Darjeeling India Travel Guide and Travel Information

The Rock Garden and Gangamaya Park offers attractive picnic spots with natural waterfalls and boating facilities and is about 10-12 kilometers from the main Darjeeling town. There is a lake at the Gangamaya Park which is open for boating purposes.

Note: It can be difficult to arrange for transportation back to Darjeeling from the park so visitors are advised to organize transportation both ways.

The Japanese Peace Pagoda is situated on the slopes of the Jalpahar Hill and can be reached by taxi. It was established by the Nipponzan Myohoji (a Japanese Buddhist sect) and is home to the four different avatars (incarnations) of Buddha.

Beside the pagoda is the Nipponzan Myohoji Temple, a traditional Japanese Buddhist temple which allows the visitor to experience its tranquil settings. Visitors are allowed to take photos inside the Temple.

Map of Japanese Peace Pagoda

Japanese Peace Pagoda

Senchal (or Sinchal) Lake is one of the most favorite spots for picnics in Darjeeling. It is about 3 kilometers from Ghoom and can easily be reached via local taxi.

The lakes are water reservoirs that supply water to the entire town of Darjeeling.

Map of Senchal Lakes

Senchal Lakes

Lord Carmichael, a botanist and entomologist was instrumental in setting up of the Natural History Museum in 1915. It has an impressive collection of fauna and insects of Darjeeling and the surrounding areas. Worth seeing are the extensive beetle and butterfly collection. Most of the exhibits in the museum are displayed in poses of everyday life like feeding, hunting and playing.

The museum is about 5 to 10 minutes walk from Chowrasta or the Mall and is located directly below the Gorkha Ranga Manch. Entrance is free for students and a nominal fee is charged for photography.

Map of Natural History Museum

Natural History Museum

The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park also known as Darjeeling Zoo was established in 1958 for research and conservation of Himalayan fauna.

Located below the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute or HMI on the slopes of Jawahar Parbhat, the Darjeeling Zoo is one of the most highly regarded in India as it is a sanctuary to rare wildlife. Expect to see the Siberian tigers (the only ones in India), red pandas, Himalayan black bears and the Tibetan wolves. This zoo also houses a Snow Leopard Breeding Centre.

Snow Leopard Trust reports that 3 snow leopard cubs were born on April 18, 2009 to Neeta (mom) and Karan (male) in Darjeeling Zoo.

Map of Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute or HMI is atop Birch Hill (Jawahar Parbat) and was founded in 1954 by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The legendary Tenzing Norgay Sherpa (the first man to successfully climb Mt. Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary) was the first Director of Field Training at HMI. His grave is located here making the HMI a place of pilgrimage for all climbing and mountaineering enthusiasts.

HMI has a mountaineering museum with a collection of historic mountaineering equipment, Himalayan flora and fauna plus a model of the Himalayan range. The institute is also a reputed school for mountaineers and has a hostel to house its students.

The entry to HMI is via Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and is easily accessible by foot. The opening hours are 9 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm.

Contact For Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI)

Mailing Address
Principal
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
Darjeeling-734101(WB), INDIA
Tel: +91 354 2254083 / 2254087 / 2270158
Fax: +91 354 53760 / 54330
Emails: hmi_slg@sancharnet.in, hmi_darj@rediffmail.com and joedhillon@rediffmail.com
Website: http://www.himalayanmountaineeringinstitute.com/

Observatory Hill is a hill near Chowrasta square,or The Mall as it is popularly known. It is well worth walking uphill to experience gorgeous views from the summit. On a clear day, you can see the hills of Sikkim and the Himalayan mountain range with Mt. Kanchenjunga towering above others.

The Mahakal Temple is atop the Observatory Hill where the Dorejeeling Buddhist monastery once stood. This is a place for worship of all faiths and you will witness prayers being chanted by Hindu priests as well as Buddhist monks. Beside the temple is a white Tibetan chorten (or stupa) which contains the belongings of Dorje Lama who was the caretaker of the temple in the late 1800s. The temple complex also houses shrines of many Hindu Gods like Ganesh, Durga, Hanuman, Kali, Saraswati and Shiva.

The Windamere Hotel is en route to the Observatory Hill and is a classic example of the British colonial era architecture which dates back to the mid-19th century when it used to serve as a boarding house for English and Scottish tea planters. In 1939, it was converted into a hotel. Stop and have tea here soaking up the magnificent views and the culturally rich ambience.

Map of Observatory Hill and Mahakal Temple

Observatory Hill and Mahakal Temple

Darjeeling is famously known as the “Queen of the Hills” and is one of the most beautiful hill stations of India. The cool climate of Darjeeling provides a delightfully different experience from most other parts of India. At approximately 7,000 feet (2,130 meters), the town nestled in the lap of the mighty Kanchenjunga (or Khangchendzonga) mountain is a mixture of old colonial charm, famous toy train (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway), bustling marketplaces and beautiful tea gardens.

From the humble beginnings in the early 1800s, Darjeeling has transformed itself into one of India’s premier hill stations frequented by tourists across India and the world. The town has become overcrowded barely coping with the growth in population and the influx of tourists but still boasts of modern hotels, eateries, cinema halls and shopping centers. However, just a few miles from the town is where you can experience lush tea gardens, terraced farms and a slower pace of life.

From the bustling bazaars and the lush tea gardens, to the beautiful natural scenic views and a wide variety of activities from leisurely scenic walks to more grueling activities such as trekking and river rafting for the adventurous ones, Darjeeling offers something for every type of traveler.

Darjeeling Fast Facts

• Population: 109,163
• Currency: Indian Rupee or Rs
• Languages Spoken: Nepali, Hindi, Tibetan, Bengali and English
• Electrical Voltage: 230-240V 50Hz
• Time Zones: GMT/UTC +5.5
• Country Dialing Code: +91
• Area Dialing Code: 0354. This number is prefixed to the local number when calling from outside of the Darjeeling area. International calls to Darjeeling does not usually need the prefix 0. Please check with your country’s telecom company.
• Weights & Measures: Metric

Related Links

• Brief History of Darjeeling
• People and Culture of Darjeeling
• Religion and Languages of Darjeeling
• Important Contacts in Darjeeling