located in West Bengal. To explore the eye-catching beauty and cultural diversity with a charming history, visit Darjeeling today and boost your mental peace and freshness.
Darjeeling is situated in West Bengal, India, in the Himalayan foothills. Darjeeling is famous due to its rich growth in tea production and its beautiful hill station for family picnics. This picturesque place is also best for couples to make their honeymoon plans. Due to its mountain’s beauty, Darjeeling is also known as the “Queen of hills.” This town was used as a summer getaway by the British elite class during their rule in India.
From Darjeeling, visitors can enjoy a beautiful view of Kanchenjunga Peak, the world’s third-largest peak and India’s first-largest peak. The town’s rich culture and diverse heritage attract tourists from all over the world who come to enjoy the natural beauty and other tourist attractions, such as a park, monasteries, cable cars, or toy trains that present a mesmerizing view of greenery on mountains. This write-up will discuss the top 10 places to visit in Darjeeling.
1. Tiger Hill:
Tiger Hill is just 11km from central Darjeeling, an attractive mountain at 8482ft in height. From this height, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the whole of Darjeeling, and this picnic spot is especially famous for enjoying the sunrise moments.
Tiger Hill also had a memorable history regarding the French-British-Nepalese War in 1814. Now Tiger hill has an attractive watch tower. You can also enjoy a caeteria experience there.
From this extreme height, the sun looks like a few steps away, and this mountain’s beauty is beyond imagination. Timing to visit this mountain is from 4 am to 6 pm, and visitors have to pay INR 50 per person as a fee.
2. Batasia Loop:
Batasia loop is an attractive garden with a spiral railway track, where the train descends from 1000ft height and takes 360 degrees round, giving tourists a chance to enjoy the panoramic view of the surrounding landscapes. The place has a tranquil atmosphere, and tourists can enjoy the most aesthetic view of Kanchenjunga Peak.
A war memorial is also built in a garden in memory of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the independence war of India. The park is decorated with seasonal flowers, and setting arrangements are settled to relax in the garden’s natural beauty.
Visiting hours for this garden are from 6 am to 5 pm, but the best time is when the sun rises as the sun rays illuminate the snow-capped peaks of Kanchenjunga and the misty valleys below. Everyone has to pay INR 20 per person as an entry fee.
3. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway:
DHR, also known as the toy train of Darjeeling, is a 2ft gauge railway that takes a tour from Darjeeling to Jalpaiguri. It was built by the British colonial government. It is considered one of the oldest and highest railway stations worldwide.
It stops at 18 various stops and takes 10-15 minutes to stay on Batasia Loop, where tourists can enjoy the beauty of this spot.
This trip is the best way to explore the beauty of various picnic spots in Darjeeling. It takes multiple daily travels, and each tour lasts 2 hours. The first trip started at 7:40 am, and the last began at 4:20 pm. Charges for diesel engines are INR 600 and INR 1000 for steam engines.
4. Darjeeling Ropeway:
It’s a cable car system in Darjeeling for adventure enthusiasts, as you can enjoy the beauty of snow-capped mountains at high altitudes. The gondola moves gradually, so photography is the best activity on this cable car.
It was the first cable car system, introduced to get access to height tea estates, and now it has become a great tourist attraction. You can enjoy tea gardens in lush green valleys and a view of the beautiful Himalayan range. You can also enjoy village culture and the beauty of natural life.
The first ride started at 10 am and continued till 4 pm. Each gondola can proceed with 6 passengers. Charges for adults are INR 200 and 100 for children under 8 years.
5. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park:
The spot is also known as Darjeeling Zoo and is an excellent place for animal lovers. This is the first Indian zoo at this high altitude and is known for seeing endangered species and several unique varieties of animals, such as red pandas, Tibetan Wolves, and Snow Leopards.
Padmaja Naidu was the name of a freedom fighter’s (named Sarojini Naidu) daughter’s name. You will find a museum and library in this zoo. You will also enjoy a souvenir shop experience there. The actual area that is covered by this zoo is 67 acres.
Visiting timing is 8:30 am to 4 pm every week except Thursday, as the zoo remains closed. Tourists must pay INR 110 as Indians and 180 as foreigners; children below 6 years are allowed to enter for free.
6. Peace Pagoda:
It’s a Japanese peace Pagoda built to show unity and harmony between people of different races and religions. The place is a famous Buddhist temple and Monastery, and its spectacular architecture attracts tourists globally.
Japan’s Buddhist monk Nichidatsu Fujii built eighty Peace Pagodas worldwide. Darjeeling Peace Pagoda is one out of these 80. it is considered a harmony symbol. You can also enjoy mindfulness practices by visiting the meditation hall in this peaceful Pagoda.
You can enjoy a mesmerizing view of Darjeeling from this point, and the peaceful atmosphere with serene beauty is worth visiting. The building opens from 4 am to 7 pm and has no entry charges.
7. Ghoom Monastery:
Also known as Yiga Choeling, it is an old Buddhist Monastery nestled at 8000ft elevation. The main reason for its popularity is a 15ft high statue of Maitreya, a Buddha brought from Tibet. This Monastery is an ideal place to experience Buddhist manuscripts and images of Buddha deities.
It was built in 1850 by a Mongolian mon named Sokpo Sherab Gyatso. He was also known as an austrologer. You can enjoy multiple festivals on this Monastry throuought the year. Buddha Jayanti, Mani Rimdu, and Losar are famous events or festivals.
Paintings related to Buddhist history are elaborated on Monastery walls. From this Monastery, visitors can enjoy a beautiful view of Kanchenjunga Peak. You can visit this place from 9 am to 6 pm without any entrance charges.
8. Rock Garden:
Barbotey Rock Garden is excellent and ideal for nature lovers. As this garden is terraced with Chuunu waterfall and surrounded by a hill stream, the slope is covered with many seasonal flowers. This garden has a fascinating environment, and you can enjoy a peaceful and relaxing time with natural beauty.
It was developed in 1980. Enjoy beautiful scenic views of attractive bridges, sculptures, and fountains. Along with gardens and lalakes, fishing is an everyday activity. You can also enjoy a boating experience.
A rock garden can be visited from 10 am to 4 pm, and tourists must pay INR10 per Indian and INR50 per foreigner per person.
9. Nightingale Park:
Shrubbery Nightingale Park is a famous public place in Darjeeling. This park is decorated with lush greenery. Pebbled walkways with green surroundings are ideal for enjoying a tranquil atmosphere and walking through them; you will be mesmerized.
Shaded sitting arrangements are settled in the park with shutters of different colours. The lamps of multiple coloured lights illuminating the evening and presenting a picturesque view of the park are also installed.
One side of the park has tall pine trees, while from the other side, the beautiful view of the Himalayan hills can enjoyed. Nepali cultural shows are arranged regularly in the evening during the hot tourist season. In short, this park can provide you with a mind-blowing and refreshing experience.
Timings are 8 am to 8 pm with INR 20 charges per person.
10. Happy Valley Tea Estate:
Darjeeling is famous worldwide for producing fine-quality tea. The Happy Valley Tea Estate is the second oldest tea estate in Darjeeling. It has satisfactory growth of tea shrubs and green tea gardens with an incredible view of Himalayan foothills and open sky.
It is an ideal place to capture a memorable picture. The delightful aroma of tea gardens will hold you for some more moments, and it’s difficult to leave after spending some time in the lap of nature.
The second oldest Tea Estate in Darjeeling is open from 9:30 am until 4:30 pm. There are no entry charges, but to take a guided tour, you must pay INR50 per person as an Indian and INR 75 as a foreigner.
FAQs
Which spot is Darjeeling famous for?
There are multiple famous spots in Darjeeling, and one can enjoy attractions per one’s desires and needs. However, some of the top areas Darjeeling is famous for are Tiger Hill, Batasia Loop, and Himalayan Zoological Park. Enjoy a beautiful sunrise view, lush green valleys, mountains, and rare wild species.
What is remarkable in Darjeeling?
Tea gardens are unique in Darjeeling. These tree gardens are some of the best and highest-quality tea-producing parks worldwide. Its natural beauty and scenic views attract millions of people worldwide.
What are the 3 points in Darjeeling?
One of the top 3 points in Darjeeling is its rock garden, the second one is peace pagoda built by Japanese monks, and the third one is Observatory Hill. Three points and mixed points are also points of attraction in Darjeeling.
Which is the best time to visit Darjeeling?
It depends upon your preferences. If you like cold weather, visit Darjeeling between October and December; otherwise, if you want relatively pleasant weather that is not too cold or hot, visit Darjeeling between April and June.
How many days is enough for Darjeeling?
It depends on a tourist’s preferences, like available time, budget, and interests. But generally, to explore all the major attractions of the hill, a traveller should have a 4 to 5-day tour.
What is Darjeeling famous for?
Darjeeling is famous for its tea. We can also say Darjeeling and tea are synonyms. Although multiple sources are producing tea worldwide, no one can beat the tea made by conventional orthodox means, as Darjeeling is also doing.
Final Analysis
This is all about the top 10 places to visit in Darjeeling. Darjeeling is an excellent hill station for picnics, with many tourist attractions. Its natural beauty annually attracts tourists worldwide, and the steep ways to reach tourist attractions are thrilling activities for adventure seekers. Booking is safer to avoid the queues for cable car or toy train booking. Apart from touring places, Darjeeling is also famous for buying handmade souvenirs. Pack all necessary travel items and prepare to explore the beauty of the Queen of Hills.
