An enchanting beauty

Whenever there arises a discussion about the most beautiful destinations in the world, Darjeeling is surely that one small place that is always mentioned. Some must have heard about the charm of Darjeeling but it must be noted that hearing about it thousand times is still not equivalent to visiting it atleast once. Darjeeling is located in the North Bengal region just like a crown that she wears is the 'Queen of the Hills'.

The beautiful town of Darjeeling lies on the lower Himalayas range which is also known as the Mahabharata Range. The town lies at an altitude of 6700 ft which makes it a perfect destination for the summers and also a great place to spend the chilling winters. The unending tea gardens along the slopes, Kanchenjunga on the background and its variety of cultures makes it a destination you cannot miss at all.

The history of Darjeeling

The history of Darjeeling dates back to the early part of the 19th century. The town of Darjeeling was under the King of Sikkim which was later annexed by Nepal after they defeated and limited Sikkim till the Teesta. Another change in the history of Darjeeling happened during the year 1814 when the Anglo Nepal war broke out in the year 1814. The strong forces of the British finally captured the area of Darjeeling which was a part of Nepal under the Treaty of Sugauli, in 1815. It was during the year 1840 that British finally came to Darjeeling to set it up as a sanatorium, due to its positioning which would allow them a control over the inflow of Nepal as well as Bhutanese armies. Since then, Darjeeling became the outpost of the British and also a summer capital of the British.

Religion and ethnicity of Darjeeling

The variety of cultures and tribes in Darjeeling is a result of the turmoil in the neighboring areas and the flow of inhabitants from the nearby areas. The original inhabitants here were supposed to be the Lepchas, who were later joined by the Bhutias from the Tibet areas. The major population of Darjeeling now is made up of the Gorkhas, who were installed here by the British to help them in their work of transforming it as a sanatorium and a Himalayan check post. Besides the Bengalis, Biharis, Chinese, Marwaris, and the Tibetan refugees constitute the diverse culture of Darjeeling.

Languages are spoken and the traditional attire

The Gorkhas make up the majority of the population of Darjeeling yet the population actually consists of different ethnic groups and hence people here speak more than just Nepali. The presence of a variety of tribes now has led to the use of Hindi, Bengali and English among the inhabitants today besides the Tibetan refugees as well as the Tibetan tribes that originated in Tibet still speak Tibetan.

The most popular attractions in Darjeeling

Darjeeling is a heaven on earth which never fails to attract the visitors to Darjeeling and its beauty is a spell that wants you to come back to Darjeeling time and time again. The list of things to do in Darjeeling is never ending yet let us look at a few attractions that you can experience on your next visit to Darjeeling:

Tiger Hill

You cannot afford to miss the dawn light break over a spectacular stretch of the Himalayan range, including Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu. The beauty of the sunrise is beyond words yet you also need to rise early and take a jeep out to Tiger Hill at around 3:30 A.M in the early hours, which makes it a little more interesting.

Ride the Toy Train

Awarded with the status of a UNESCO World Heritage, the fancy steam engine ride covers the steep mountains and the impossible curves as it passes along the beautiful landscapes of the Darjeeling hill. The path of the train is sometimes damaged during the monsoon so you could plan your magical ride of the toy train accordingly.

Batasia Loop

While you are on a toy train from Darjeeling or are heading back sleepy from the sleep depriving Sunrise visit at the Tiger Hill, look out for this famous railway loop that circles upwards and opens up to a beautiful hill which is one of the best viewpoints in Darjeeling. The park is also a Gorkha War Memorial in honor of the soldiers who have given up their life for a greater cause.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute

It is a prestigious mountaineering institute which was founded in 1954 and within the Institute is a fascinating Mountaineering Museum which houses details of some Everest expeditions, which set off from Darjeeling. There is also a Carl Zeiss telescope which was presented by Adolf Hitler to the head of the Nepali Army. The HMI also runs 28-day basic and advanced mountaineering courses from March to May and September to December.

Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre

Established in 1959, this Tibetan refugee center is a home and also a workshop which produces artistic carpets, woodcarvings, arts and woolen items by the residents of the Self Help Center. Visitors could come here to buy some Tibetan artifacts along with some photographic exhibition of the Tibetan history. It is an attempt to uphold the Tibetan culture that could soon be lost forever.

Singalila National Park

Darjeeling has become a major trekker's paradise due to its popular trekking site from Sandakphu to Phalut passes through the amazingly beautiful Singalila National Park which offers fantastic views of the eastern Himalaya along with some unique flora and fauna that are evident here. It is also a great destination for nature and some bird's photography, due to its huge variety of local as well as migratory birds that are seen here.

How to reach Darjeeling?

Nearest Airport : The Bagdogra Airport is the nearest airport which is well connected with major airport across India. After you reach the airport, you shall have to take the road journey till Darjeeling which is about 67 km from the airport.

Nearest Railway station : The NJP railway station is the nearest railway station which is well connected to almost every major railway stations across India. After you reach here, the road journey till Darjeeling should take you around 2 and half hours.