Darjeeling
দার্জিলিং
Darjeeling district · Darjeeling Hills
Tea, toy train and Kangchenjunga at sunrise.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: UNESCO World Heritage Site (1999)
About Darjeeling
A hill town at roughly 2,000 metres, surrounded by tea estates and known for views of Kangchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in the world. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway ("toy train") is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Darjeeling tea was the first Indian product to receive a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Highlights
- Sunrise at Tiger Hill (early start)
- Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Batasia Loop
- Tea estates (e.g. Happy Valley) and tea tastings
- Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the zoo
- The Mall and Chowrasta
Plan your trip
- Best time
- March to May and October to early December for clear views. Monsoon (June to September) brings fog and landslide risk.
- How to reach
- Nearest airport is Bagdogra (IXB) and railhead is New Jalpaiguri (NJP), about 3 to 3.5 hours by road. Shared and private jeeps run from Siliguri.
- Suggested stay
- 3 to 4 days
- Distance from Kolkata
- About 620 km by road
- Travel time
- Overnight train to New Jalpaiguri, then 3 hours by road
- Nearest railway station
- New Jalpaiguri
- Budget
- Mid-range
- Food
- Momos, thukpa and Darjeeling tea.
- Good to know
- Roads can close after heavy rain; carry warm clothes in every season.
Tip
Mornings are clearest for mountain views. Carry warm clothes even in spring. Roads can close during heavy rain.
Nearby and related destinations
- Kurseong: The quieter hill town below Darjeeling. (about 590 km from Kolkata, nearest station New Jalpaiguri)
- Tinchuley, Takdah & Lamahatta: Homestay villages among tea and pine. (about 640 km from Kolkata, nearest station New Jalpaiguri)
- Mirik: A lake, tea gardens and pine forest slopes. (about 600 km from Kolkata, nearest station New Jalpaiguri)
- Kalimpong: A quieter hill town of monasteries, orchids and nurseries. (about 630 km from Kolkata, nearest station New Jalpaiguri)
Part of these guides
- Heritage towns of West Bengal
- Hill stations and mountain trips
- Trips you can make by train
- Family trips in West Bengal
Distances and travel times are approximate road figures from central Kolkata. Check timings, permits and road conditions before you travel.