Darjeeling’s charm is in the mornings: watch the sun hit Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill, then sip first-flush tea on an estate.
Highlights
- Sunrise at Tiger Hill
- Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (toy train) joy ride
- Tea estate tour and tasting
- Padmaja Naidu Zoo and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
- Batasia Loop
What to eat
- Momos and thukpa
- Darjeeling tea
- Bakery treats at Glenary’s
Where to stay
Around the Mall (Chowrasta) for walkability; tea-estate bungalows for a splurge.
Getting there
Fly to Bagdogra, then 3 hours by road. Shared jeeps also run from Siliguri/New Jalpaiguri.
Tips
- October to November has the clearest mountain views.
- Book toy train tickets in advance.
- Combine with Sikkim.
Best time to visit
Oct-Nov, Mar-May. See what else is good in March and our best time to visit India guide.
Temples and shrines near Darjeeling
- Rumtek Monastery Seat of the Karma Kagyu school in exile
Places to see in and around Darjeeling
86 places within 40 km. Tap I’ve been to add them to your India passport.
- Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum, 1 km
- Singalila National Park National park, 21 km
- Sandakphu trek Trek, 27 km
- Buddha Park of Ravangla Garden, 32 km
- Puttabong (Tukvar) Tea Estate Garden, 3 km
- Khecheopalri Lake Lake, 37 km
- Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park Zoo, 2 km
- Senchal Lake Lake, 5 km
- Mahakal temple Temple, 1 km
- Bagrakote Garden, 37 km
- Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlife sanctuary, 26 km
- Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary Wildlife sanctuary, 22 km
- Rabindra Museum Museum, 14 km
- Mirik Lake Lake, 18 km
- Chongtong Tea Garden Garden, 7 km
- Mangarjung Tea Garden Garden, 15 km
- Rongmook Ceder Tea Garden Garden, 10 km
- Singtam Tea Garden Garden, 4 km
- Pubong Tea Garden Garden, 9 km
- Pemayangtse Monastery Monastery, 29 km
- Tashi Gomang Shedra Buddhist Monastery Monastery, 36 km
- Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlife sanctuary, 35 km
- Lebong Valley, 3 km
- Rohini Tea Garden Garden, 24 km
And 62 more on our West Bengal map.
Food to try in and around Darjeeling
Named after Darjeeling: Darjeeling Tea. The rest are West Bengal favourites.
- Darjeeling Tea GI: tea or coffee
- Rosogolla
- Sandesh
- Luchi
- Chutney
- Ambal
- Joynagar Moa GI: sweet
- Bardhaman Sitabhog GI: sweet
- Bardhaman Mihidana GI: sweet
- Banglar Rasogolla GI: sweet
- Sundarban Honey GI: speciality
- Malda Laxman Bhog Mango GI: fruit
The full food passport, state by state.
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