Darjeeling ( Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council) in northeast India provides the perfect ambiance of a hill resort with its mild climate and laid back charm (Its verdant hills and valleys mare steeped in color, and are interspersed with vast stretches of lush green tea gardens. President over all these is the 8,856m Mt. Kanchenjunga looming over the northern horizon, giving a magical aura to the land that entices thousand to its environs and leaves all the senses intoxicated.

Darjeeling is hemmed in by Sikkim in the north, Nepal in the west and Bhutan in the east. Darjeeling town, Kalimpong and Kurseong are the major urban centres. Heavy influenced by British India , Darjeeling still carries imprints reminiscent of its colonial past. The toy is on of the most striking examples of Darjeeling 's British Raj influence.

ACCESS

By Flight : Darjeeling town is 90 km from Bagdogra , the nearest Indian airport, where scheduled flights operate from New Delhi , Calcutta and Guwahati. You can also fly from Kathmandu and take the one-hour flight to Bhadrapur (the nearest Nepalese airport to Darjeeling ). From Bhadrapur a 34 km drive will take you to Kakarbhitta ( Nepal - India border, ) and then after covering 36 km you will reach Siliguri, the gateway city to the tourist destinations of Darjeeling , Sikkim and Bhutan . 

By Road : From Siliguri buses and taxis leave for Darjeeling ( 2 hours 30 minutes) which is at a distance of 77 km. Darjeeling is also connected by road with Sikkim (120 km) and Bhutan (about 200 km). 

By Rail : The nearest railheads are Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri (88 km) which are connected to Calcutta, New Delhi, Guwahati and other major Indian cities. From Siliguri you can take the famous toy train (8 hours) to Darjeeling .

  BEST SEASON TO VISIT

march-may and September November are the best times to visit. Bring light woolen clothing during summer (maximum temperature 16 degrees Celsius) and heavy woolens in winter (minimum 1.6 degrees)

ADVENTURE SPORTS

Trekking, white water rafting, Kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking and rock climbing.

ACCOMMODATION

There are modern hotels and restaurants in Darjeeling and Kalimpong, and comfortable lodges in Kurseong and Mirik

TRANSPORT

Buses. Private Vehicles are also available on hire.Darjeeling is a hill top town overlooking hills and valleys below.

PERMITS

Foreigners visiting Darjeeling must possess and Indian visa. No permit is required for those coming to Darjeeling by air through Bagdogra airport, and proposing to stay in Darjeeling town for not more than 15 days. However, they need to repot to the Foreigners Registration Office at Bagdogra airport on arrival and at the time of departure and get their passports endorsed.
Those travelling by rail or road are required to obtain Restricted Area Permit before entering Darjeeling . To visit Kalimpong, this permit has to be endorsed at the Foreigners Registration Office in Darjeeling or, alternatively, at the office which issued it.
No permits is required for trekking trip to Sandakphu and Phalut provided trekkers inform the Foreigners Registration Office in Darjeeling at least 24 hours in advance and also report on arrival at Sandakphu and Phalut checkposts.

Queen of the Himalayas - "where the pines needle the sky". Bounded on the north by Sikkim , it is flanked by Bhutan on the east and Nepal on the west. Darjeeling means- (Dorji- thunderbolt, ling- place). Darjeeling before belonged to Rajah of Sikkim which was lost to the Nepalese. But the British helped the king to get back and the rajah under obligation gifted Darjeeling to the East India Co. in 1835. The town is at an altitude of 2134mtrs. Nestling in grandeur and beauty of towering snowcapped mountains, dominating the sombre, snowy sentinels, lies a jewel of town, elegant sophisticated and incredibly beautiful.Famous for its tea, rich in flora & fauna, the surrounding countryside is a paradise for nature lovers with over 4000 species of flowers 600 varieties of birds and many animals and reptiles.

A base for trekkers, Darjeeling has perhaps the most to offers to the visitors with its cool charm, lovely scenery, a wide range of activities and truly unique atmosphere.
The Toy Train is one of the attraction while visiting Darjeeling . Puffing along a two foot gauge track, the train passes through a region, dense jungle with solid walls of vegetation hem in the track as the train begins its climb to its destination. Crossing the tea plantation clinging to the steep mountain and forming narrow terraces looking like giant steps, looking like a caterpillar, the train continues winding along the twisted paths and crawling alongside, almost hugging the side of the hill.
Tea & Darjeeling are synonymous. Darjeeling Tea is world renowned for its flavor which is unequalled by other tea producing area not only of India but also the world. Today still you can witness the Orthodox manufacture of the tea which was used century ago.

Best season: Mid February - Late May and October - December.

Clothing: Summer: Light woolen Winter : Heavy woolen.

Climate: Summer: Max- 17degreeC. Min - 09 degree C. Winter : Max- 06 degreeC. Min- 1.5 degree C.

Area: 1,114 sq.km.

Places of Interest in Darjeeling :

Rock Garden : Situated 10 Kms from the town of darjeeling it is a very attractive spot with natural water falls.

Tiger Hill : Drive early in the morning to Tiger Hill to see the sunrise over the Mt. Khanchendzonga .

Ghoom Monastery : It belongs to the Gelupa sect and was built in 1857. The monastery houses the largest statue of the Maitreya Buddha or the " coming Buddha ".

The Himalaya Institute of Mountaineering - Situated on Jawahar Parbat about 2 kms from Chowrasta the premier training centre, established in the wake of the conquest of Everest. The Everest Museum is interesting for its collection of mountaineering equipments.

The Himalayan Zoo - for Himalayan Fauna, there is no better place. It houses the Siberian tigers, Red panda, Himalayan Black bear, Snow Leopards, Deer, Yaks and birds in their natural habitat.

Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre - This was established in 1959 to help in the rehabilitation of Tibetan refugees. It is a major centre for the production of excellent Tibetan crafts like carpet, woodwork, leather work etc. In the evening you can go around the market places.

Happy Valley Tea Estate : 3 Kms from the town , one can see the processing of the world famous Darjeeling Tea .

Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway : 3 Kms from the town it is the first Passenger Ropeway in India .

Lebong Race Course : About 8 Kms from the town it is the smallest race course in the world . The complete lap is only 480 yds long and was laid down as a parade groung in 1885.

What to do ? Buy some famous Darjeeling tea to ship home, and visit a tea estate / Ride on the Toy Train, a narrow gauge steam locomotive / Visit the snow leopard breeding centre / Have a cup of tea at the Windamere Hotel / Visit one or more of several monasteries / Get lost in the tiny streets of Chowk Bazaar market / Visit the Botanical garden / Take a ride on the ropeway (cable car) / Sign up for a course in meditation / Volunteer at the Tibetan Refugee's Self-Help Centre / Find one of the few bars in town and drink a super strong "Hit" beer smuggled in from Sikkim / Visit the zoo and snow leopard breeding centre and the nearby Himalayan Mountain Institute (all are closed Thursdays) / Look at the telescope Adolf Hitler once owned! / If staying longer, sign up for a four or five day trek to the mountains along the Nepal border or stay for a couple of days in the other nearby towns. 

What you may not like ? Frequent electricity cuts / Almost zero visibility when the clouds sit on top of the town, especially during June to the end of August / Most activity ends by nine o' clock at night - this is not a town for nightlife.

When to visit ? To escape the cold weather and for good visibility the best months are April to May, and September to October. The early morning views of the Himalayas , especially Kachenjunga at 8585 meters, are world famous. From Darjeeling , a 120 degree view of snow peaked mountains can be had. Even Everest is visible.

Background ? When the British brought in laborers from Nepal to work on the tea plantations they had established in the hills around the newly-built town of Darjeeling in the mid 1800's, they probably had no idea that over 140 years later the descendents of these workers would have achieved a limited form of self autonomy within the West Bengal government. Today, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council runs the day-to-day affairs of a region that exceeds 1,200 square miles in size. In this area, the dominant language is Nepali, and the people are mainly Gurungs, Tamangs, Rais and Magars, all Nepalese castes of Mongolian descent. Collectively they are known as Gorkhas