WEST BENGAL HILL STATION

Hill Stations in West Bengal The most important and organized hill resort in eastern India, Darjeeling offers a backdrop of the mighty Himalayan peaks and th ejoys of cool, healthy, gracious and adventurous living. Darjeeling also holds a special interest for the botanist, the ornithologist, the trekker, the photographer and the artist, apart from the regular holiday maker.

Perched at a height of 2134 mtrs, Darjeeling is 686km from Calcutta and offers visitors the joys of pleasant elegant and exciting living.

Darjeeling owes it grandeur to its natural beauty, its clean fresh mountain air and, above all, the smiling resilient people for whom it is home.

A Unique Toy Train

To get to Darjeeling, take the mini train from New Jalpaiguri. The train journey is an experience you will never forget. Not quite the fastest means of reaching Darjeeling from the plains, the journey takes around 8 hours, the trip is more of an experience than a journey. When it is dawn at Darjeeling, the mountains awaken with a tentative peeking of the sun. Teh snow capped Everest, Kanchenjunga, Kabru, Jannu and other peaks slowly emerge from slumber to start a new day.

Apart from its high standing as a hill resort, Darjeeling is also famous for producing one of the finest teas in the world with a unique and delicate aroma. Out of the seventy tea gardens in the area, the most famous are the Happy Valley Tea Estate, the Makaibari and Casteleton Tea Estates and the famous Lopchi Tea Estate.

Places of Interest

Walking around Darjeeling is like Constant Sightseeing, but the places worth a special visit include: Observatroy Hill, Mahakal Temple, Chowrasta, Tiger Hill, Batasia Railway Loop, Yiga Choling Monastery, The Japanese Temple, The Rangeet Valley Ropeway, The Lebong Race Course, The Gorkha Statium and The Tenzing and Gomby Rocks.

No visit to Darjeeling is complete without a visit to Ghoom, which is six kilometres away from the main town. The hillock is dominated by the famous Yiga Choeling Monastery.

There are also various places of interest around Darjeeling including Kalimpong, across the Teesta. Your visit to Kalimpong won't be complete unless you spend several hours at the two bazaars, one on the main road and the other near 10th mile. It is an experience to see the inhabitants turning up in their local costumes a the weekly market to sell their farm produce.

How To Get There

By Air : Bagdogra is the nearest airport 90km away. There are direct flights to Bagdogra from Delhi and Calcutta. Taxis are available for Darjeeling at the airport with the trip taking around 3 hrs.

By Rail : Darjeeling is served by the Toy Train of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The journey takes around 8 hrs and is more an adventure than a means of transportation. Siliguri is the nearest main railway station with direct connetions to Calcutta, Delhi, Guwahati and other places in India.

By Road : Darjeeling's main connection with the rest of India is the roadlink to Siliguri. The road is good, passing through very picturesque tea gardens, forests and hamlets. With flowers lending added charm, the 3-4 hour journey from Siligui is an invigorating experience.

Accomodation

Hotels in Darjeeling : Windmere Hotel Pvt Ltd, Mayfair Hill Resort, Hotel Modhit, New Elgin Hotel, Sinclairs, Seven Seventeen, Sterling Holiday Resort, Darjeeling Gymkhana Resort, Apsara, Valentino, Ivanhoe.

Trekking

For adventure lovers there is trekking and rafting, and water sports. For those who are physically fit and love the mountains, the Darjeeling region offers trekking and white water rafting. Trekking in the Darjeeling region can be very rewarding with varying landscapes. To top this are glorious mountain sights including the view of four majestic over 8000 metre high peaks Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu and Lhotse all from a single spot, Sandakphu.

Water Sports

Rafting on the Teesta River has recently been introduced. Overnight and 2 day trips are offered in budget, economy and luxury categories. Transportation, equipment like sleeping bags, mattresses and tents, food and rafting from 25km to 65km are provided.

MIRIK HILL STATION

Mirik is one of the unspoilt hill stations around Siliguri. Nestling in forested hills at an attitude of around 1767 m the resort has the man made Sumendu Lake as the focal point. The surroundings are enhanced by orange orchards, cardamom plantations and tea estates. Superb views of the mighty Kanchenjunga is another attraction. Though heavy woollens are required in winter, tropicals or light woollens are enough for summer.

How To Get There

By Air : The nearest airport is Bagdogra, 55km.

By Rail : The broadguage railhead is New Jalpaiguiri at 60km

By Road : Connected by rad with Siliguri, Kurseong and Darjeeling.

Accomodation : Hotel Jagjit, Gakul, DGHC's Tourist Lodge and Tourist Cottages.

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