The Land of the Finest Tea

Darjeeling, a hill station in the state of West Bengal, was yet another summer retreats of the British colonizers in India. It has a number of bungalows and churches, dating back to the Raj era, which gives the place a certain old-worldly charm. Darjeeling is known for its momos, thukpa and other Tibetan cuisine, apart from its more than 100 year-old toy train. Above all, it is known for being the place of origin of Darjeeling tea, hailed as one of the finest teas in the world

 

Quick Facts

  1. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has one of the few steam locomotives still in service in India.
  2. Tenzing Norgay, from Darjeeling, was the first man to set foot on Mt Everest in 1953 along with Edmund Hillary.

Popular Attractions

  • Tiger Hill is a famous viewpoint which travelers head to at an unearthly hour in the morning to catch the golden rays of the sun falling on the glorious Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world
  • The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute showcases mountaineering equipment as well as pictures of mountaineers in action. It also has a memorial for Tenzing Norgay, the first man to climb Mt Everest along with Edmund Hillary
  • Lloyd’s Botanical Garden has many varieties of native forest plants including oak, magnolia, bamboo and rhododendron
  • The Planters Club and the Raj Bhavan are good examples of colonial architecture
 

The “India Kosher Travel” Experience

  • A leisurely walk through the tea plantations can be quite very pleasant. The Makaibari Tea Estates allow you a peek into the tea making and sampling process as well
  • The hilly terrain of Darjeeling offers tremendous opportunities for an exhilarating trek
  •  September-November and March-June are good times for rafting on the rivers Teesta and Rangeet