Darjeeling - The Queen Of The Himalayas

By Author: Deepa G
Total Articles: 29
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The mention of Darjeeling often conjures images of imposing snow-peak mountains, lofty hills carpeted with tea gardens and of course the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Located in the Indian state of West-Bengal, it is flanked by Bhutan on the East and Nepal on the West and stands on a narrow ridge enclosed by mountains. Darjeeling’s temperate climate is one of the other reasons which attracts tourists. Summer months of April through June are the best time to visit, when the climate is balmy and pleasant with a maximum temperature of 25°C. You can get to Darjeeling by Air, Road, or Train. The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport and the nearest Train station is the New Jalpaiguri Station (NJP). Most people fly into Bagdogra from Delhi or Kolkata.

Darjeeling is world famous for its tea production. It was an early attempt by the British to grow the Chinese tea, in the Assam region. The hybrid of Chinese and Assam tea plants became what is now known as Darjeeling tea. Darjeeling produces seven percent of India's tea output, and continues to manufacture tea using the original or 'Orthodox' tea manufacture. Darjeeling ...
... is also home to the world's first tea factory - Makaibari, established in 1859. For a great tea experience head to the Glenburn Tea Estate and Boutique hotel, located 3 hours from the Bagdogra Airport.

One of the other experiences that you should not miss is the ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, lovingly nicknamed as the ‘toy train’. Built between 1879 and 1881, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. The train climbs an elevation, from about 100m at Siliguri, to about 2,200m at Darjeeling. The journey through five zig-zags (switchbacks) and four full loops is a unique experience. The train passes through views of blue mountain ranges, passes through verdant tea gardens and thick forest of teak and sal.

If you want to do some sightseeing, you must visit Tiger Hill, located about 12km from Darjeeling. Tiger Hill is essentially only a summit, but what is spectacular about it is the view of a stunning sunrise and the view of the twin peaks of Kanchenjunga. The approach to Tiger Hills is also as beautiful. You may also want to visit the Ghum railway station of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway which is the highest rail-station in India and is situated at an altitude of 2,225m. Another must-do place is the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute which was established in 1954. The institute houses a museum with a collection of equipment and clothes belonging to famous mountaineers, cultural belongings of the hill-folk and a powerful telescope from which one can view the beautiful Kanchenjunga Range. Also housed in the premises of the institute is the Himalayan Zoo known for exotic animals of the Himalayan region.

Holiday packages to Darjeeling are often combined with nearby places like Mirik, Kurseong or destinations in the neighbouring state of Sikkim like Gangtok and Pelling and Lachung. For a comprehensive list of tour packages for this circuit, log on to www.polama.com and search for ‘Darjeeling’. You can compare holiday packages to search for your preferred style of holiday – from exclusively Darjeeling to the more extensive Northeast India Holidays. You can know more at www.polama.com

About Author :

During a chance holiday to Kumta, Deepa realised that nothing excited her more than a career in research of unexplored destinations. Her special interest is in leveraging the power of the internet to give greater value to holiday goers, such as the ability to easily compare tour packages. You can know more about tour packages at her site www.polama.com.