Travel Guide To Darjeeling, India

Spread in ribbons over a steep mountain ridge, surrounded by emerald-green tea plantations and towered over by majestic Khangchendzonga (8598m), Darjeeling is the definitive Indian hill station and is arguably West Bengal’s premier attraction. When you aren’t gazing open-mouthed at Khangchendzonga, you can explore colonial-era architecture, visit Buddhist monasteries, and spot snow leopards and red pandas at the nearby zoo. The adventurous can arrange a trek to Singalila Ridge or hire a mountain bike for a guided ride around the hilltops. Meanwhile the steep and winding bazaars below the town bustle with an array of Himalayan products and faces from across Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet. finally, when energies start to flag, a good, steaming Darjeeling brew is never far away.

Get in

By plane

The nearest airport is Bagdogra in Siliguri, 96 km from Darjeeling.

Air India (formerly Indian Airlines), India's largest airline, has flights from:

Delhi - IC 880 (Tu/Th/Sat) and IC 879 (Mon/Fri - via Guwahati)

Guwahati - IC 879 (Mon/Fri)

Kolkata - IC 721 (Tu/Th/Sat)

Jet Airways, a private airline, has flights from:

Delhi - 9W 601 (Mon/Wed/Fri - Via Guwahati) and 9W 602 (Tu/Th/Sat/Sun)

Guwahati 9W 601 (Mon/Wed/Fri)

Kolkata 9W 617 (Daily)

Spice Jet also operates flights from Kolkata & Delhi.

IndiGo also operates direct/indirect flights from Delhi and Guwahati.

All other cities major cities can be accessed by taking a flight to Delhi/Kolkata and connecting.

By taxi/shared jeep

Siliguri is the nearest town connected to the mainline rail network. Ample transport is available to Darjeeling from here. The most popular modes of transport are taxi (usually shared by three to four passengers), shared jeep (ten passengers) @ ₹150/ to ₹200/ depends on time.

Shared jeeps depart regularly, from several locations around town. They leave when full, and are a cheap, fast and reasonably comfortable way to get to Darjeeling.

If you have arrived by train at New Jalpaiguri, you can take a taxi or shared jeep to reach Darjeeling from the booking counter at the taxi stand in front of the railway station. There is also a prepaid taxi stand in front of the train station. Note that if you arrive too late for the jeep to make a return journey from Darjeeling, you may end up paying more, e.g. ₹200 per person. The prepaid counter will tell you that no jeeps are available, so you'll have to find one via a fixer or by negotiating directly with drivers.

Tourists often opt to buy an extra seat or two to have more space for the 3-hour journey up to Darjeeling! Luggage is carried for free on the roof. Jeeps may stop for a snack and toilet break on the way up (normally a few km short of Kurseong).

Reserve cars are available from Kings Travels,dial: 098304-28401/ 093319-39486 for tour purpose in Darjeeling.