Darjeeling is a serene town to the extreme north of the state of West Bengal in India. Known for its beautiful view of the peak of Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world, the town itself is an exemplar of beauty. The best time to visit the place is between October to December, just before the extreme cold sets in. Even during this time, the minimum temperature falls to around 5 degree Celsius, which is very pleasant while wrapped around blankets. Apart from stunning views of the peak, the town has much more to offer, some of which are explained below.
A few kilometres away from proper Darjeeling is the railway station of Ghoom. This station holds the record for being located at the highest altitude in the world. This station is served by a toy train from Siliguri, which also takes passengers towards Darjeeling. The toy trains are also a delight to be in. Making its way across winding pass among mountains, the ride provides a glimpse of some of the most spectacular views in this planet. And while travelling in them, make it a point to enjoy the knick-knacks sold by the locals. It makes them happy and their smile is worth capturing.
Early morning, around 3am, most tourists in Darjeeling make their way towards the sunrise point. The sunrise point is located around 15 kms away from the centre of the town and takes a little more than half an hour to reach. Once there, take a position in the top most stand of the viewer’s gallery and when the sun rises in the east, glance at the opposite direction towards the peak of Kanchenjunga. The golden sunlight on top of the snow – capped peak is worth a sight. This scene gives photographers a chance to capture brilliant shots which are sure to be admired by many.
There are plenty of places to stay while on your visit to Darjeeling. Hotels and rentals are available across all budget ranges and you can meet all kinds of travellers while enjoying the beauty of the hill side town. Almost all hotels boast of a hill side view but the ones offering the most beautiful views are obviously on the costlier side. But look a little more and you are sure to find something that suits your pocket while giving you the best possible view too.
One can reach Darjeeling by air, rail and road. Bagdogra is the nearest airport with daily flights from Kolkata and Delhi. Flights from Mumbai and other metro cities also fly to Bagdogra. Siliguri is the nearest railhead connected to all major cities with the broad gauge line. From Siliguri, one can take the toy train to Darjeeling. Apart from that, one can always take the scenic road route to the town of Darjeeling. All roads will pass through Siliguri before ascending on the mountains.