Darjeeling
Darjeeling is a city in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal.
Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of 2,045 metres (6,709 ft). To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal, to the east the Kingdom of Bhutan, to the north the Indian state of Sikkim, and farther north the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Bangladesh lies to the south and southeast, and most of the state of West Bengal lies to the south and southwest, connected to the Darjeeling region by a narrow tract. Kangchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, rises to the north and is prominently visible on clear days.
Getting to Darjeeling
The nearest international airport is Bagdogra (IXB IATA) in Siliguri, 96 km from Darjeeling town. There are flights from Bangkok, Paro and to most major cities in India. Siliguri is the nearest city on the mainline rail network. Ample transport is available to Darjeeling from here, a 3-hour drive on a well-maintained, hilly paved road.
- 01Darjeeling
- 02Ghum
Fondly known as the "Toy Train", the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is the first, and still the most outstanding, example of a hill passenger railway.
Worth seeing
- 01Bose Institute
- 02Happy Valley Tea Estate
Pamphawati Gurungni Rd (walk north along Hill Cart Rd for 2 km, then walk down the hill at the sign),.
- 03Observatory Hill
This hill is also known as the “Makal-Babu-Ko-Thaan” in the local area.
- 04Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre
A rehabilitation centre for the Tibetan refugees in Darjeeling, established on 2 October 1959, following the Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet.
- 05Tiger Hill
Ideal to visit early morning when the first rays of the sun kiss the Kangchenjunga mountain and give it a golden colour.
- 06Lloyd's Botanical Garden
The greenhouse has quite a nice collection of flowers.
Things to do
Darjeeling is one of the oldest hill stations in India, and has plenty of options, both for those seeking a lazy getaway from the hot plains, as well as nature enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies. Apart from sights within the town, there are plenty of trek options along the Himalayan ridges on the India-Nepal border near Darjeeling. The most popular one is the Singalila Ridge Trail.
- 01Darjeeling Ropeway
A 5 km (3.1 mi) long ropeway (aerial lift) consisting of 16 cars and plies between the North Point and Singla, on the banks of the Ramman River.
Where to eat
Several eateries that dish out North Indian, Nepali, Tibetan, and continental fare dot the area around the Mall. "Momos", steamed Tibetan delicacies, are a staple food offered by almost every eating joint. Everything closes pretty early in the night (The town goes to sleep before 9PM; plan to be at your restaurant no later than 7PM).
- 01Glenary's Bakery and Cafe
It was known as "Plivas" during the British tim.
- 02Keventers
This place with its awesome western delicacies and cool view was featured in a number of movies and books.
- 03Kunga's
An excellent Tibetan place, situated just above the clocktower.
- 04Revolver
Getting around Darjeeling the local way
- Get inThe road however is rough and not paved, so trekking is the better option.
- Get inYou can also opt for package tours conducted by India Beacons Sojourn can customize your stay and arrange for transport.
- Get inIf you plan to trek to Rishop from Lava, the driver will take care of parking it at Lava, which you can avail on return.
- Get inYou should trek the way from Lava and back, as the path is just 4 km amidst mountain forests.
From Wikivoyage: Rishop, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2025-11.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Subhrajyoti07 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.
