Darjeeling is the legendary British hill station perched in the foothills of the Himalayas. For rail enthusiasts, however, Darjeeling is better known for its "Toy Train.” This famous narrow gauge steam railway plies its way from Siliguri in the plains below up to Ghoom and Darjeeling in the hills. Located in the northern extreme of the Indian state of West Bengal, Darjeeling is just east of Nepal, just south of Sikkim, and a bit west and south of Bhutan. It is most famous for its once magnificent tea estates. Blessed with a cool and bracing climate, and a panoramic view of the Himalayas, the world renowned hill resort of Darjeeling is a welcome respite during the hot summer months.

Places to visit in and around Darjeeling

Darjeeling Toy Train or Himalayan Train:A visit to Darjeeling is incomplete without a ride in the toy-train of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The Toy Train is considered an engineering marvel and some prefer to call it one of the wonders of the world, to be preserved forever.

Tea Gardens:While in Darjeeling a visit to any nearby Tea Garden to watch the actual process of the manufacturing of Darjeeling Tea is worth it. Some of the Tea Gardens also sell their packet teas. There are about 70 tea gardens in this hill region and the most accessible one is the Happy Valley Tea Estate, which is about 3 km from the town or within a walking distance of about 40 minutes.

Tiger Hill: Standing at a height of 2590 m (8482 ft.), Tiger Hill is 11 km from Darjeeling. An early morning trip to the Tiger Hill promises a unique experience. A view of the sunrise amidst the Himalayan range has earned it an international fame. From here you can get a glimpse of Mount Everest, the highest mountain and Khangchendzonga range.

Buddhist Monasteries:
In and around Darjeeling there are important and interesting Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. The oldest one is called the Yiga Cholling Monastery which is situated about 8 km from the town at Ghoom and enshrines an image of 'the Coming Buddha' or the Maitriya Buddha

Dhirdham Temple:
Situated just below the Railway station the temple is a structural replica of the famous 'Pashupatinath'' temple of Kathmandu, Nepal.