The “Queen of Hills” Darjeeling, is not just a place with high selfie points and mountain sightseeing affairs, it is a destination with much more than that. It’s a perfect mix of breathtaking landscapes, colonial charm and adventure. The many things to do in Darjeeling will steal your heart at the very first sight. From serene sunrise views to stunning tea gardens, there is so much that this charming hill station has to offer.
Table of Contents
8 Things To Add To Your Darjeeling Itinerary
Here is a curated list of things to do in Darjeeling that you just cannot miss while on your visit to this amazing hill station.
1. Catch A Beautiful Sunrise At Tiger Hill
Consider waking up at an ungodly hour, braving the early morning chill, getting stuck in a traffic jam before sunrise, followed by an uphill walk to the watchtower, only to catch a beautiful sunrise. Yes, we are talking about the most famous tourist spot in Darjeeling—Tiger Hill. It is the highest point of the town and promises a beautiful view of the sunrise along with the illuminated snow-clad peak of the 3rd highest mountain in the world, Kanchenjunga. The allure of witnessing the popular Himalayan Mountain draped in the morning twilight is one of the best things to do in Darjeeling.
2. Ride The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway zigzagging through the narrow lanes of the venerable hill station is a sight to behold. The mountain railways (Darjeeling Toy Train) of India are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Center. It includes three railways—The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was the first. It is regarded as a stellar example of a hill passenger railway. Opened in 1881, it is 88.48 km in length of 2 feet gauge track connecting Darjeeling to New Jalpaiguri.
The other two are the Nilgiri Mountain Railway in Tamilnadu and the Kalka Shimla Railway in Himachal Pradesh. These three are the epitome of human resolve to connect the mountain populations by building rail lines through rugged terrains and uneven topography. It’s a unique experience to travel in the tiny four-wheeled steam locomotive dating back to the 19th century. The ease with which the loco maneuvers the curves, loops, and gradients adds to the traveler’s delight.
3. Pass Through The Famous Batasia Loop
Commissioned in 1919 by the British, this 360-degree rail line loop is considered to be an engineering marvel. It was built to negate the sharp descent the toy train would have had to make when coming from Ghoom station (the highest railway station in India at 7407 ft. above sea level) towards Darjeeling. Located just below the station on a hilltop, on clear days, it also provides unmediated and expansive views of the Himalayan peaks and sometimes the peak of Kanchenjunga.
As you pass by, in the center is the Gorkha War Memorial built in 1995 to commemorate the chivalry and sacrifices of the Gorkha soldiers who served the country. A three-meter-high bronze statue stands tall on a raised platform saluting a 30 ft. triangular-shaped granite cenotaph which consists of the Roll of Honour (the names of the gallant soldiers) at its base.
4. Get Spiritual At The Dali Monastery
This has to be one of the most impressive monasteries I have seen, purely with respect to its seemingly imposing structure perched on a hilltop at a height of 7000 ft. above sea level. The mountain backdrop on one side and the beautiful hill cart road snaking below on the other make the place worth visiting. Also called the Drukpa Kagyud Monastery, it belongs to the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Built-in 1971, it is the largest monastery in the region and houses more than 200 monks. A small coffee shop by the side is the perfect place to have a hot sip while soaking in the surroundings.
5. Take A Stroll Around The Tea Estate
If you are a tea lover or not, a visit to at least one of the tea gardens is one of the most essential things to do in Darjeeling. There are over 80 tea plantations spread across, make your pick and watch workers skillfully plucking the tea leaves. There are tour operators that provide guided tours of the Tea estate where you can get a chance to engage in some tea plucking and also tea tasting sessions. The lush greenery and the fragrance of tea is sure to turn you into a tea snob forever.
Book Now: Darjeeling Tea Estate & Gangtok Monasteries Tours
6. Meditate At The Japanese Temple And Peace Pagoda
Built in 1972, the Japanese Temple, a two-storeyed structure, is also known as Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Temple named after a Buddhist order for World Peace. On the same premises, is a beautiful dazzling white-domed structure of the Japanese Peace Pagoda. It has a depiction of the Buddha in his four avatars (standing, meditating, sleeping, and sitting). This is the usual pattern across all Buddha Peace Pagodas I have visited, but I had never seen such a rich deep golden hue in the Buddha statues anywhere in India.
Located on Jalapahar Hill, this place exudes calm and seems like the perfect place to pray and meditate. I, fortunately, visited during the prayer time (4.30 PM) and experienced the resounding beats of a mammoth drum that is placed in the prayer room of the Japanese Temple. As per a monk, the drum is used four times a day during prayers—4.30 and 6.30 (both AM and PM).
7. Spend A Day At The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
The highest zoo in the country at 7000 ft. above sea level, spans across 67.5 acres of land, and houses some of the most exotic and rare animals of the Himalayas. Established in 1958, it received the ‘Earth Heroes’ award in 2014. This award was given by the Royal Bank of Scotland in association with the British government in recognition of conservation efforts by the zoo.
The park has done a spectacular job over the years in sustaining and breeding vulnerable, rare, and endangered high-altitude animals like the Tibetan wolf, red panda, snow leopard, clouded leopard, yaks, and Himalayan black bear, etc. There are a variety of remarkable avian specimens like blue gold macaws, hill mynas, ring parakeets, and many more. The park has also taken special care in conserving the flora with 200 species of trees and plants, shrubs, climbers, and medicinal plants along with close to 60 varieties of orchids. It is one of the best things to do in Darjeeling with family and friends.
8. Visit The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI)
Do you remember Tenzing Norgay? The name we studied many times along with one Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person on Earth to conquer Mt. Everest. India built the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute as a tribute to Sherpa Tenzing Norgay to inspire, teach and motivate a generation of climbers. He became the first Field Director of HMI. The institute is a mecca for climbers with a large two-storey museum containing collections of amazing artifacts, historical exhibits of mountaineering, past expedition stories, and plenty of mountaineering paraphernalia. A wall in the museum is dedicated to badges of various mountaineering clubs from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Iran, and many more. HMI offers 16 scheduled courses in mountaineering and rock climbing with a dedicated residential school. If you are looking to do some climbing during your trip, enrolling in HMI is one of the best things to do at Darjeeling.
Also Read: Lamahatta-Kalimpong-Darjeeling: The Must-Visit Trinity of West Bengal
Final Words
These offbeat things to do in Darjeeling made me see a different aspect of Darjeeling—a quieter and richer experience, away from the busy commercialized humdrum of an overtly popular hill station. No matter how your experience goes, there will always be the perfect things to end your day here—a good, steaming Darjeeling brew.
FAQs
Weather in Darjeeling in general is good, hence it is a year round destination. The summer months between April to June and winter months between October to December are the best time to experience this beautiful hill station.
2–3 days is good enough to see and enjoy the main attractions. If you want to explore and visit nearby places, you can extend your trip to 4-5 days.
Since Darjeeling is a top tourist destination there are many options when it comes to commuting in and around Darjeeling. Buses, Himalayan Railway, Batasia Loop and shared Taxis are the most popular ones.
