| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
::
E A S T I N D I A >
D A R J E E L I N G :: |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Brief
- |
|
| |
One of the
most magical lands on earth, Darjeeling is lavished with awe-inspiring
wildlife and exquisite flora, with some of the rarest species
of animals and birds and some 600 species of butterflies.
Synonymous with tea, Darjeeling is a petite hill station in
West Bengal. Cradled in the folds of the loftiest mountains
of the world, Darjeeling is justly regarded as the queen of
India's hill-stations. Tranquil tea plantations, rolling hills
against the Khangchendzonga, the Toy Train, elegant monasteries
and charming hilltops, add to the charm of Darjeeling, making
it a special destination in the east. While the Buddhist Monasteries
and the Hindu temples are of architectural and cultural importance,
the Himalayan physiography of lofty mountainous terrain and
cascading rivers, offers adventure sports like trekking, mountaineering
and river rafting. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
History
- |
|
| |
One of the
most magical lands on earth, Darjeeling is lavished with awe-inspiring
wildlife and exquisite flora, with some of the rarest species
of animals and birds and some 600 species of butterflies.
Synonymous with tea, Darjeeling is a petite hill station in
West Bengal. Cradled in the folds of the loftiest mountains
of the world, Darjeeling is justly regarded as the queen of
India's hill-stations. Tranquil tea plantations, rolling hills
against the Khangchendzonga, the Toy Train, elegant monasteries
and charming hilltops, add to the charm of Darjeeling, making
it a special destination in the east. While the Buddhist Monasteries
and the Hindu temples are of architectural and cultural importance,
the Himalayan physiography of lofty mountainous terrain and
cascading rivers, offers adventure sports like trekking, mountaineering
and river rafting. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Culture
- |
|
| |
Populated
with the Nepalese and the migrant Tibetans, the lives of the
inhabitants revolve, mainly around the huge tea plantations
and processing plants. Simple and hard working, they are satisfied
with what they have. Buy whatever be their economic standard,
they love to dress well. Practicing a weaving culture, most
of the arts and crafts are hand-woven and hand-knitted. From
the famous Nepali shawl, to the colourful bags, pencil boxes
to dressing gear, everything is woven. And the carpets having
world class designs and patterns are very intricately woven.
Fun loving and remarkable preservers of their culture and
tradition, they have a special kind of song and dance competition
and the drunker you are, the better you perform. A unique
cultural trend crediting it to the romantic nature of the
inhabitants, most of the marriages take place through elopement. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Climate
& Geographical Location - |
|
| |
The Himalayan
highlands are cold in winter and wonderfully pleasant in summer.
The average temperature ranges from 8.5 deg C to 15 deg C
in summer and 1 deg C to 6 deg C in winters. Darjeeling is
a summer retreat in the Himalayas, in the northern region
of West Bengal. It is situated on a spur jutting out northwards
from the Ghoom Senchal ridge. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
How
to Reach - |
|
| |
It is well
connected by air from Calcutta and Delhi to the nearest airport
at Bagdogra, 90 km away from Darjeeling. It is well connected
by rail to New Jalpaiguri station, the main railhead. From
here, one has to take the Toy Train that operates on the narrow
gauge track between Darjeeling and New Jalpiguri. One can
reach by road to Siliguri Bus Terminal from where state-run
buses and coaches, taxis and cars for hire are available to
cover the 80-km journey to Darjeeling. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
: T O U R I S T P L A C
E S : |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Aloobari
Gompa - |
|
| |
This is a
good place to go for some sightseeing and shopping, as the
monks here sell Tibetan and Sikkimese religious accessories.
About 3 km from the city centre. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Ghoom
Monastery - |
|
| |
One of the
better-known monasteries of Darjeeling, Ghoom is about 6 km
south of the city centre. The 4.57-m high statue of a seated
Maitreya Buddha, is of great interest here. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Bhutia Busty Gompa - |
|
| |
Situated
1 km out of town. With the Khangchendzonga (Kanchenjunga),
providing a spectacular backdrop, this monastery was originally
a branch of the Nygmapa sects. Phodang Monastery in Sikkim.
It was transferred to Darjeeling in 1879. The shrine here
originally stood on Observatory Hill. The monastery has a
well-stocked library with many old Buddhist texts. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Dhirdham
Temple - |
|
| |
Located below
the railway station, it resembles the famous Pashupatinath
Temple of Kathmandu. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Himalayan
Mountaineering Institute - |
|
| |
Abot 2 km
down from Chowrasta, the institute houses a collection of
historic mountaineering equipment, specimens of Himalayan
flora and fauna, a relief model of the Himalayas and a record
of all attempts to scale the great peak. Sherpa Tenzing Norgay,
who conquered Everest in 1953, was the director of this institute. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Passenger Ropeway - |
|
| |
At North
Point, about 3 km from town, this is India's first passanger
ropeway. The 5-km long ropeway, connects Darjeeling with Singla
Bazaar on the Ranjit River, at the bottom of the valley. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Senchal
Lake - |
|
| |
About 13
km from the town, this lake near Tiger hill, is appreciated
for its scenic splendour. It's a popular picnic spot, has
a 9-hole golf course with a clubhouse and a tourist lodge. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Observatory
Hill - |
|
| |
The mulicoloured
Buddhist prayer flags, fluttering in the breeze here, provide
a rather enchanting sight. This viewpoint is sacred to both
Hindus and Buddhists. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Batasia
Loop - |
|
| |
It is about
5 km from Darjeeling and 3 km from Ghoom. This railway loop
is a marvellous feet of engineering. It is delightful to see
the train,as it winds it way round the loop. It is a pleasant
and delightful descent from Ghoom - highest railway station
in the world. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Mirik
- |
|
| |
Lying at
an altitude of 1,730 m, Mirik is an attractive hill destination
with a charming lake, forests of Cryptomeria Japonica, orange
orchards, tea gardens and cardamom plantations. The Sumendu
Lake, with its 3.5 Km. of cobbled promenade, is a major attraction
of Mirik and is situated at the bottom of the Mirik spur.
There is also a floating fountain in the middle of the Lake
and an 80 ft. long footbridge, connects the flower garden,
to the heavily forested ridge on the west. Sumendu Lake also
offers boating facilities. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Kurseong
- |
|
| |
On the way
to Darjeeling from Siliguri, lies Kurseong at a hight of 1,458
m. Famous for its tea plantations, Kurseong paints a rather
unusual picture with its rail track, road and market stretching
along together up to Darjeeling. Some of the main sights of
this little town, include the Deer Park, Makaibari Tea Estate
and, of course, a ride on the Toy Train. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Others
- |
|
| |
|
|
| |
AVA
ART GALLERY - It is about 2 km from the town
on the way to Ghoom. It houses fine art and embroidered work
of Mrs. Ava Devi. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
NATURAL
HISTORY MUSEUM - Established
in 1903, a comprehensive collection of Himalyan and Bengali
fauna, is packed into this interesting museum. Amongst the
4300 specimens, is the estuarine crocodile, the animal responsible
for the greatest loss of human life in Asia. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
PHALUT
- About 22 km from Sandakphu, Phalut is at
the Junction of Nepal, Sikkim and West Bengal. It offers a
very close view of Mt. Kanchenjunga. The Singalila trek is
a 160 km stretch from the small border town of Manebhanjang,
26 km from Darjeeling. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
TIGER HILL - Tiger Hill
(2,555 m), the highest point in this area, is about 14 km
from Darjeeling, near the Ghoom Monastery. It has earned international
fame for the fabulous view of the Sunrise over Kanchenjunga
and the great Eastern Himalayan peaks that can be seen. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
