West Bengal · East India
Toy trains and first-flush tea
Darjeeling sits on a steep Himalayan ridge above tea gardens, with clear-weather views of the Kangchenjunga massif. Its narrow-gauge railway, monasteries and colonial-era townscape reflect a layered history shaped by Himalayan communities and the tea trade.
Best time to visit
IdealGoodAvoid
Top attractions
- Tiger Hill
- Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
- Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
- Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
- Batasia Loop
- Happy Valley Tea Estate
How to reach
- By air: Bagdogra Airport is about 70 km from Darjeeling, usually a three- to four-hour hill drive.
- By rail: New Jalpaiguri Junction is about 73 km away; the narrow-gauge railway also reaches Darjeeling subject to service availability.
- By road: Darjeeling is about 65 km from Siliguri and roughly 100 km from Gangtok; journey times depend on hill-road conditions.
Local food to try
- Momos
- Thukpa
- Shaphaley
- Gundruk soup
- Sel roti
Things to do
Ride a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway joy train
Visit a working tea estate and taste local teas
Watch sunrise from Tiger Hill when skies are clear
Explore the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute museum
Walk around Observatory Hill and Chowrasta
Good to know
When is the best time to visit Darjeeling?+
March to May offers spring colour, while October to November often brings clearer mountain views; monsoon rain can disrupt roads.
How many days are needed?+
Three days cover the main town sights, a tea estate and a railway ride; add a day for a slower pace.
Is a permit required for Darjeeling?+
Ordinary visits to Darjeeling town do not require a special tourist permit. Separate rules apply if you continue into restricted parts of Sikkim.
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