Places to Visit in Darjeeling and Nearby Darjeeling

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Darjeeling is the most loved destination in India. It is the perfect place for trekking spots, and wildlife sanctuaries. There are several places in Darjeeling and nearby places in Darjeeling that offers a perfect weekend getaway for family, honeymooners, and friends too. Darjeeling lies in the north of the state of West Bengal and is situated in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas. It is located at an altitude of 2134 meters. Darjeeling is the highest tea exporter and thus, tea tourism in Darjeeling attracts many visitors during the plucking season. The best time to visit Darjeeling is between the months of April to June along with September to December. The climate is moderate for most of the year. Darjeeling is well connected by air from all the major parts of the country by Bagdogra airport. So today we will consider the prime attractions of Darjeeling and nearby places too.Read more:-Best Places in Shillong or Dwaki For The Solo Traveler

Tourist attractions in Darjeeling

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway also referred to as the DHR is the prime attraction of Darjeeling and sometimes it is also known as Toy Train. The journey of this toy train will give you the pleasure of seeing amazing sights and the breathtaking mountain views too. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway provides significant transport links between various parts of the Darjeeling hills and lower plains. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was declared as a World Heritage Site on 2 December 1999 by UNESCO. Riding on such heritage royal train will be an incredible experience. Every passenger will enjoy a relaxing and charming ride.Read more:-Trek to Jivdhan & Reverse Waterfall at Naneghat

Tiger Hill

Tiger is located 13 km away from Darjeeling. Lying at an altitude of 2590 meters. Tiger Hill in Darjeeling is not the place that will mesmerize you with the best view of sunrise but it is the place where you can soak yourself with Himalayan beauty anytime during the day. Tiger Hill is the highest point in Darjeeling. If you are a snow lover then you can visit Tiger Hill from Mid October to December. You can also visit from March to April as due to high altitude, you can escape the heat. The view of the colossal Kanchenjunga with many other flakes of snow-clad eastern Himalayan peaks from Tiger Hill is mesmerizing. The fresh morning air at Tiger Hill will give you a refreshing holiday experience.

Batasia Loop

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When you will be riding the Toy Train in Darjeeling, you will pass through Batasia Loop. It is located on Hill Cart Road and it takes 20 minutes to drive from Darjeeling town. No other place in Darjeeling can give you a better view of the town than Batasia Loop. This place gives the 360 views of the town. The tourists get a visual treat of beautiful landscape, snow-covered peaks of Eastern Himalayas. The view of majestic Kanchenjunga on one side adds more charm to the beauty of Darjeeling. One of the most enchanting aspects of the Batasia Loop is its unmatched natural beauty which is a wonderful sight to behold. Batasia means airy space. There are seating areas for tourists to enjoy the view. Batasia Loop was created by the British to counter such sharp descent. You won't even realize how the toy train actually descends by about 140ft as it completes the loop through a large circular area and on a gentle slope and then crosses its own track near the beginning of the loop through a tunnel below. It is considered as one of the greatest engineering feats. War memorial is located in the center of the Batasia Loop. Curious, bags, hats, and other decorative items are available in the shops, located in the nearby market of Batasia Loop.Toy Train rides and services of Batasia loop- Daily 5 am to 8 pm. There is an entry fee of Rs. 15/- per person. There are pay & use toilets for ladies and gents located inside at one end.Read more:-Places to Visit Near Delhi Within 100 Km

Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda

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The Japanese Peace Pagoda is a glistening white structure standing out in Darjeeling. The Japanese Peace Pagoda showcases four avatars of Lord Buddha. The avatars of Buddha are all large statues carved in the walls and polished in gold color. From the top of the Pagoda, you get a panoramic view of Darjeeling landscape including the Kanchenjunga range. The foundation stone of the Peace Pagoda was laid on November 3, 1972, by Nichidatsu Fujii and it was subsequently opened on November 1, 1992. The Japanese Peace Pagoda is the tallest free-standing structure in Darjeeling. Its height is 28.5 meters and diameter is 23 meters. Dr. M Ohka of Japan has designed the Japanese Peace Pagoda in Darjeeling and took several years for the completion of the structure. From the top of the Pagoda, you can get a wonderful view. Straight down at some distance, you will find a Japanese Temple and behind the temple, there are rows of pine trees.Timings - The temple open hours are from 4:30 am in the morning up to 7 pm daily. There is no admission fee. Prayer timings are from 4:30 am to 6 am, and 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.Read more:-Top 5 Summer Camping Sites in India

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute

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The prime attraction of Darjeeling is Himalayan Mountaineering Institute which is recognized as one of the best mountaineering institutes in the world. It was established in the year 1954. The aspiring mountaineers from all over the world come to this institute to develop their skills. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute has become the tourist attraction of Darjeeling due to its picturesque setting in the hill station of Darjeeling. It comprises of a residential school for mountaineering students, Swiss-style houses for the sherpa trainers, a well-stocked museum with the whole host of mountaineering artifacts and many expedition displays, a restaurant & a tea parlor, a souvenir shop and more. The tourist can get the entire view of Kanchenjunga range very clearly through the telescope installed in Himalayan Mountaineering Institute at Darjeeling.Timings - Open daily during tourist season. 9 am to 1 pm, and 2 pm to 5 pm. During the off-season, it remains closed on Tuesdays. Darjeeling Zoo and Bengal Natural History Museum are located in the same complex and if you are buying a combined ticket for all you need to pay INR-60 and additional INR 10 for carrying cameras inside the campus.Read more:-Jibhi Himachal Pradesh | Jibhi travel guide

Nightingale Park

The Shrubbery Nightingale Park in Darjeeling is a beautiful public park area, It is just 10 minutes walk from the Chowrasta Mall on Jawahar Parbat road and behind the Raj Bhawan (Summer residence of Governor of West Bengal). This park was closed for renovation for four years and it was again opened in the year 2011. The park will give you superb views of the Kanchenjunga and the other snow peaks of Eastern Himalayas. During the tourist season, Nepali cultural programs like local dances are held here every day in the evening. Tourists need to climb some marble stairs at the entry as this park is located at the elevated area. A giant statue of Lord Shiva with an associated temple is located at the right end of the park.

Rock Garden

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The Rock Garden is also known as the Barbotey Rock Garden which is located 10 km away from the Darjeeling. This garden was created by the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC, now known as GTA) and inaugurated by the chairman of the council Mr. Subash Ghising. The benches in the garden are made by cutting rocks at different levels. The garden is having beautiful flowerbed and tourists can enjoy waterfall in the garden only but during monsoon season. If you walk around the park, there are wonderful flower gardens, trees, and shrubs all across. It's easy to get to one of the many large rocks that are sitting right on the stream.Timings- The gardens/parks are usually open from 10 am to 4 pm daily. There are entry tickets.

Places to visit nearby Darjeeling

There are many tourist places near Darjeeling that showcase the beauty of the place and offer an unforgettable travel experience. The places nearby the Darjeeling will give you an unparallel experience of natural beauty. Here are some of the places which you can visit nearby Darjeeling. So head towards these nearby destinations and feel the explorer spirit.Read more:-Best Places to Spot Dolphins in India

Gangtok, Sikkim

The meaning of Gangtok is Hill Top. Gangtok is the capital town of Sikkim. This place is extremely alluring, pleasantly boisterous and wreathed in clouds. I must say this place is worth visiting nearby Darjeeling. This beautiful hill station is nestled in the mountains and clouds, which offer a breathe taking the view of Mt. Kanchenjunga, at a distant skyline. If you are driving in a cable car, then you will realize the prismatic view of the Gangtok. Gangtok is abundant in the natural landscape and the major tourist attractions in Gangtok includes Tsomgo Lake, Ban Jhakri falls, Tashi viewpoint and more. The best time to visit Gangtok is from October to March and it is located at a distance of 140 km from Darjeeling. All good things in life come in small pockets and Gangtok is the best example of this saying. Be it a rich flora, beautiful local people or the serene Buddhist monasteries in the small town of Gangtok.

Kalimpong

The quiet atmosphere at Kalimpong is the first thing that strikes the travelers traveling to Kalimpong. It is located in the northern part of West Bengal. Kalimpong is only 50 km from Darjeeling and adjacent to the Sikkim. It lies at an altitude of 1250 meter above the sea level. The best time to Visit Kalimpong is during summers, as due to high altitude, the summers are mild in Kalimpong. The prime tourist attraction in Kalimpong includes three important gompas or monasteries: the Tharpa Choeling Gompa, the Tongsa Gompa, and Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa. Kalimpong produces almost 80% of total gladioli produced in India. Kalimpong has a number of nurseries and it is an important flower producing center in India. Kalimpong hosts an annual flower festival in the month of October. Teesta Bazar is an important place for White water rafting and it is located at a distance of 16 km from Kalimpong. The rafting season starts from mid-February and continues till mid-November.Read more:-Korean Restaurants in Delhi

West Sikkim

It is located at the foothills of Mount Kanchenjunga, and it offers one of the best views of Southeast face of Mt. Kangchenjunga. The West Sikkim is known for few of the oldest and holiest Buddhist Monasteries of the world. The place is having an abundance of natural beauty and a rich religious history. The calm and peaceful environment of West Sikkim makes it the most love destination nearby Darjeeling. The west Sikkim offers the popular trekking trails for the adventure-seeking travelers. The Goecha La trek is one of the top treks of the Sikkim state as well as the Barsey Rhododendron Trek and Dzongri Trek are also famous among trekking enthusiasts. The abundance of natural landscape and tranquil environment creates hypnotic effects on the tourists. The best time to visit West Sikkim is during summers due to its pleasant weather and it is located at a distance of 74 km from Darjeeling.

Kurseong

Kurseong is also known as the land of White Orchids. It is located very close to Darjeeling at a distance of 43 km. The town is located almost midway between Siliguri and Darjeeling. The best time to visit Kurseong is during summers as due to the higher elevation of the town, summers are pleasant. It is located at 5000 feet above sea level. One of the famous and finest varieties of Darjeeling tea is found in Kurseong. The finest teas are produced by Castleton, Makaibari and Ambootia Tea Estate. Visitors can have a firsthand experience of how tea leaves are processed and prepared for production by visiting the nearby tea factories. This area is one of the best in terms of natural beauty and is also one of the least explored by tourists. It's difficult not to fall in love with the view of tea plantations, lush green forests and snow covered mountains.

Mirik

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Mirik is located amidst the Himalayan valley and its full of beautiful landscape and breathe taking views. This place has everything for every taste of tourists. It offers boating for a romantic experience, temples for travelers faithful experience and also orchids and green garden to feel make you feel connected with mother Earth. Mirik is a small hill town and part of Kurseong subdivision and within Darjeeling district. It is located at the distance of 49 km from Darjeeling and Mirik can never be a wrong selection of place, when tourists are selecting places nearby Darjeeling. Mirik's average altitude is about 5,000ft and the highest point is at 5,800ft (at Boker Monastery). It is located at a higher altitude than Darjeeling offering more comfortable and mild temperature during summers.So this vacation when you want to escape the higher temperature in India, head towards Darjeeling, but not only explore the abundance of natural beauty and tea estates of Darjeeling also peep into the places nearby Darjeeling and have an amazing, pleasant holiday at these places too.Read more:-Interesting Ways of Doing Holidays