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Darjeeling

Darjeeling

3–4 daysBest: Mar–May, Oct–NovMountains#tea#toy train#kanchenjunga
3–4 days Mar–May, Oct–Nov

Queen of the Hills and the toy train

Why this weekend?

Tiger hill sunriseToy trainTea gardens
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The day-by-day plan

Day 1Day 1 · Sunrise & rail
  1. Arrive by toy train or road
  2. Evening Chowrasta walk
  3. Book the Tiger Hill jeep

Geography & terrain

Darjeeling sits at ~2,045 m on a steep ridge of the eastern Himalaya in West Bengal, above the Mahananda river valleys. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m, the world's third-highest) fills the northern skyline on clear mornings.

History & culture

Ceded by Sikkim in 1835 as a British sanatorium, Darjeeling became the 'Queen of the Hills' and the hub of the 1850s tea boom. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1881, UNESCO) and the 1892 Planters' Club survive from that golden age.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,000–2,500/night

Mid-range

₹2,500–5,000/night

Comfort

₹5,000+/night

Things to do

Tiger Hill
🌟

Tiger Hill

Batasia Loop
🌟

Batasia Loop

Toy train
🌟

Toy train

Happy Valley tea estate
🌟

Happy Valley tea estate

Peace Pagoda
🌟

Peace Pagoda

Eat & drink

  • Kosha mangsho
  • Macher jhol (fish curry)
  • Sorshe ilish
  • Sandesh
  • Rasgulla

Getting there

Fly
Kolkata (CCU) / Bagdogra (IXB)
Train
Howrah & Sealdah junctions
Road from Kolkata
varies by district — 50–600 km
Getting around
Metro (Kolkata), autos, buses

Budget snapshot

Total
₹7,500–19,000 (3 days)
Per day · Stay
₹1,000–5,000/night
Per day · Food
₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport
₹600–1,000
Per day · Activities
₹600–1,000

Month by month

Jan—
Feb—
Mar—
Apr—
May—
Jun—
Jul—
Aug—
Sep—
Oct—
Nov—
Dec—

Practical info

  • Language: Bengali (English understood in tourist spots)
  • Best window: Mar–May, Oct–Nov
  • Connectivity: good 4G in towns
  • UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

  • Evenings are near-freezing — layers, gloves, beanie
  • Tiger Hill is 2,590 m — easy altitude, still keep a jacket
  • The Mall's monkeys and the Pagoda's monks both like snacks — keep bags closed

Frequently asked questions

October–December and March–May mornings are the reliable windows. Winter (Dec–Feb) is crispest; monsoon (Jun–Sep) hides the peak.

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Fly to Bagdogra (70 km) or rail to New Jalpaiguri, then the toy train or a 3-hour road climb.

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The Ghoom–Darjeeling section is the highlight — book it and ride the window side.

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Queen of the Hills and the toy train

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