Darjeeling Tourism
Darjeeling is a popular tourists’ destination, not only for the people of Eastern India, but also for travelers from all over the world. However, this is not a new phenomenon. The town enjoyed the same status as early as in 1860. In the beginning, it was visited mostly by the British who travelled on horseback along the steep Peshok Road to escape the hot and sultry summer of the plains.
Source: Flickr
Today however, people from all over the world visit the area throughout the year. Indeed, it is not only the scenic beauty of the place, which attracts the tourists to Darjeeling; one can literally mingle among the relics of the Raj and savor history at every step.
The Chowrasta Mall and Police Assistance Booth
The central point of Darjeeling has always been the Chosrasta Mall. It is flat piece of land on top of the Nehru Road with numerable benches erected along its periphery. It is designed to be the social centre for Darjeeling and a great meeting point for tourists as well as the locals.
Source: Flickr
This is the place where people meet not only for chitchat, but also for more serious businesses. However, one also finds people sitting quietly to enjoy the sun or to watch the mighty Kanchenjunga looming above. One also finds a Police Assistance Booth located conveniently and therefore, if one is in any kind of trouble, there is always help in hand.
Places of Tourist Interest in Darjeeling
Most of the time the visitors start their Darjeeling tour with a walk down the Mall Road. It starts at the Chourasta Mall and goes round the Observatory Hill to culminate into the Mall once more. The road not only offers scenic beauty, but also a number of places of tourist interest such as the Mahakal Temple and the Governor House. Further up, there is the Birch Hill, which hosts the world famous Himalayan Mountaineering Institute as well Padmaja Naidu Zoological Garden. The Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre lies further down. One can approach it from the Lebong Road as well. The Bengal Natural History Museum and the Lloyd Botanical Garden are two other important points to visit, especially for those who are interested in the local fauna and flora. The former houses a large collection of stuffed mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes and insects of wide varieties. Following are some other places tourists to Darjeeling ought to visit:
- Deshbandu Museum at Step Aside
- Bhitia Basti Monastery
- St Andrew's Church
- Peace Pagoda
- Japanese Temple
- Shrubbery Nightingale Park
- Old Cemetry
- Tenzing Gombu Rock
- Rock Garden
- Ganga Maya Park
- Ropeway
- Happy Valley Teas Estate
- Lebong Race Course
- Tiger Hill
- Senchan Lake
- Ghoom Monastery
- Batasia Loop
- DHR Ghoom Museum
Heritage Sights in Darjeeling
Other than the above, there are numerous other points in Darjeeling that may interest the tourists. As has been indicated, some among them are relics of the Raj era. Most of such relics have been accorded heritage status. The toy train that runs from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling has been accorded World Heritage status by UNESCO. Raj era establishments such as the Planters Club, St. Andrew’s Church, the Union Church, the Clock Tower, the Keventer’s, the Glenary’s, Das Studio are truly worth a visit.
Some Important Information on Darjeeling
Tourist Information Centers At Darjeeling:
Deputy Director of Tourism, GTA
Silver Fir Building, Bhanu Sarani, Darjeeling - 734101
Phone: (0354) 2254879 / 2255351
Fax: (0354) 2254214
Tourist Information Center, GTA
Laden-La Road
Near the Gandhi Road Police Point
Tourist Bureau, Government of West Bengal
1, Nehru Road, Darjeeling - 734101
Phone: (0354) 2254050
Fax: 0354-2254102
Tourists Information Centres Outside Darjeeling
GTA Tourism Desk in ITDC Office
4 Shakespeare Sarani,
Kolkata - 700071
Phone: (033)2282-1715, 2282-5813, 2282-1402
Tourism Center (Tourist Bureau)
3/2 B.B.D. Bag (East), Kolkata - 700001
Phone: (033) 22437260, 22488271, 44012659 /60 /61 /62
Email: visitwestbengal@yahoo.co.in
West Bengal Tourist Information Counter
Kolkata Airport (Domestic Lounge)
Phone: (033) 2511-6026
Tourist Bureau
Howrah Railway Station, Kolkata.
Phone: (033) 22663518
Tourism Center Siliguri
M-4 Building, Hill Cart Road,
Phone: (0353) 2511974 /979
Mobile: 09733008785
Tourist Information Center
Bagdogra Airport. Phone: (0353) 2551794
West Bengal Tourist Information Center, New Delhi
A/2 Baba Kharak Singh Marg
State Emporia Complex (1st Floor),
New Delhi - 110001
Phone: (011)2336-3775, 2373-2840
Darjeeling Helplines:
Police - 0354- 2254422Fire Services - 0354-2252121/2252128
Eden Hospital - 0354 2252131
Ambulance - 0354 2256352