DARJEELING conjures visions of serenity, of vibrant green hills
steeped in splendour, a land of breathtaking beauty crowned by the majestic
Himalayas.
DARJEELING is one of the most magnificent hill resorts in the
world. This heavenly retreat is bathed in hues of every shade. The flaming red
rhododendrons, the sparkling white magnolias, the miles of undulating hillsides
covered with emerald green tea bushes, the exotic forests of silver fir - all
under the blanket of a brilliant azure sky dappled with specks of clouds,
compellingly confound Darjeeling as the QUEEN OF HILL STATIONS.
Places of Interest
Tiger Hill
Situated at
an altitude of 2590 meters (8482 ft.) and 13 kilometers from the town, this
spot has earned international fame for the magnificent view of the sunrise over
the "Kanchanjunga" and the great eastern Himalayan Mountains. Even
Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, is visible from here. The hesitant
rays of the early morning sun paint these peaks in pale gold.
Batasai Loop and the War Memorial
The Batasai
loop situated almost 5 km away from the town is a gigantic railway loop where
the Toy Train makes a 360 Degree turn. It was basically built to make it
possible for the Toy Train to cut the deep ascend. Strategically located the Batasai
Loop offers a panoramic view of the Kanchanjunga Range. A War Memorial
constructed in the memory of the brave sons of the soil who laid down their
lives in the different wars since the independence of the nation adds to its
attraction. There is also a well furbished market where visitors can buy
locally made purses, bags and other decorative items.
Ava Art Gallery
Situated
about 4 km from the Market Square and on the National Highway, Ava.Art Gallery
was established in 1965 by the Late. Bhopal Rao Sett and Ava Devi. It is the
only Art Gallery of its kind in the Hills. A collection of 60 pieces of art
work in water, oil and thread paintings are displayed in the Gallery. Visitors
can travel on foot to get to the Gallery or simply hire a taxi. Entrance fees
are not charged.
Chowrasta and Mall
Chowrasta, a
wide promenade atop a ridge lined with shops and restaurants is taken to be the
heart of the town. Here people gather to chat, spend time basking in the sun or
just to snatch a moment of peace. The Brabourne Park is attached to the
Chowrasta and now features a musical fountain. This place is an open place and
free from vehicular movements from where one can watch the scenic beauty of the
mountain range and take charm of walking at the Darjeeling Mall. Chowrasta is
the central place of the Mall Road.
Rock Garden and Ganga Maya Park
Situated 10
km from town, Rock Garden and Ganga Maya Park has now developed into a very
attractive picnic spot with natural water falls. The park offers boating
facilities and is endowed with great scenic beauty. Ample eateries are
available for visitors to indulge in local delicacies and one can even buy
souvenirs. No fees are charged for taking photographs. Visitors are however,
required to make arrangements for transportation. A two way travel arrangement
is advisable.
Peace Pagoda
The Japanese
Peace Pagoda was established by Nipponzan Myohoji, a Japanese Buddhist order.
Situated on the slopes of the Jalapahar Hill the pagoda can be reached by foot
or on taxi. The pagoda is the highest free structure in the town. It also
showcases the four avatars of the Buddha.
Botanical Garden
It is the
oldest Botanical Garden named as Lloyd Botanical Garden with varieties of flora
and is famous for two living fossils. It is located just below the Eden
Sanatorium(Saheed Durga Mall District Hospital) on an open slope covering an
area of about 40 acres. Lloyd Botanical Garden is open seven days a week. There
are no entrance fees. A camera, a small note book for a botany enthusiast and a
couple of hours to spare, is a must.
Nightingale Park/Srubbery Park
It is about
2-5 kms from Darjeeling Railway Station and walkable from the Chowrasta. It is
a beautiful park with a package of cultural programmes performed daily during
the tourist season and its opening time is 4.00 p.m. and closing time is 8.00
p.m. The park has recently been extensively re-developed, and now comprises of
a giant Statue of Lord Shiva, a temple, and provisions for live-interactive
entertainment. The best time to visit the park is in the evenings. Entrance fee
is charged and nominal charges for photography may also be required to be made
by the visitor.
Darjeeling-Rangit Valley Passenger
Cable Car
Darjeeling-Rangit
Valley Passenger Cable Car is popularly known as the Ropeway. It is about 3 km
north of the town and situated at what is known as the North Point. The Ropeway
is India's oldest passenger ropeway and connects Darjeeling with Singla Bazaar
at the bottom of the valley. The present ropeway has been extensively
modernized and visitors can now safely travel over the clouds to witness the
aerial view of the lush green tea gardens below.
Senchal Lake
A scenic
place near Tiger Hill. This place has popularly come up as a picnic spot among
the tourists. The lake supplies drinking water to Darjeeling Town.
Observatory Hill & Mahakal Temple
Also known
to the locals as the "Holy Hill", it is just a few minutes walk from
the Chowrasta and is situated on the highest ridge of the town. The Mahakal
temple atop the hill is a revered place for the locals and visitors will be
surprised to find a Hindu priest and a Buddhist monk sharing a common altar.
Dhirdham Temple
Dhirdham
temple is modelled on the lines of the famous Pashupatinath temple of Kathmandu
and was built in 1939. It is a minute's walk from the Darjeeling Railway
Station.
Happy Valley Tea Garden
Happy Valley
tea garden is located just a kilometer away from the main town and is situated
along 18 Lebong Cart Road (very near to the District Magistrate's Office) and
offers tourist a refreshing ambience far from the otherwise noisy town. One can
soak in the ambience of the tea garden and take a walk through the carpeted
garden. You can take a pony from the Chowrasta or merely walk down the hill to
reach the factory. The garden is presently closed but the residents are running
it through a cooperative.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological
Park
Established
on the 14th of August, 1958, the zoo was dedicated to the memory of Padmaja Naidu,
former Governor of West Bengal on the 21st November, 1975. Considered as one of
the best zoos in the country, it is the only centre that breeds the tibetan
wolf in captivity. Breeding programmes for the endangered red panda, snow
leopard and the siberian tiger are also carried out at PNHZP. The zoo is open
on all days except on Thursdays and other national holidays.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
The
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was set up following the successful ascent
of the Mount Everest-the highest peak in the world by the local hero Tenzing
Norgay Sherpa and Sir EdEdumund Hillary on 28 May 1953. The oldest
mountaineering institute in the country carries out various mountaineering
courses every year. Apart from Tenzing, legendary mountaineers like Nawang
Gombu (the first man to climb Everest twice) and Lattoo Dorjee Sherpa have
helped build the reputation of this pioneering institute. The institute is
presently under the purview of the Minstry of Defence, Government of India and
its museum is worth a visit.
Raj Bhawan
Raj Bhawan
is the summer residence of the Governor of West Bengal. The fantastically
developed mansion with perfect manicured lawns, lush gardens, surrounding
forests and British Bungalows overlooks the Darjeeling Lebong spur and commands
a magnificent close-up view of the snow capped Kanchanjunga Range. Being a high
security zone, visitors are no longer allowed to venture inside its precinct, a
walk around it through the dense forest is however, most charming. Visitors can
experience the entire Sikkim-Jorethang crest unhindered.
[The Raj
Bhawan was earlier the property of the Maharajah of Coochbehar and the present
'Shrubbery Park' was the 'courtyard' of Sir Thomas Tartan's bunglow which was
called 'The Shrubbery'. This bunglow had been constructed in 1879; however it
was destroyed in the earthquake of 1934.]
Step Aside
On the way
down to Bhutia Busty, via the C.R. Das Road, and a few minutes walk from the
Chowrasta is Step Aside, the house in which the great Indian patriot Deshbandhu
Chittranjan Das passed away on June the 16th, 1925. On the first floor are
preserved a few articles of his personal use. The ground floor is a maternity
clinic named after him, for the poor of the town. No entrance fees of any kind
are charged. However, visitors are not allowed into the inner sanctum of the
house.
Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre
"Our
way may be hard and long one, but I believe that the truth and faith must
ultimately prevail".- His Holiness the Dalai Lama. After His Holiness
escaped from Tibet, thousands of Tibetan refugees came to reside in India.
Darjeeling too became a home away from home for the Tibetans in exile. To
rehabilitate the community a ten-member committee was formed in Darjeeling to
organize a rehabilitation centre which was known as "Tibetan Refugee
Self-Help Centre". The centre was established on October 1, 1959 and the
residents of the centre are today known for their handicrafts. The centre makes
excellent carpets, woolen goods, woodwork, etc, which are famous across the
globe.
Monasteries
of Darjeeling
Druk Thupten Sangag Choling
Monastery(Dali Monastery)
This
monastery is situated at Dali, about 4 kms away from Darjeeling town. This is
one of the most famous monasteries belonging to the Kargyupa sect. The pioneer
of this monastery was Thuksay Rimpoche, who died in 1983 and his incarnate is
reported to have been born in 1986 at Ladakh. This monastery is the
headquarters of Drukchen Rimpoche XII, the supreme head of the Kargyupa
lineage.
Ghoom Monastery
Built in
1875 by Lama Sherab Gyatso, this ancient monastery is said to have been blessed
by the renowned Tomo Geshe Rimpoche of Tibet. The specialty of this monastery
is that it contains the statue of the 'Future Coming Buddha' known as Maitreye
Buddha. The Monastery has also preserved some of the rare handwritten Buddhist
manuscripts. You could visit the monastery on your return journey to Darjeeling
from Tiger Hill.
Tashi Dargyalingh Monastery or the
Tamang Ghumba
The Tamangs
are a sub community of the Gorkha/Nepali and mostly belongs to the Nyingmapa
sect. Established in 1926 this is one of the oldest monasteries of the
community.
The Mag-Dhog Yolmowa Buddhist
Monastery(Aloobari Monastery)
Situated on
the Old Military Road commonly known as the Aloobari road, the Mag-Dhog Yolmowa
Buddhist Monastery was founded by its, Ven. Sangay Lama, the head priest who
originally hailed from Nepal. The construction of the monastery, coincided with
the beginning of the First World War in 1914. The monastery was therefore named
Mag-Dhog or warding off the war and is dedicated to the cause of world peace.
The statues of Lord Buddha depicting different forms and the statue of Padma
Sambhave at this religious place are stunning. The painting on the wall are
said to be done with the help of herbs and are an amazing work of art. Other
interesting features of the monastery are the valuaable ancient scriptures
lying inside the monastery.
About PRABISH BISHUNGKHE
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