Hill town in north Bengal known for tea gardens, the toy train and Kanchenjunga views.
FamousHill-stationHeritageTrek
People come for the sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill, the narrow-gauge heritage railway, tea estates and Buddhist monasteries. Most sights are close to town, so it suits families, couples and first-time hill travellers who want an easy trip of two or three days.
Trip planner
Plan from your city
Photos
Japanese Peace Pagoda, DarjeelingMall Road in Darjeeling townGanga Maya Park near Rock GardenDetail of the Peace Pagoda
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
Best time to go
When
What to expect
March to May
Clear skies and mild days of about 6 to 17 C, with rhododendrons in bloom. This is a busy season.
June to September
Monsoon, about 13 to 19 C. Often cloudy with few mountain views, and landslides can close hill roads. Fewer visitors and lower room rates.
October to November
Pleasant weather of about 6 to 18 C and the clearest views of the snow peaks. Peak tourist season.
December to February
The coldest months, about 2 to 10 C, with a chance of snow on the higher ground.
Sights and activities
1
Tiger Hill
A viewpoint at about 2,590 m known for sunrise, when the Kanchenjunga peaks light up before the sun reaches the lower hills. Mount Everest can be seen in the distance on a clear day.
Distance
About 11 to 13 km from town, about 40 minutes by car
Entry
About 50 rupees entry; the observatory tower is reported at 20 to 40 rupees depending on the floor
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
A high-altitude zoo known for red pandas and snow leopards. The mountaineering institute and its museum of expedition equipment are in the same compound on Birch Hill.
Distance
About 2 km from the town centre
Entry
About 100 rupees, which is reported to cover the mountaineering museum as well; camera about 50 rupees
Timings
8:30 am to 4:30 pm in summer, to 4 pm in winter; closed on Thursdays
By road from Siliguri, about 77 km. Buses leave from Tenzing Norgay Bus Stand in Siliguri, and shared vehicles and pre-paid taxis run from NJP and Bagdogra. The usual routes go through Kurseong or Rohini; a longer one goes through Mirik.
By train
New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is the main-line station, about 70 to 75 km away by road. The narrow-gauge toy train runs 88 km from NJP to Darjeeling station and takes 6 to 8 hours.
By air
Bagdogra Airport, about 90 km from Darjeeling by the district website's figure, with flights from Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati. The drive takes about 3 hours.
Where to base yourself
Stay near Chowrasta and the Mall, the pedestrian centre of town, from where shops, eating places and taxi stands are a short walk.
Getting around
The centre around Chowrasta and the Mall is for walking; the Mall Road loop around Observatory Hill is about a mile and takes about 20 minutes.
Taxis have no meters and run on fixed point-to-point rates; small cars take up to 4 people.
Sightseeing is usually sold as point tours by taxi: a 3-point or 5-point tour costs about 1,200 to 1,500 rupees per car and a 7-point tour about 1,500 to 1,700 rupees.
A jeep to Tiger Hill for sunrise is reported at about 300 rupees for the round trip.
Shared jeeps carrying about 10 people run to nearby towns, for example about 150 to 200 rupees a seat to Kurseong and 250 rupees to Mirik (2022 rates).
The Rangeet Valley ropeway is reported at about 200 rupees for Indian adults.
On the way
Worth a stop on the drive from New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri), the last stretch whether you arrive by train, bus or air. Stopping needs a taxi or your own vehicle; buses do not wait. Distances are by road.
1
Kurseong
Tea town halfway up the hill, with Makaibari and other estates. The toy train runs along the main street.
Distance
About 40 km from New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri), 30 km before Darjeeling
Small restaurants serve momos, thukpa and other local food for about 300 to 500 rupees a person a day. Long-running cafes such as Keventers and Glenarys near the Mall are known for English-style breakfasts. Most of the town shuts by about 11 pm.
Try these
Momos (steamed dumplings)
Thukpa (noodle soup)
Aloo dum (spiced potato curry)
Darjeeling tea
Vegetarian food is easy to find. Vegetable momos, thukpa and aloo dum are common.
Daily costs
Budget level
Stay per room
Food per person
Local transport
Budget
₹1,500
₹400
₹300 per person
Mid-range
₹3,500
₹800
₹1,500 per vehicle
Luxury
₹8,000
₹1,200
₹3,000 per vehicle
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
Permits and documents
None of the pages opened mention a permit for Darjeeling town. Singalila National Park, used for the Sandakphu trek, charges a separate park entry fee and is closed from 16 June to 15 September.
Safety
By day
Travel sources describe Darjeeling as quite safe for tourists.
At night
The town is quiet after dark and mostly closed by about 11 pm. One guesthouse listing notes its gate shuts at 10 pm, so check with your hotel.
Roads
The roads up from Siliguri are winding and narrow in places. In the monsoon, landslides can cause closures. Paths such as the forest walk around Birch Hill have steep drops and get muddy in the rains.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies), District Police Control Room: 0354-2252057, Fire Service, Darjeeling Sadar: 0354-2259333, District Relief Control Room: 0354-2255749, West Bengal Tourism control room: 1800-212-1655
Practical
Mobile network
All the main networks (Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL) work in town. Mobile networks work in town.
ATMs and cash
ATMs are available in town, including a State Bank of India ATM at the Mall, and most shops accept cards.
Fuel
There are several petrol pumps in and around town.
Medical
The nearest hospital listed is Eden Hospital, under 1 km from the centre. In an emergency dial 112, or 108 for an ambulance in most states.
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