Darjeeling, the Queen of Hills, is appreciated for its beautiful surroundings and pleasant atmosphere among tourists. Enveloped with lofty mountain peaks and pristine greeneries, Darjeeling offers something special for every tourist, be it a nature lover, adventurer, or leisure traveler. The hilly slopes, blanketed with green tea lawns, and the captivating Kanchenjungha will awe-inspire you.
Apart from this, several historical monuments, exquisite local shops, the traditional aroma of the world-famous Darjeeling tea & local dishes, and the heritage of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway make it the most significant and planned hill station in the country. Situated at the height of 2134 meters, Darjeeling also houses the highest railway station Ghoom and some exclusive wildlife species. The then summer capital of British India, this scenic hill station has lots of history and culture behind it.
Sightseeing Places in Darjeeling
Tiger Hills
Situated at an altitude of 2590 meters, Tiger Hill offers a lovely view of the valley and a vast stretch of the Himalayas. But most people love to visit this place to witness the magical sunrise through the snow-covered mountain peaks. The mesmerizing color-play of the rising sun rays gives heavenly pleasure and great vibes under the Himalayas to the beholder.
Rock Garden
The Rock Garden is one of the acclaimed tourist destinations in Darjeeling. The beautiful park constructed by The Gorkha Hill Council Tourism Department. The intricate way of creating the garden by cutting rocks astonishes the viewer. The flawless crystal-clear waterfall makes the environment more enticing. It is situated at a distance of 10 km from the main town and takes nearly half an hour to reach by car.
Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park
The Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park is the only specialized Zoo in India, having a breeding center of Snow Leopards, Red Panda, Tibetan Wolf, and other highly endangered animals. The park is situated at the centre of the town, also called the Darjeeling zoo. You can explore a large aviary of gorgeous Himalayan birds with an Insect Park and many chosen Eastern Himalayan species.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI)
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), the first mountaineering institute in India, is another must-visit place in Darjeeling. The institute was set up to introduce mountaineering as an adventure sport in 1953. A visit to the institute provides you with vast knowledge about mountaineering and the Himalayan topography.
Batasia Loop
Batasia Loop, the twisted railway track of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, is famous for its picturesque views. The place also offers a historical Gorkha War Memorial at the center of the gigantic loop of railway tracks. The War Memorial offer homage to the soldiers who contributed their lives to the country. The twist was initially made to ascend the gradient of the Toy Train track, but gradually became an attractive tourist destination.
Ghoom Station
Ghoom, the 14th highest-altitude railway station in the world, is situated in Darjeeling. This place offers a scope to encounter the century-old heritage of The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway(DHR). You can see the Baby Sivok, the oldest DHR loco in the Ghoom station. The Railway Museum provides several iconic items, artifacts, and rare pictures of the DHR. Many people enjoy a short joyride of the Toy Train from Darjeeling to Ghoom.
Japanese Peace Pagoda
The Darjeeling Peace Pagoda, or Japanese Peace Pagoda in Darjeeling, was built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii, a Buddhist monk from Japan in 1972. It is a beautifully constructed white Buddhist monument that promotes harmony among different races of people and world peace. If you are a lover of Buddhist culture, it is the best place for you. The prayer hall inside the pagoda is dedicated to magnificent statues of Buddha.
Singalila National Park
Ranging between 8000-12000 feet, the Singalila National park houses several endangered animals, included the famous red panda, barking deer, Himalayan black bear, yellow-throated marten, clouded leopard, Himalayan serow, pangolin, and many more. It is a part of the popular Sandakphu trekking and a favorite destination for adventure lovers and wildlife photographers.
Gangamaya Park
THE HIDDEN GEM OF DARJEELING. GANGAMAYA PARK the most beloved place of the tourist .But not many tourist know about this place. GANGAMAYA PARK was first exposed on 1999, 3rd of November. Till 2009 it was running very smoothly but after the getting encountered by the cyclone aila at 2009, the beautiful gangamaya park was devastated. But again now the beauty of gangamaya park has returned along with boating facilities, natural water stream and natural waterfalls. It's area covers about 4-5km in expand. During peak season time cultural dance is also performed. There are also many restaurants with fast food food items like momo, chowmein, thukpas etc. It is located at Borbatia Busty Darjeeling, 2km down from Rock Garden.
