Darjeeling, the Queen of Hills

· by · in Photography, Travel. ·

Ensconced in the foothills of the Himalayas, the district of Darjeeling is the crowning glory of the state of West Bengal. The hills rise from the Tarai and Doors region and are elevated to an altitude of more than 12,000 feet. The misty mountains, verdant gardens, bevies of clouds playing hide and seek with the Kanchenjunga (or Kanchendzonga) rising steadily at a distance and a cool, comfortable climate have helped Darjeeling to earn the sobriquet, “Queen of Hills”.

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The thin veil of early morning mist

The name Darjeeling is perhaps derived from the Tibetan word “Dorjee Lin” meaning land of the thunderbolts. In 1835, the king of Sikkim gifted Darjeeling to the then Governor General of British India, Lord Bentinck, though the present Darjeeling we see today has little similarity with the 138 square miles long land that was handed over to the East India Company.

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Mist, mist and more mist! That’s the beauty of Darjeeling.

Once you start your journey towards Darjeeling from the NJP (New Jalpaiguri) station, the scenic beauty changes rapidly with sloping coniferous forests and lush green terraced tea gardens. While you can hire a car to reach Darjeeling, it would be an out of the world experience to avail the joy ride of the toy-train, operated by the Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway (DHR). It is a narrow gauge track leading its way through some of the most beautiful mountain routes in the world. The slow moving train, the musical sound of the wheels moving through numerous loops and zigzag lines traversing the mountains, the vintage look of the coach- an exotic experience in itself. Since 1999, it has been recongnized as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway, Toy Train

Apart from enjoying the legendary sunrise from the Tiger Hill, you can take the ride to the 13 km long Darjeeling Rangeet valley Ropeway. There is the Peace Pagoda, Rock Garden, Yiga-Choeling Ghoom Monastery, the Mahakala Temple, Botanical Garden, Ava Art Gallery, among the other prime attractions. Don’t forget to pamper your taste buds at the Glenary’s (for the best pastries and cakes) and Keventers (I like the hot chocolate and chicken cutlet most). There are numerous hotels in Darjeeling, but it’s better to book in prior.

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Kanchenjungha from the hotel room

But only an early morning or evening stroll through the hilly roads can help you to get in the essence of this hilly town. The low clouds will wave at you with an occasional drizzle followed by the sunshine immediately. The charm of Darjeeling is inexhaustible; the more you see, the more you want to breathe in.

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Yiga-Choeling Ghoom Monastery

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Tea Garden

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Snakes! Hold on! They are made of stones. 

I have visited Darjeeling quite a number of times since my childhood. The hill-station has never failed to enchant me. There is a smell that is typical to Darjeeling; a heady mixture of raw tea leaves, pine cones, fog and numbers of unknown flowers. The olfactory receptors register memories in a better and customized manner, we all know, and, this smell will remain with you forever once you visit Darjeeling.

Best time to Visit: March- May and September-December. It’s better to avoid the monsoon from June-August, but if you want to feel the chilly wind, you can even travel during January or February.

How to Reach: The nearest airport Bagdogra is 74 km from Darjeeling and has regular flights from Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi. The nearest railhead is at Siliguri, NJP station. Quite a number of trains are available on a daily basis from Kolkata and other parts of India.

 

170 responses to “Darjeeling, the Queen of Hills”

  1. Quite a description of Darjeeling. Your words make me feel like I’m visiting it myself. Superbly narrated, Maniparna. And pics are beyond words. 🙂

    Though I dare to take an attempt on first pic:

    Thin veil of dawn mist
    Nature’s pandiculation
    Coy smile of a girl

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Wow ! what a beautiful place . Feeling happy to recall my memories of Darjeling in 2001 but then did not have digital camera . This place always call me again . Beautiful pictures and write up Mani .

    Liked by 2 people

  14. after reading this post,Came to know about many attractions in Darjeeling those i never heard from those who already have visited,in last two years i have planned many times to visit Darjeeling but my lazy nature always stopped me. I think i should visit at least once.
    Loved reading it, pics are fantastic.

    Liked by 2 people

  26. Beautiful and a fitting tribute to The Queen of Hills! I too had spent some years nearby Darjeeling Kalimpong and Gangtok each so heavenly. Thank you for rekindling beautiful memories.

    Liked by 2 people

  35. The essence of Darjeeling so very enticingly captured in this post…you are luring all your readers to head towards the mountains with the bewitching pics of the five treasures of snow…the mighty K!

    Liked by 1 person

  36. Such beautiful pictures!!! Darjeeling indeed is a world of its own and its beauty is unparalleled! 🙂 I was with you through the entire narrative… Smelling the smells, seeing through your eyes…

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  37. I suspect like many other people around the world, I’ve known the name Darjeeling since my childhood because of the famous tea. I’ve never had the opportunity to visit the place, unfortunately, but from your description of it, I think I’d find it a very interesting and beautiful destination.Maybe one day (sigh)… 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  39. Though I have never visited Darjeeling but I can see through your eyes and experience the every small things you have so beautifully captured, in fact one can smell the beauty of the place in wonderful narration. I have heard a lot about the toy train and the magic that mist plays with the sky, there is a distinct aura surrounding the place, the lofty mountains and the snow capped peaks and the lush green plantation and the little chill in the air and the mysticism is visibly palpable through your beautiful chosen pictures and the romantic description of the road to the destination and the engagement of our multiple senses with the essence of nature…there is something truly mystical about the place why it continues to remain etched out in the memories of visitors and they are always short of words to give wings to their thoughts about Darjeeling…

    It is monsoon time and here in Hyderabad we have started experiencing the premonsoon showers and it is indeed such a relief after the grueling summer we all have gone through…it is time to cheer with rain dance…looking forwards to your inspiring monsoon poems.
    :D:D:D

    Liked by 2 people

  44. Lovely read Maniparna. The glowing peaks of Kanchenjunga, misty sky, lush green valleys, the toy train, monastery – you’ve captured the beauty of Darjeeling in its full glory in this post. There is something very romantic and nostalgic about the place.

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  47. Beautiful post I have another friend who also posts pictures of the mountains I never get tried of seeing them. Great information about the best times to travel I would love to visit them some day.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Mountains have a charm of their own. They are grand, stand high above the others and yet so down to earth, silent and sombre. I love mountains. Hope you’ll visit them some day…:-) Thanks a lot for dropping by, dear. Have a great week ahead… ❤

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