Darjeeling and as the world calls it: The queen of hills is a place with a heart and a soul, sure to make you fall in love with its vibe just as you arrive here. The majestic town of Darjeeling, popular for its colonial charm and kindness of the people, is famous all over the country as well as outside the borders among people who crave for serenity. From taking a ride on the iconic Toy Train to sipping a cup of the world-famous Darjeeling tea, the quaint town of Darjeeling will never run out of things to do to make your vacation a memorable one.

Darjeeling is a place that meets every possible kind of holiday expectation. Be it a solo trip or a family vacation, Darjeeling offers every kind of traveller unique sets of things to do according to their interests. This post intends to give you an exhaustive list of places, attractions, famous restaurants, and pubs so that you don’t stand a chance to run out of things to do while you are in Darjeeling.

Here’s a list of things to do that will make your vacation in Darjeeling worth bragging about. Go ahead and find out what makes Darjeeling one of the most famous travel destinations in India.

3 PLACES TO VISIT FOR NATURE ADDICTS

1. Tiger Hill: A short drive of less than an hour, covering a distance of roughly 13 km from Darjeeling, will take you to Tiger Hill, a place from where you can witness a surreal sunrise and panoramic view of Khangchendzonga, which has an altitude of 2950 m. The world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest, is also visible from Tiger Hill provided the sky is clear. If you’ve arrived in Darjeeling, Tiger Hill is a place you definitely cannot miss at any cost.

The mesmerising view of mountains from Tiger Hill

     2. Happy Valley Tea Garden: A beautiful stretch of tea garden situated at one of the highest elevations in Darjeeling is Happy Valley Tea Garden. This place offers an experience in a platter: from indulging in a magnificent view of the tea garden to watching the tea being made. Established in Darjeeling by the English in 1854, most of the tea from this plantation is exported to London from Darjeeling in the present day.

      3. Lebong Tea Garden: Another beautiful tea garden in the lap of Darjeeling is Lebong Tea Garden, situated at Lebong Cart Road. Offering beautiful views and shops selling tea leaves, this place lets you take back home a part of itself in a packet.

A view of tea gardens - Darjeeling

7 ICONIC SPOTS IN DARJEELING

1. Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, popularly known as the toy train or the joy ride started in 1881 and runs on a narrow gauge. It is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the most popular attractions in Darjeeling. A picture beside the steam engine will surely adorn your social media pages. So make sure you don’t miss clicking one.

The magnificent Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

    2. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI): Being one of the most famous mountaineering institutes that host students from within the country and abroad, HMI is a treasure in Darjeeling. It also consists of a museum and a cafeteria within the premises. If rock climbing, trekking, or the mighty mountains interest you, entering the museum will make you skip a heartbeat for sure. Established in 1957, the objective of the HMI museum in Darjeeling is to facilitate educational activities associated with mountaineering, preserve the art and culture of the Himalayas, and educate people about the flora and fauna of the Himalayan region. Adorned with models, paintings, sculptures, photographs, manuscripts, books, monographs, artifacts, and equipment related to Mountaineering, this museum is a gem in Darjeeling.

Entrance to HMI, Darjeeling

   3. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park: Located in the same complex as the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, popularly known as Darjeeling Zoo is known internationally for its conservation breeding programmes of Red Panda, Snow Leopards, Tibetan Wolf and other endangered species of Eastern Himalayas. Walking down the zoo will truly be a delight on your trip to Darjeeling.

A red panda spotted at Darjeeling Zoo

Waiting for a customer, The Mall - Darjeeling

A regular day at Chowrasta, Darjeeling

          6. Darjeeling Ropeway: The Rangeet Valley Passenger Cable Car, more famous by the name Darjeeling Ropeway offers a mixed platter for the good. A ride on the Darjeeling Ropeway will let you have a look at lush green tea gardens over the valleys of Darjeeling, mountain streams, and forests down below while the snow-clad mountain peaks serve as the backdrop.

The ropeway cable, as viewed at dawn - Darjeeling

     7. Rock Garden and Ganga Maya Park: If you crave a peaceful escape, these two parks in Darjeeling would be suitable among things to do. A terraced garden over rocks at different levels and a beautiful fountain is possibly the place where you’d want to sit and fill up pages of your travel journal with memories of Darjeeling.

3 PLACES TO EXPERIENCE SPIRITUALITY IN DARJEELING

1. Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda: Built in the year 1972, the Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda is located on the slopes of Jalapahar Hill and takes only about 10 minutes by drive from Darjeeling town. The two-storied temple showcases four avatars of Lord Buddha. Enquire about the prayer timings beforehand when you visit the temple. Walk into the Peace Pagoda to experience divinity in Darjeeling. Beautiful views of the majestic mountains and Kanchenjunga peak is an added treat at this ethereal architecture in Darjeeling.

2. Ghoom Monastery: Samten Choling Monastery, more conveniently known as the Ghoom Monastery is located on Hill Cart road, somewhere about 7kms away from Darjeeling. Visit the monastery in the early hours to experience the Buddhist chants by the monks. You could look through the collection of Buddhist books and manuscripts that is treasured in this monastery in Darjeeling. When in Darjeeling, do not reject the idea of stopping by at these beautiful and tranquil places of worship.

3. Mahakal Temple: Located on top of Observatory Hill in Darjeeling, Mahakal Temple is a very interesting place as one witnesses the amalgamation of beliefs here. This temple was originally a Buddhist monastery and in the present day, both Hindu priests and Buddhist monks sit side by side to chant their respective prayers. You will earn an experience of a lifetime by visiting this temple in Darjeeling.

A TEENY BIT OF OFFBEAT ACTIVITIES

Make an addition to the list of things to do in Darjeeling by adding a day’s tour to one of the offbeat locations near Darjeeling to experience the untainted natural beauty possessed by the mountain ranges. Lamahatta, Tinchuley, Lepchajagat, Takdah, and Mirik are a few places near Darjeeling where you could spend a day, adding a few extra pages to your Darjeeling diaries.

A glance at Mirik Lake, 60 km from Darjeeling

FOR THE SHOPAHOLIC IN YOU

When in Darjeeling, you will surely be tempted to buy the trendy outfits you will see locals pulling off. You could take a walk down the mall market or check the street shopping scene around the mall area to find out what fits your choice. There are plenty of shops for souvenirs, in case you’d want to exhibit parts of Darjeeling in your own living room back at home. A famous store located on Laden La Road in Darjeeling run by Hayden Hall, an NGO working for underprivileged women is a must-visit if you’re interested in handicrafts and woolen items.

Street shops being set up at Darjeeling

BON APPETIT DARJEELING STYLE

One of the most important things to do on a trip is to relish lip-smacking food. Darjeeling is a place where you have the discretion to taste Nepalese delicacies like momo, thukpa, shyaphaley, or taipo at local eateries, or relish at fine-dine restaurants. 

A quiet morning in Glenary's in Darjeeling

Breakfast at Keventers is a must when you’re in Darjeeling. A famous eatery, probably the most sought-after in Darjeeling is Glenary’s, located right next to the mall area. Started during the British period, Glenary’s is a bakery and restaurant and in addition, it now also has a new pub called The Buzz in the same building. This Instagram-worthy restaurant is a place that will make you feel no less than a social media influencer when you dine here. Visit during the evenings to experience some amazing live music, the vibe, and tunes of which will teleport you to the colonial era. Do not forget to indulge in a cup of aromatic Darjeeling tea, known across the globe for its one-of-a-kind quality. Some other notable restaurants and cafes in Darjeeling which are my personal favourite are Joey’s Pub, Park, Frank Ross Café, Himalayan Java Coffee, and Boney’s. 

Now that you have a detailed list of things to do in Darjeeling, what are you waiting for? Book your tickets and pack your bag. Darjeeling waits. Let the journey begin!

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