Tiger
Hill
Passing through primitive
forests of oak, magnolia and
beautiful ferns ablaze with
color is the steeply ascending
road to Senchal, running through
Ghoom on its way to Tiger Hill
which is 11 km from the town and
at an elevation of 2,590 meters
(8,482 ft). To the summit of
this internationally famous
'Hill', journey mountain and
nature lovers to view the worlds
most majestic mountain--Khang-Chen-Dzod-Nga,
or mighty Kanchenjunga the king
of them all. From the summit, to
the north, lies the town of
Darjeeling and in the background
stands the stupendous snowy
range in all its glorious
magnificence. No finer place
exists to steep the viewer in
the grandeur and beauty of
towering snow-capped mountains.
Mt. Everest, 225 km away rarely
deigns to come out of the cloudy
mists, with its two other peaks
on each side. About 135 km away
is Tibet's Chomol Hari mountain,
said to be the world's most
beautiful peak. Kanchenjunga
28,146 ft dwarfing the two
others, Kabru (24,000 ft) and
Janu (25,300 ft), conical in
shape, leaps into view only 64
km away. One of the most
unifying forces in myth and
identity of the country, the
towering range is rightly named
Khang-Chen-Dzod-Nga, or the
house of five treasures, by
scholars, referring to the five
summits of this gigantic
mountain. The peak is the third
highest in the world, and
presents many more formidable
hazards than Everest. The
legendary warrior patron of the
mountain is credited, in awe,
with a cordon drawn round the
summit, eternal and still,
beyond which man may not enter.
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Batasia
Loop and War Memorial
About 5 kms. from Darjeeling
this railway loop is a marvelous
feat of engineering. It is
fascinating to watch the toy
train wind its way round the
loop. The war memorial is in
honour of those Gorkhas who laid
down their lives in the service
of the nation.
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Ghoom Monastery
About 7 kms. away from
Darjeeling town, one can visit
the monastery on the Ghoom spur.
It is one of the oldest Buddhist
monasteries in India. There is a
2ft high statue of maitrey
Buddha.
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Japanese
Temple and Peace Pagoda
This monumental pagoda is
situated about 2 kms from
Chowrasta. The sparkling white
pagoda rise 28.5 metres from the
ground level and has a diameter
of 23mts. Embedded in the wall
of the pagoda are four statues
of Buddha is gold polish and
eight carvings on sandstone
depicting different stages of
Gautam Buddha’s life
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Lal Khoti
Close to the Japanese temple its
well kept lawns, artificial
water falls and ponds along with
a fantastic view of the
Kanchanjunga range, is a treat
for the eyes. Now it is
presently officiated as the
Council House.
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Dhirdham
Temple
Situated just below the railway
station, is built on the style
of the famous Pashupatinath
Temple of Katmandu (Nepal).
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Yolmowa Buddhist Makdhog Monastery (Aloobari Monastery)
Darjeeling’s second most revered monastery. Yolmowa Buddhist Makdhog Monastery is situated 1½ miles away from Darjeeling town on the Tenzing Norgay Road. Known popularly, as the Aloobari Monastery it takes its name from the tiny village in which it is situated. The monastery was built by Sangay Lama, a highly revered religious head of the Yolmowas - small ethnic group hailing from north-east of Nepal and later settled in Darjeeling. The construction of this old Monastery was completed sometime in 1914.
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Ava Art Gallery
The art gallery is about 2 kms.
from Chowrasta on the way to
Ghoom. Displayed in the gallery
are the fine art and embroidery
works of Mrs. Ava Devi.
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Bengal
Natural History Museum
A few minutes walk form
Chowrasta is the natural history
museum which has a wide range
collection of preserved
reptiles, birds, butterflies and
other insects. A visit to the
museum is a must especially for
scholars of natural sciences.
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Padmaja
Naidu Zoological Park
The Zoo exhibits some rare
Himalayan fauna including the
snow leopard. The collection
includes the Himalayan black
bear, the red panda, tigers and
colorful Himalayan birds.
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Himalayan
Mountaineering Institute
This is one of the premier
schools of mountaineering in the
world and imparts mountain
climbing training to
enthusiasts. The museum of the
institute portrays a range of
mountaineering equipments that
were used by various expedition
as well as photographs
concerning them.
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Ropeway
Covering a distance of 5 kms,
the ropeway drops steeply to
Singla bazaar at 900ft on the
banks of the Raman river. It
takes about 45 minutes to reach
Singla. It is the first
passenger ropeway system in
India and perhaps still the
longest in Asia.
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Tenzing
Norgay and Gombu Rock
Situated at Lebong Cart Road,
Himalayan Mountaineering
Institute conducts preliminary
course on rock climbing on these
rocks and often demonstration
are held. One can also try their
skill in the climbing with the
help of professional.
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Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre
The Tibetan Refugee Self Help
Centre was established on 1st
October 1959 to rehabilitates
displaced Tibetans who had
followed his holiness the Dalai
Lama to India. The Centre
produce excellent carpets,
Woolen goods, wood work, leather
work etc. the Tibetan craftsmen
can be seen at work at the
Centre.
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Tea Estate
Of about seventy tea gardens in
this hill region, one can visit
any gardens and factory and see
the plucking and processing of
the world class Darjeeling Tea.
Rangeet Tea Estate and Happy
Valley Tea Garden are the
nearest from the town.
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Lebong Race Course
About 8 kms from the town it is
the smallest and highest race
course in the world having a lap
of only 480 metres.
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The
Observatory Hill and Mahakal
Temple
The hill feature above Chowrasta
and a few minutes from it is
called Observatory Hill, on
which is nested the Mahakal
temple. MAHAKAL is considered as
the incarnation of lord Shiva.
Adjacent to the Mahakal temple
is also a Buddhist shrine,
manifesting the complete harmony
that exists between Hinduism and
Buddhism.
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Chowrasta
All roads converge at the
Chowrasta. The “Charring Cross”
of Darjeeling the Chowrasta,
meeting place of all the
tourist, and men about town, who
lounge around taking in the
sight and the fresh air from the
mountain. Here connecting the
two main arteries of the town,
Nehru Road and the Bhanu Bhakta
Sarani, popularly known as the
Mall.
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Rock
Garden and GangaMaya Park
This garden (or Park) is
situated below Dali (outskirt of
Town), nearly 11 kms from the
main town. Rock garden is built
with the patch of solid rock.
Whereas the Gangamaya Park is
filled with the greeneries,
boating and fountain water,
along with the tune to Nepali
Dance.
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Shruberry Nightingale Park
It is situated on the Jawahar
Parbhat near Governor's House.
One can find the peace and
tranquility in this beautiful
garden. Also a giant statue of
Lord Shiva is nested. Moreover
the best sight of this garden
can be seen in the night with
the glittering of lights and
dance and songs.
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Llyod
Botanical Garden
It is situated below the Market,
Motor Stand and has wide
collection of Orchids, Cactii,
Savcculents, Begonias, Magnolia
Grandiflora, Jurifferous
Bermudiana etc. Arranged in
tiers are more than 200 pots of
every conceivable hue; when the
bloom fade, the plants are
replaced by a fresh lot. In the
student's garden are family
representative of Sikkim
Himalayan flora and in the
medicinal garden are some of the
common indigenous, medicinal
plants of the Eastern Himalayas.
Tthe gardens present a
"kaleidoscope of color which
continues till the autumn sun
floods the hills, turning them
into russet and gold, and fallen
leaves carpet the road.
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Bhutia Busty Monastery
Originally built as branch of
Phodong Monastery of Sikkim, It
is situated at C. R. Das Road
and is 15 mins. walk from the
Mall. It belongs to Nygmpa (Red
Sect).
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The Teesta,
Great Rangeet and Bijanbari
Valley
The magnificent Teesta and the
graceful mountain torrent, the
Great Rangeet, add to the beauty
of Darjeeling. The confluence of
the the Teesta, sea green and
muddy, the other, the great
Rangeet, crystal clear and deep
green, provides one of the most
picturesque scenes along the
course. From the icy heights of
the lake Chalamu, at an
elevation of 17,500 ft in Sikkim,
118 km to the north-east of
Darjeeling, originates the
majestic Teesta fed by several
streams rising in the North, and
flows on marking the Sikkim-Darjeeling
boundary. It is joined, in a
mighty torrent, by the Great
Rangeet, 6 km from Sevoke.
Passing through Jalpaiguri and
Bangladesh at Rangpur, it falls
into the great Brahmaputra at
Fulcherry. The combined streams
rush on to Goalando to merge
with the Padma, creating a vast
unbounded expanse of water. From
the glacial elevation of Kabru,
in the lower regions of the
Kanchenjunga, flows the great
Rangeet, a glacier in melted
form, and bright green, meeting
the Ramman in its southward
journey. Further down, the
Little Rangeet, bright blue,
flowing from the Tonglu spur in
the Singalila range, joins it.
At Singla Bazaar down the Takvar
road is an unbelievably
beautiful view of the lovely
valleys of these two streams;
one of these two streams; one of
these is luch Bijanbari, rich
with the bounties bestowed on it
by the little Rangeet. Brimming
with agriculture and dairy
products, the valley abounds in
potatoes, cardamom, sweet
smelling rice, maize, millets,
peas, beans, squash, cauliflower
cabbages and tomatoes; fruit
orchards produce apples,
oranges, pineapples and plums.
While the little Rangeet is
overflowing with trout, the
valley has wild life, flowers
and butterflies. Meandering
lazily past ancient forests,
tidy tea bushes, orange and
bamboo groves, a 22 km highway
links the valley with
Darjeeling. Filled with scenic
beauty spots, 13 km from
Darjeeling are the Hima Falls,
another 6 km down is Biswambhar
rock rising 50 feet vertically
from the road. A new bridge runs
over the superb falls.
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Senchal Lake
The hill of damp and
mist-situated at an altitude of
8,160 ft, 10 km to the
south-east of Darjeeling, has a
lake and golf links on the
summit. Also a favorite picnic
spot, it can easily be said to
be the highest golf course and
picnic spot in the world. The
springs that feed the lake also
feed the town, the lake is the
reservoir of Darjeeling's water
supply. A Tourist Lodge atop
Senchal thoughtfully provides a
bar besides accommodation with
both hot & cold running water.
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Victoria
Falls
At a short distance away from
the Railway Station, downward to
the south, are the stunningly
beautiful Victoria Falls created
by the Kalijhora, a small
stream. From a distance 100 feet
high, it cascades down over a
precipitous crag, and rushes
down to the valley below,
through deep ravines to
Sidrapong. There is ferro-concrete
bridge over the stream. At
Sidrapong Power Station, at an
elevation of 3,500 ft above sea
level and 3,300 ft below
Darjeeling, down in the west,
the waters of the Victoria Falls
are harnessed for generating the
electric supply for Darjeeling,
and its suburbs. It is the first
Hydel Project in India.
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Step
Aside (House of Desbandu
Chitaranjan Das)
A short distance away from the Chaurastha, on the way to the
Bhutia Bustee Monastery is the
house 'Step Aside', home of the
famous Indian patriot Deshbandhu
Chittaranjan Das where he lived
and died on June 16, 1925. The
first floor is preserved as the
way he left it, the ground floor
is a maternity clinic. Also
reposing in the house is the
unfolded secret of the second
Kumar of Bhowal of the "Bhowal
Sanyasi" case. The Kumar was
discovered dead in this house by
a sanyasi (holyman) and cremated
at the Hindu Burning Ghats.
Twelve years later, on the
anniversary of his death, the
Kumar appeared in Dacca and laid
claim to his estate. Who died in
"Step Aside?" Who was cremated?
The house alone can tell.
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Sister
Nivedita Memorial
Where the mortal remains of
Sister Nivedita were cremated,
stands the dignified memorial
erected by Swami Abhenyanand of
the Sri Ramakrishna Vedanta
Math. A direct disciple of Sri
Ramakrishna, he also built the
Ramakrishna Vedanta Ashram in
1924 where religious discourses
are held every Sunday. It is
situated just below the Railway
Station on the way to the
Victoria Falls.
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Jalpahar
The military barracks and depot
were built on hill-sides 7,250
ft above sea level. After a
stimulating walk one reaches the
parade ground and a church to
cater to the spiritual needs of
the men stationed in the
barracks. The depot supplies the
other necessities. Offering a
splendid view of the snows is
Bryanstone. Built in 1848, it
was the residence of two great
Orientalists and Indologists,
Sir J.D. Hooker and Brian
Hodgson. Another great
Orientalist Xoma de Koros, lived
in Darjeeling till 1849, the
year he died. He lies buried in
the cemetery. Bishop Cotton, an
educationist the person to
influence Lord Canning to make
these hills the seat of European
education in India is also
buried in Darjeeling. Several
hill schools were established,
the first, St. Paul's was
transferred to Darjeeling in
1864 from Calcutta. It occupies,
among other buildings, the old
Manor, Bryanstone. It is rumored
that the great actress Vivian
Leigh was born on the campus of
St. Paul's School.
