Darjeeling widely known as the "Queen of Hills", is one of fascinating hill stations in India with the illustrious Mt. Kanchenjunga towering over the colossal sky situated at an altitude of 7,100 Ft. The land is merged with its natural beauty, culture, ecology etc. This is, in fact, an impeccable destination for tourists which allows them to explore more of Indian delicacy. One can take pleasure of the ever flourishing hills, and tourist destinatins along with vast stretches of lush green tea gardens.
Besides these, some most attractive places in Darjeeling include monasteries, botanical gardens, a zoo, and the Darjeeling - Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway cable car which is the longest Asian cable car. Adding on to this, one most beautiful moment tourists never miss to experience is the toy-train ride.
Standing on the smaller hills and higher plains of Darjeeling and watching the gigantic mountain peaks along with enjoying various outdoor activities – a trip to this hill station is going to be one of your life's sweetest memories.
Sightseeing Places in Darjeeling
Ghoom Monastery
One of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries of Darjeeling the Ghoom Monastery offers exquisite scenic beauty. At an elevation of 8000 feet, the Yiga Choeling Monastery is one of the best places to visit in Darjeeling. It contains a 15-foot-high statue of the Coming Buddha or the Maitreyi Buddha in the central hall made entirely of clay from Tibet. It has beautiful views of the majestic Kanchenjunga outside of its premises and has many rare Buddhist manuscripts within it. The walls of the monastery are painted with beautiful depictions and art of Tibetan Buddhism with different images of bodhisattvas.
Singalila National Park
At an altitude of 7000 feet in the Singalila range, it is the highest national park in West Bengal. Singalila National Park covers a wide range of land full of rhododendron forests, alpine valleys, and rare species of animals and orchids. Famous for its gorgeous views of the Himalayan peak it also offers panoramic views of the gorgeous Himalayas from Nepal to Sikkim and up to Bhutan. It is home to some rare and exotic animals like the Red Panda, the Himalayan Black Bear, and many others. It is also a paradise for trekkers and adventure lovers.
Tiger Hill
About 13 km away from Darjeeling and at an altitude of 2590 meters lies Tiger Hill which is a very popular tourist destination of Darjeeling. It brings in huge amounts of tourists from all around the world to experience its mesmerizing views of the majestic snow-capped mountains and serene beauty. Tiger Hill is known for its breathtaking view of the sunrise as Kanchenjunga illuminates from the rays of the sun hitting its peak. The gorgeous view of the sunrise and the beautiful view of the snow-capped mountains sitting along cotton clouds attract tourists all year.
Batasia Loop
Batasia Loop is a lush green toy train pathway made to minimize the elevation of the Himalayan railway. It is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Darjeeling due to its unmatched beauty and serene view. Located about 5 km away from Darjeeling Ghoom Batasia Loop offers a panoramic view of the beautiful Darjeeling. Visitors can see the toy train loop the place while whistling and blowing smoke. The view of the train tearing past the white of the clouds and deeper into the natural beauty of the terrain is an unforgettable experience that makes this place a must-visit.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
Popularly called the Darjeeling Zoo this Park conserves fascinating and exotic animals in their semi-natural habitats. At an elevation of 7000 feet, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is the largest high-altitude zoo in India and is internationally known for its breeding and conservation programs which are also a breeding center for snow leopards and red pandas. The zoo also has an Asiatic black bear, barking deer, leopards, blue and yellow macaw, Pheasant, Himalayan wolf, Royal Bengal Tiger, and many more animals. It specializes in breeding animals adapted to alpine conditions and has successfully bred many endangered animals. This zoo is a major attraction for animal lovers and nature enthusiasts and is an amazing place to visit in Darjeeling.
Tinchuley
About 32 km away from Darjeeling is a beautiful small village called Tinchuley. Situated close to the West Bengal Sikkim border and at an elevation of 5550 feet, its name translates to "three ovens" due to the majestic trio of hills that resembles mud ovens. It offers serene beauty and a tranquil atmosphere with geographical diversity as the rivers Teesta and the Rangeet intersect close to it. Tinchuley is famous for lush fruit orchards and tea plantations while providing a peaceful ambiance away from the busy stressful city. It offers its visitors various activities like rock climbing, trekking, and sightseeing all against a scenic green mountainscape.
Zuluk
A mesmerizing small hamlet located at an elevation of 3000 meters and about 91km away from Gangtok, Zuluk or Dzuluk is an amazing destination. Although a relatively new destination, it is swiftly climbing as one of the best tourist destinations of Sikkim due to its excellent views of the eastern Himalayan mountain range including the Kanchenjunga. Once a transit point to the historic Silk Route from Tibet to India and was commonly used by traders traveling to Tibet through Jelep-la as an overnight base. It offers wild untouched forests, sightings of rare animals and birds, and a panoramic view of the entire Mt Kanchenjunga range from the Thambi View Point and homestay facilities for overnight visitors.
