Must Do Activities in Darjeeling
Are you looking for a holiday destination in India that can give you a respite from the scorching heat of the Delhi summers? Then what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and head to Darjeeling to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. Known for its picturesque Himalayan views, Himalayan Railway and sprawling tea plantations, Darjeeling is one hill station in India that doesn't need any introduction. As clouds play hide and seek with the sun while you drive down the winding curves of the hilly roads enjoying the gorgeous mountain scenery, the journey seems to be an out of the world experience. Awe inspiring scenic beauty, lovely weather and charm of this quaint little hill station can definitely make one return here for a second holiday.
Must Do Things in Darjeeling
Take a Ride on the Famous Toy Train
Taking a wonderful ride on the Toy Train is a 'must have experience' when you are in Darjeeling. The Toy Train is known worldwide for its sheer engineering ingenuity and creativity. The train holds a UNESCO World Heritage status and runs a distance of around 80 kilometres connecting New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. The train runs at an extremely slow pace making its way through narrow passages on the curvaceous hilly tracks. As it passes through lush green tea gardens, forests of teak, sal, cherries, and pears; you will get to see panoramic views of the mountain ranges, deep valleys and small water streams. Sight of small little smiling Bhutia and Lepcha kids waving at you will make your experience even more fun.
If you do not have much time to experience the entire journey on Toy Train, you can experience a shorter ride that takes passengers from Darjeeling to Ghum, India's highest railway station. The train will loop through the 'Batasia loop' giving you a captivating view of snow capped peaks of Mt. Kanchejunga, third highest mountain peak in the world. The train stops at Ghum for around 30 minutes; apart from capturing the beautiful vistas in your eyes, you can also visit here the fascinating Ghum Monastery, a rail museum and the memorial to Gorkhas.
I am sure, the experience of this joyride will stay in your memories for long.
Trek to Sandakphu to Witness the View of Two Highest Mountain Peaks in the World
Darjeeling is a paradise for trekkers having some of the most spectacular treks in the world like trek to Sandakphu, highest peak in West Bengal from where you can get breath-taking views of the Everest and Kanchenjunga mountain ranges. It is the only summit in the world from where you can get views of four of the five highest peaks of the world: Everest, Kanchejunga, Makalu and Lhotse in one single stretch and that is the reason why many trekkers all over the world go fanatic about the Sandakphu trek. As entire region is blooming with rhododendrons, magnolias, orchids and other alpine flowers during Mid April to June first week, its the best time for the trek .
The trek starts from a place called Manebhanjang, a small village near Darjeeling where the trekkers can reach through buses, taxis or jeeps. It is recommended to get to Manebhanjang a day before in order to acclimatize yourself with the weather conditions. From Manebhanjang, trekkers will start with a steep trek to Chitre (next stop 3 Kms. from Manabhanjang). The trails will pass through forests of fir, pine and bamboo. Once you reach Chitre, you can halt to have a cup of tea, take some rest and prepare yourself for the next stretch of trek. The next big stop aftre Chitre is at Meghma which is around 6 Kms. from Chitre. Here you can freshen up yourself, have some water, tea and light meals. From Meghma, you start off for Tonglu which is at a distance of around 2 Kms. Weather after Meghma can become quite cold and chilly so its better to have your woolens handy. Tonglu is the last stop for Day 1 trekking and its the place where most of the trekkers spend their night. Do not forget to see a splendid view of the reflection of Kanchenjunga in Tonglu Lake early next morning.
Next day early morning you start with an easy paced gradual decent towards Tumling. Views of the snow fed Koshi and Teesta Rivers is just awesome from this point. From Tumling, again descending a distance of around 1 Km. you will reach the checkpost of Sangalila National Park which is famous for Himalayan animals like Red Panda and Pangolins. Covering a distance of around 6 km. from Sanagalila checkpost you reach Gairibas where you can take a halt and freshen yourself. The next 6 Kms. from Gairibas to Kalipokhri is bit tiring as its a steep ascent. Kalipokhri is also the last stop for Day 2.
Day 3 again starts early morning and you descend towards Bikheybhanjang also known as the "Valley of Poison" due to abundance of poisonous Aconite plants in the region. Further 4 Kms. from Bikheybhanjang lies your final destination, Sandakphu.
After much effort, you finally reach Sandakphu aptly known as the heaven for Trekkers. All you can see is the snow capped peaks of Everest and Kanchenjunga ranges. You heart here will be filled with a feel of an immense satisfaction of realizing your dream of witnessing four highest mountain peaks in the world. Resplendendent with the beauty of magnolias, primulas and rhododendrons, nature here is at her pristine best.
Experience a Stay in a Tea Garden Bungalow and Sip the Darjeeling Tea
When you think about Darjeeling, I am sure the first thing which comes to minds of many people is undoubtedly the widespread green carpets of the tea plantations. Darjeeling tea not only has its presence in India but has been recognized as one of the most flavorful and aromatic teas worldwide. Due to high demand of Darjeeling tea in international markets, around 80% of the total produce is exported. During your stay in Darjeeling, you must try tasting some of the finest varieties of tea ranging from Blended to Organic to Scented teas.
Darjeeling is also becoming the hub of Tea Tourism wherein you can choose to stay in old colonial style tea estate bungalows instaed of hotels. While your stay in such bungalows, you can take a walk in the sprawling tea gardens observing the workers plucking the tea leaves. You can even have a word with the workers, go around the tea factory and learn about the tea processing techniques. Staying in the tea estate bungalows is a great way of soaking yourself in serenity of nature.
Take a Trip to Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
The institute was opened by Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1954 with an aim to impart education about mountaineering and trekking to interested people. Several special courses about this adventure sport are offered here to kids, women and even differently abled people. Tourists can visit the institute and museum to see and admire the artefacts such as pictures depicting conquest of Everest (by Tenzing and Hillary), autographs and mountaineering equipment of some of the world's famous mountaineers. The place is great for kids as they get to learn about various aspects of mountaineering here.
Go for an Exhilarating White Water River Rafting at River Teesta
Not only for mountaineering and trekking, Darjeeling is also day by day getting famous for river rafting. Foaming waters of Teesta River make it perfect for white water rafting. Varying rapids of the river are excellent for both beginners and seasonal rafters. Experiencing this exhilarating adventure must be on your list while planning your trip to Darjeeling. As you snake down the turbulent waters of the river through multiple twists and curves, you will experience the shrills and thrills of the turbulent wafers. Lots of tour operators organize the rafting and camping trips for tourists but you should go with the government authorized operators. After you are done with rafting, you can spend the night in the tents on the banks of the river. A delicious dinner under the moonlit night with the sound of gushing sound of the water flowing nearby makes a perfect setting for a perfect holiday and a camping trip.
Watch the Sun Kiss the Mountains from the Tiger Hill
Tiger Hill is the highest point in Darjeeling and is located at a distance of around 11 kms. above Ghum. It is famous for its sunrise view and tourists start at around 3 AM to reach the spot. The view of sunrise from this point is magical and just cannot be described in words. Cold and chilly wind brush your face as you wait for the sun to come out of its hide out. As the morning sun starts rising from behind the mountains, its rays spread all across and soak the snow capped peaks in orangish-pinkish-golden hues and you feel the warmth of the rising sun. You can see Mt. Kanchenjunga in all its morning glory. Having said all this, the weather here plays a major role. If it is rainy or misty, avoid your trip to Tiger Hill as your chances of clear view of Kanchenjunga range during sunrise are minimal.
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