| Darjeeling: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country: | India | ||
| State: | West Bengal | ||
| Coordinates: | 27°02′N 88°10′E / 27.03°N 88.16°E | ||
Darjeeling is one of the most popular hill station for tourists specially for Honeymooners. The reason why Darjeeling attracts so many tourist round the year is its unmatched beauty of Hills. Sun rise experince of Tiger Hill is amazing & Batasia Loop in a very unique track we can see in Darjeeling. The nearest Airport is IXB ( Baghdogra ) which is around 5 hrs hill drive.
Darjeeling is internationally famous for its tea industry and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway connecting the town with the plains was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999 and is one of the few steam engines still in service in India.
Darjeeling has several British-style public schools, which attract students from many parts of India and neighbouring countries. This is the same school which has been fatured in bollywood movies such as Yarian and Main Hoon Na.
City Darjeeling
Darjeeling is well developed city with variety of shopping malls, muliplex and numberous Hotels. There are few markets such as Tibetian Market which is very popular amounst tourist to buy shoes and bags. Like most of the hill stations the traffic is slow but steady. All modern medical facilities are available in Darjeeling & is well connected with roads. The markets are very well planned and developed.
Geography
Darjeeling is located at an average elevation of 6,982 ft (2,128 m) in the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region on the Darjeeling-Jalapahar range that originates in the south from Ghum. The range is Y-shaped with the base resting at Katapahar and Jalapahar and two arms diverging north of Observatory Hill. The north-eastern arm dips suddenly and ends in the Lebong spur, while the north-western arm passes through North Point and ends in the valley near Tukver Tea Estate.
The area has steep slopes and loose topsoil. The hills are nestled within higher peaks and the snow-clad Himalayan ranges tower over the town in the distance. Mount Kanchenjunga (8,598 m or 28,208 ft) — the world's third-highest peak — is the most prominent peak visible. In days clear of clouds, Nepal's Mount Everest (29,035 ft or 8,850 m) can be seen.
There are several tea plantations in the area. Flora around Darjeeling includes temperate, deciduous forests of poplar, birch, oak, and elm as well as evergreen, coniferous trees of wet alpine. Dense evergreen forests lie around the town, where a wide variety of rare orchids are found. Lloyd's Botanical Garden preserves common and rare species of flora, while the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is the only specialised zoo in the country conserving and breeding endangered Himalayan species.
Climate
Summers (lasting from May to June) are mild, with maximum temperatures rarely crossing 15 °C (57 °F).. In winter temperature averages -10–-7 °C (12–18 °F), with lows around −11 °C (12.2 °F). During the daytime temperatures drop below freezing, and snowfalls are fairly common. During the monsoon and winter seasons, Darjeeling is often shrouded in mist and fog.
Economy
The two most significant contributors to Darjeeling's economy are tourism and the tea industry. Darjeeling tea is regarded as one of the best of black teas and is widely popular, especially in the UK and the countries making up the former British Empire.
Summer and spring seasons are most popular with tourists, keeping many of. Many people earn a living working for tourism companies and as guides. Darjeeling is a popular filming destination for Bollywood and Bengali cinema; films such as Aradhana, Main Hoon Na, Kanchenjungha have been filmed here.
Transport
The town of Darjeeling can be reached by the 50 miles (80 km) long Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (nicknamed the "Toy Train") from Siliguri, or by the Hill Cart Road (National Highway 55) that follows the railway line. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, becoming only the second railway in the world to have this honour. The nearest airport is in Bagdogra near Siliguri, located about 93 km (58 miles) from Darjeeling. The closest major railway station is in New Jalpaiguri, which is connected with almost all major cities of the country. Within the town, people usually traverse by walking.
Demographics
The major religion is Hinduism, followed by Buddhism. Christians and Muslims form sizable minorities. The population's ethnic composition is closely linked with that of Bengal,Nepal,Bhutan and Sikkim. The majority of the populace is of ethnic Bengali and Nepali background. Indigenous ethnic The most commonly spoken language is Hindi and English are also used.
Culture & Food
A popular food in Darjeeling is the momo, a steamed dumpling. Wai-Wai is a packaged snack consisting of pre cooked noodles which are eaten either directly from the packet dry or in soup form. Churpee, a kind of hard cheese made from cow's or yak's milk is sometimes chewed. A form of noodle called thukpa, served in soup form is also popular in Darjeeling."Aloo Dum" is the most popular snack. Here are a large number of restaurants which offer a wide variety of traditional Indian, continental and Chinese cuisines to cater to the tourists. Tea is the most popular beverage, procured from the famed Darjeeling tea gardens, as well as coffee. "Rakshi" and Jhaad and Tongba" is also loved by the people, it similar to Chhaang, which is a local beer made from millet.
Some notable places to visit include are Mahakal temple, unique for its worship of Hindu and Buddhist deities together, the Tiger Hill, the zoo,its is major initiative towards conservation of endangered Himalayan species including famous Snow leopard, the Red Panda, etc. monasteries and the tea gardens. Sandhakphu is famous among the adventure loving people, the scenery is breath taking and spectacular .Tibetan crafts like carpets, wood and leather work are displayed. Several monasteries like Ghum Monastery (8 km or 5 miles (8.0 km) from the town), Bhutia Busty monastery, Mag-Dhog Yolmowa preserve ancient Buddhist scripts.
Optional sightseeing of Darjeeling
Combination of Other Destination