Darjeeling can also be called as the Queen hill station of India, it is so beautiful and amazing that it gives a look Switzerland. It is an old Victorian town surrounded by the beautiful lush green tea gardens, it was founded by British. Darjeeling is 3000 meters above sea level and plays an important role in the economy of the area due its tea gardens and cash crops like orange, potato, cardamom, ginger, etc. Darjeeling is retreat for trekkers, every year thousands of people come here to enjoy the trekking challanges. Sandakphu / Phalut trek are the famous trekking routes.
Air : Bagdorga is the nearest airport i.e. 100 kms from Darjeeling. It is well connected to the other major cities.
Rail : The toy train is best way to see the real beauty of Darjeeling, it runs to Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri. weather and landslides permitting, but takes an angst inducing nine hours. Railway reservations for selected mainline trains out of NJP can be made at Darjeeling’s station a couple of days before departure. They have tourist quotas for trains to Delhi, Kolkataa, Bangalore, Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram.
Bus : There are frequent buses to Siliguri in every half an hour. Buses leave for Mirik every thirty minutes. Two minibuses run each day run to Gangtok and one minibus leaves every day for Kalimpong. Although it’s possible to buy bus tickets for Kathmandu, tourists still have to change buses at Siliguri.
Tiger Hill : The highest spot in the area at 2590m, Tiger Hill is near Ghoom, about 11km from Darjeeling. The hill is famous for its magnificent dawn views over Kanchenjunga and other eastern Himalayan peaks. On a clear day even Mount Everest is visible. Every day a large convoy of battered Land Rovers leaves Darjeeling at 4.30am, which means that in the smaller lodges you get woken up at this time every day, whether you like it or not. It can be very cold and very crowded at the top but coffee is available. There is a view tower. Halfway down the hill a temple priest causes a massive traffic jam by anointing the steering wheel of each vehicle for the return trip. Many take the jeep one way and then walk back - a very pleasant two hour trip.
Senchal Lake : Close to Tiger Hill is Senchal Lake, which supplies Darjeeling with its domestic water. It's a particularly scenic area and popular as a picnic spot with Indian holiday-makers.
Kanchenjunga Views : At 8598m, this is the world's third highest mountain. From Darjeeling, the best uninterrupted views of it are from Bhan Bhakta Sarani. The name Kanchenjunga is derived from the Tibetan Khang (snow), chen (big), dzong (fortress or treasury) nga (five) - big five peaked snow fortress, or big five peaked treasury of the snow.
Bhutia Busty Gompa : Not far from Chowrasta is this colourful monastery, with Kanchenjunga providing a spectacular backdrop. Originally a branch of the Nyingmapa sect's Phodang Monastery in Sikkim, it was transferred to Darjeeling in 1879. The shrine here originally stood on Observatory Hill. There's library of Buddhist texts upstairs which houses the original copy of the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
Ghoom Gompa : More correctly known as Yogachoeling Gompa, this is probably the most famous monastery in Darjeeling and is about 8 km south of town, just below Hill Cart road and the train station near Ghoom. It enshrines an image of the Maitreya Buddha. Foreigners are allowed to enter the shrine and take photographs. As Ghoom is frequently swathed in mists, and the monastery is old and dark, it is often affectionately called Gloom monastery.
Shawls woollens, curios beads semi precious and precious stones tankhas Buddhist curios and artefacts. The well known shopping centres are as follows Chowk Bazar, Chowrata, Ladenla Road, Nehru Road, Motor Stand & Mahakal Market. Curio retailing shops are Art Emporium and Dorjee on Ladenla Road, Eastern Arts on Chowrasta and last but not the least Nepal Curio House on Nehru Road.
A popular food in Darjeeling is thupka and momos, a steamed dumpling containing meat and vegetables cooked in a doughy wrapping and served with watery soup called thupka, but one doesn't get stuck for want of multicuisine food. Chinese and north Indian restaurants are many in number ably supported by Tibetan delicacies. Glenary's restaurant and bar, is very famous for its bakery Keveneter's is well known for breakfast, hot croissants and coffee with many varieties of processed meats. Hasty Tasty is a round the clock fast food counter and extremely popular. Fiesta, The Park, Simla restaurant and bar, Food Exchange restaurant and Stardust are some of the good multi cuisine joints. Taajas, Penangs, Mayaloo are great for Chinese and Thai delicacies. Most of these are on Chowrasta and Gandhi Road, very accessible and with food that is highly recommended.
Picnics, rides and swings on Batasia loop, toy train, rock climbing in HMI, pony rides starting from the mall and that can take you through the hills and the forests. It is good to accompany the kids on different ponies. Standing at any vantage point and savouring the beauty of the hills.