Darjeeling is not what it was 20 years back, and in 2023 looks more like a mini-glitzy city lit up brightly amid buzzing busy tourists.
Nestled in the mountainous Eastern Himalayas, the glittering “city”-town of Darjeeling stands with an elevation of 2,045 meters. Darjeeling gazes towards the dazzling white icy Kangchenjunga Mountains, the world’s third-highest mountains in the north visible on bright sunny days. Visiting Darjeeling during the peak of tourism fever on New Year 2023 was quite a fantastic experience.
Due to the ideal weather like that of Europe, Darjeeling became the most preferred hub to the British colonists. Darjeeling quickly rose to be a boon for the international tea industry, transport, and tourism but also became an advantageous place for education as the British established educational institutions in the region. Today, ‘schools in Darjeeling’ are reputed for educational excellence throughout the country.
Darjeeling is Famous for Three Things, Tourism, Tea and Schools
Tourism: A visit to Darjeeling can be an extravagant venture because everything is soaring there including the costs, but it was well worth it all because it is an unforgettable delightful experience. Darjeeling’s unique placement near the borders adds to its mystical air of cultural complexes along with its chugging Toy Train.
Ever since the 70s, Darjeeling has had a rich influx of international tourists due to its placement on the towering Himalayas, and the view of the Kangchenjunga Mountains while hotels and the town are all geared to cater to international tourists.
With multitudes of hotels dotting the hills, I chose to stay in Apsara Hotel because it is just a stone’s throw away from all the most elite hotspots in Darjeeling in the heart of town next to the famous Chowrastha Mall. Apsara Hotel is comfortable with gleaming woodwork, warm during the freezing January winter with its heater facilities, good room service, clean, and comfortable with a fantastic view of the mountains and green hills.
The town is placed at a very strategic spot, to the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal, to the east the Kingdom of Bhutan, to the north the Indian state of Sikkim, and farther north the Tibet autonomous region of China. Bangladesh lies to the south and southeast, and most of the state of West Bengal lies to the south and southwest, connected to the Darjeeling region by a narrow tract.
Darjeeling used to be the British holiday zone during the colonial era so you would see a lot of British architecture with picturesque cottages, along with the ancient Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian frameworks all enriching its multi-cultural charm.
With a fascinating conglomerate of old Buddhist culture with monks, red Gompas brightening up the hills, thousands of Hindu shrines and temples, and old churches the town is bright with its panoramic concoction. The holiday season lit up with glittering evergreen trees, sparkling stars, and bells, Tibetan old curio shops, amid some old-loved shops and restaurants such as the Kashmiri curio jewelry shop Habeeb Mullick, and fascinating tea shops selling unique mixtures of tea such as chocolate tea, and peach tea.
Restaurants cuisines, Continental, oriental, rich Indian dishes, Keventers with English breakfast, glamorous Glenaries, pure vegetarian Hasty Tasty, Dekevas Restaurant with unique Tibetan, Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisines, and much more.
During the night, the new Darjeeling has Chowrasta afresh lined up with colorfully dressed girls and women cooking different assortments of food on roaring fires by the roadside of hot chicken barbeques, cooking freshly steamed momo, chow mein, chicken lollypops, chicken taipo, chicken faarley, and several other delicious favorites.
Crowded Chowrasta Mall at night. Famed tea shops
Famous elite Glenaries Restaurant lit up
Keventers restaurant with its famous farm has the first milkshake brand made in India, all lit up and glowing on New Year’s Day!
Habib Mullick is an old celebrated Kashmir curio shop with rare precious jewels set in silver and other valuable metals.
Tea
Darjeeling is known for its internationally acclaimed tea and new tea shops have ubiquitously risen around the town certifying the booming tea business in the town, if not in the rest of India. Interesting new concoctions such as chocolate tea, peach tea, and much more! The British and Dutch Battles kindled the birth of Indian tea. Going back to the history of India in India is traced back to China.
Rich in exciting folklore, tea gardens in Darjeeling exude an air of mystery and adventure immersed in the political complexities of establishing the world-famous legendary Darjeeling tea industry. After World War I, Indian and Eurasian vendors, furnished with stoves and kettles began selling tea at the historic railway stations of Bengal, Punjab, and the Frontier regions.
Camellia Sinensis (Tea) Was First Planted in the Darjeeling area in 1841 and from then on, the tea industry expanded in India.
The Darjeeling Tea Estates produce approximately 9.6 million kg of tea each year. Darjeeling Tea has a unique taste attributed to its climate, soil, slope, mountain mist, and rain
The tea industry and tourism are the mainstays of the town’s economy and there is nothing as refreshing as a hot cup of Darjeeling tea on a cold day.
Schools
Darjeeling is famous for its essence of scholastic excellence. The majority of the ‘best schools in Darjeeling’ were constructed by the British during Colonial reign. Here are a few of the famous schools. Mount Hermon School was established on 11th March 1895 and was founded by Emma Knowles. St. Joseph’s School was founded in 1888 by Henri Depelchin. It is a private institution owned and maintained by the Jesuits. St. Paul’s School was established by Rector Joy Halder in 1823, known for its elegant architectural features, and has been featured in the majority of the scenes in the Bollywood film starting Sharrukh Khan & Sushmita Sen (Main Hoon Naa).
Loreto Convent is an English-medium girls’ high school. It secures the highest position amongst the ‘list of Schools in Darjeeling’. It is an Independent school established in the year 1846 by the Sisters of Loreto with the intention to provide quality education. There are many more good schools such as St. Robert’s Higher Secondary School, St. Teresa Girls’ High School, and others.
Darjeeling district has four sub-divisions, viz; Darjeeling Sadar, Kurseong, Mirik, and Siliguri. Darjeeling Sadar, Kurseong, and Mirik are located in the hills, whereas, Siliguri is in the plains at an elevation of 400 meters only.
Kalimpong was a sub-division of Darjeeling District until 14th February 2017, when it was formed as the 21st district of West Bengal.
How Can You Reach Darjeeling?
By Air
Bagdogra, 90 K.M. (via NH 110) away from Darjeeling, is the nearest airport connected by flights from major cities like Kolkata, Delhi, and Guwahati.
By Rail
Apart from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station (88 K.M. from New Jalpaiguri Railway Station), the two closest railway stations are Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri. These railway stations have direct railway connections with Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, and other major cities of India.
By Road
The major access to Darjeeling by road is via Siliguri, 77 K.M. (via NH 55), which is connected to all the major cities of India. Bus service is available from Tenzing Norgay Bus Stand, Siliguri. Smaller vehicles are also available on seat-sharing/ hire from airport, railway station, motor syndicates/police motor stands. The facility of pre-paid taxi stand from NJP Railway station & Bagdogra airport can also be used. The four routes that one can opt for from Siliguri to reach Darjeeling are:
Tindharia – Kurseong route
Dudhiya – Mirik route
Rohini route
Pankhabari
A visit to Darjeeling either in Spring resplendent with colorful flowers, and sweet old-world charm, or experiencing a Winter Snowland is a delightful experience with its enchanting mountain beauty, fresh cold air, cozy cottages, warm friendly people, blazing fires at night with groups singing gustily to the tunes of guitars. One can feel the magic in the air on a silvery moonlight night with the valley glittering with lights, and it is one place to visit in a lifetime, never miss it.