Tour of Darjeeling

Darjeeling

Darjeeling - Perched at a height of 2134 metres with a backdrop of the mighty Himalayan peaks, Darjeeling has attracted generations of visitors to sample the joys of cool, healthy, gracious and adventurous living. Surrounded by some of the highest peaks of the Himalayas on one side, and thousands of acres of Tea gardens on the other, Darjeeling holds a special interest for the botanist, ornithologist, trekker, photographer and artist, apart from the holiday-seeker. Places to visit in Darjeeling include the Tiger Hill, for it’s wonderful views of the Everest and the Kanchenjunga, the Himalayan Moutaineering Institute, that still houses, the equipment used by Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing on their Everest expedition, and the Himalayan Zoological Park. One of the new attractions of Darjeeling, is the Japanese Peace Pagooda.

Darjeeling is a town and a in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located in the Lesser Himalayan at an elevation of 6,700 ft (2,042.2 m). It is noted for its tea industry its views of Kanchanjunga the world's third-highest mountain, and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway a UNESCO Heritage site. Darjeeling is the headquarters of the Darjeeling District which has a partially autonomous status within the state of West Bengal. It is also a popular tourist destination in India. Nepali is the native language of Darjeeling.

Darjeeling has a temperature climate (subtotal highland climate) with wet summers caused by monsoon rains.The annual mean maximum temperature is 14.9 °C (58.8 °F) while the mean minimum temperature is 8.9 °C (48.0 °F), with monthly mean temperatures ranging from 6 to 18 °C (43 to 64 °F).The lowest temperature recorded was −5 °C (23 °F) on 11 February 1905.The average annual precipitation is 309.2 cm (121.7 in), with an average of 126 days of rain in a year. The highest rainfall occurs in July.The heavy and concentrated rainfall that is experienced in the region, aggravated by deforestation and haphazard planning, often causes devastating landslides, leading to loss of life and property. Though not very common, but the town receives snow at least once during two winter months of December and January.

Getting to Darjeeling

• By Air – The nearest airport is at Bagdogra, 90 km away from Darjeeling. Bagdogra is connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati and Kolkata by regular flights.
• By Rail - New Jalpaiguri is the nearest mainline railhead for Darjeeling. New Jalpaiguri is connected to Delhi and Kolkata by regular superfast trains. It is from New Jaipaiguri, that the World Heritage toy train starts its picturesque journey to Darjeeling.
• By Road - 90 kms from Bagdogra, and a little over a 100 kms each from Gangtok and Kalimpong, Darjeeling is well connected to the other Eastern Hill-stations.

Culture

The culture of Darjeeling is diverse and includes a variety of indigenous practices and festivals as mentioned above. Many of the Nepali Hindus, as well as the various Buddhist and other ethnic groups such as the Lepchas, Bhutias, Kiranti Limbus, Tibetans, Yolmos, Gurungs and Tamangs, have their own distinct languages and cultures and yet share a largely harmonious co-existence.

Best time to Visit

October to March: October is when the monsoon season ends and a slight chill is observed in the weather. Winter season begins in full swing and it is during the months of mid-November to January, when the average temperature ranges between 7 and 5 degree Celsius. Snowfall is rarely seen in Darjeeling.