we will take you on a beautiful hill station trip of West Bengal called Darjeeling. In this article we will try to give you all kinds of information related to the Darjeeling trip.
Like how you can reach Darjeeling where to stay in Darjeeling on a low budget what will be the arrangements for food in Darjeeling where you can go sightseeing in Darjeeling and in what ways you can travel.
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About Darjeeling
Darjeeling is a beautiful hill station located in the state of West Bengal India. Darjeeling is world famous for its natural beauty tea gardens and toy train. The views of this hill station are worth seeing which is why friends families and couples love to visit here. During vacations many tourists come here. Watching the beautiful scenery from the toy train or gazing at the tea gardens makes Darjeeling look amazing. Darjeeling is always included in the list of tourist destinations.
Darjeeling is a magical place in the middle of high hills green valleys and cool breeze. The weather of this place adds more charm to its beauty. The sunrise over the Kanchenjunga mountains is the first choice of tourists. The beautiful valleys of this place compel every tourist to visit again.
How to Reach Darjeeling
If you are planning a Darjeeling trip first you need to know how you can reach here. You can reach Darjeeling by bus train or flight. If you want to go by bus then you will get buses from Siliguri New Jalpaiguri Bagdogra Gangtok and Kolkata. The distance from Siliguri bus stand to Darjeeling is about 65 km and this is the nearest bus stand to Darjeeling. From Siliguri you can easily reach Darjeeling in four hours and the bus ticket cost ranges from ₹100 to ₹200 per person.
If you want to go by train then the nearest railway station to Darjeeling is New Jalpaiguri railway station. This station has good connectivity with many big cities of India. If you do not get a train to New Jalpaiguri you can reach Siliguri railway station. From New Jalpaiguri you can book a taxi to Darjeeling or go by bus. The distance from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling is about 70 km. Taxi charges are about ₹2500 for a private ride and about ₹1000 per person for a shared taxi depending on season.
Another good option from New Jalpaiguri is the toy train to Darjeeling. This journey takes about six to seven hours but gives amazing views of nature along the way. The toy train experience is memorable. Tickets for the toy train must be booked through the IRCTC app. If you want to travel by flight the nearest airport is Bagdogra airport. The distance from Bagdogra airport to Darjeeling is about 70 km.
This airport has direct flights from many main cities of India. From Bagdogra you can book a taxi to Darjeeling or go by shared taxi. A taxi costs about ₹2500 and shared taxis charge about ₹500 per person. You can also reach Siliguri from Bagdogra which is 15 km away and take a bus from there. Estimate your total cost for the trip with our Travel Budget Planner Tool
Stay and Food in Darjeeling
When you reach Darjeeling you can stay in hotels at places like Gandhi Road Mall Road and Chowrasta. It is recommended to take hotels near Gandhi Road or Mall Road because it becomes easier to travel to sightseeing places. Hotels here range from budget to luxury between ₹1000 to ₹4000 per night. Solo travelers can also stay in hostels where beds cost about ₹500 per person per night including meals.
For food there is no worry in Darjeeling. You can easily find veg non veg South Indian and North Indian meals. Around Mall Road Chowrasta and Gandhi Road you will find restaurants and dhabas. Street food is also available around Mall Road. A normal thali costs between ₹200 and ₹300.
Duration of Trip
To cover all places in Darjeeling you should plan at least two nights and three days. If you have more time you can enjoy better. It is also advised to keep one extra day because sometimes there is crowd at some tourist spots and it takes more time. You can calculate your time of duration by using our Travel Time Calculator Tool
Day 1 Sightseeing
On Day One you can first visit Mahakal Temple which is only 300 meters from Mall Road. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and also has Lord Buddha idols so you see a mix of Hindu and Buddhist culture. The temple opens from 6 AM to 7 PM. After this you can go to Ghoom Monastery a famous monastery visited by most tourists. From here you can go to the Rail Museum about 1 km away to know about the rail history of Darjeeling. After that visit Batasia Loop dedicated to the soldiers of Indian Army.
Entry ticket here is ₹50 per person. This place offers amazing views of nature and Kanchenjunga valleys. You can cover these places by toy train joy ride which runs from Darjeeling to Ghoom via Batasia Loop. The ride is 15 to 16 km long and takes about two hours. There are two versions one with steam engine and one with diesel engine. Steam engine ticket is about ₹1500 per person for everyone above five years.
After this you can also rent a bike or scooty near Mall Road or bus stand which costs about ₹600 to ₹800 per day. Then visit Rock Garden located 10 km from Darjeeling. It has waterfalls hills and pine trees with trekking options. Entry ticket is ₹20 per person. In the evening you can enjoy Mall Road which is beautiful and has many street food stalls. Then return to your hotel to rest.
Day 2 Sightseeing
On Day Two wake up early at 4 AM and go to Tiger Hill 13 km from Darjeeling. It is famous as a sunrise point at about 2500 meters above sea level. The sunrise view here along with Kanchenjunga peaks is amazing and attracts tourists from all over the world.
After this visit Lamahatta Eco Park located 20 km from Darjeeling. Entry ticket is ₹20 per person. This park has pine trees trails and beautiful views perfect for couples and families. Then you can visit Darjeeling Zoo famous for Red Panda and Bengal Tiger. It opens from 8.30 AM to 4.30 PM and remains closed on Thursdays. Ticket cost is ₹10 per person.
From the zoo you can go to Rangeet Valley Ropeway about 2 km away. Ropeway ticket is ₹250 for adults and ₹100 for children for a round trip. The ropeway covers 5 km up and down in 40 minutes. It shows beautiful views of valleys and tea gardens. However you may wait two to three hours in line for tickets. After this return to hotel for rest.
Day 3 Sightseeing
On Day Three you can go to Mirik located 40 km from Darjeeling. From here you can also see valleys of Nepal since it is near the border. You can then visit Pashupati border also known as Nepal border where many shops are located for shopping. If you have time you can also explore Nepal side a little. After this return to hotel or to your city.
For sightseeing you can book taxis for three days costing between ₹4000 and ₹10000 depending on season. If you take toy train on Day One you can book taxi for Day Two and Day Three. Scooty or bike rental is also available.
Extra Option
If you have Day Four free you can visit Tea Gardens. Entry ticket is about ₹100 per person where you can see tea making process.
Best Time to Visit
You can visit Darjeeling any time of the year but avoid July to September due to heavy rains. During rainy season sightseeing becomes difficult and views are blocked by clouds. You can calculate the time taken for your journey through our Travel Time Calculator Tool
Cost of Darjeeling Trip
The cost of a complete Darjeeling trip is about ₹6000 to ₹10000 per person excluding travel to Darjeeling.
Overview Table
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Darjeeling West Bengal India |
| Famous for | Tea gardens Toy train Kanchenjunga sunrise |
| Nearest airport | Bagdogra 70 km |
| Nearest railway station | New Jalpaiguri 70 km |
| Bus stand | Siliguri 65 km |
| Stay options | Hotels ₹1000 to ₹4000 Hostels ₹500 |
| Food cost | Thali ₹200 to ₹300 |
| Trip duration | 2 nights 3 days minimum |
| Day 1 spots | Mahakal Temple Ghoom Monastery Rail Museum Batasia Loop Rock Garden Mall Road |
| Day 2 spots | Tiger Hill Lamahatta Eco Park Zoo Ropeway |
| Day 3 spots | Mirik Nepal border shopping |
| Taxi charges | ₹4000 to ₹10000 for three days |
| Bike or scooty rental | ₹600 to ₹800 per day |
| Best time | October to June |
| Average cost | ₹6000 to ₹10000 per person |
FAQs
Q1. Where is Darjeeling located
Darjeeling is in West Bengal India.
Q2. How to reach Darjeeling
You can reach by bus from Siliguri or by train to New Jalpaiguri or by flight to Bagdogra.
Q3. What is the nearest airport to Darjeeling
Bagdogra airport about 70 km away.
Q4. What is the nearest railway station to Darjeeling
New Jalpaiguri about 70 km away.
Q5. How many days are needed for Darjeeling trip
At least two nights and three days.
Q6. What is the cost of Darjeeling trip
About ₹6000 to ₹10000 per person excluding travel.
Q7. What are main sightseeing places in Darjeeling
Mahakal Temple Ghoom Monastery Rail Museum Batasia Loop Rock Garden Tiger Hill Lamahatta Eco Park Zoo Ropeway Mirik Nepal border Tea gardens.
Q8. What is the best time to visit Darjeeling
October to June is best. Avoid July to September due to rains.
Q9. Is food easily available in Darjeeling
Yes both veg and non veg South Indian and North Indian meals are available easily.
Q10. Can we explore Darjeeling on bike or scooty
Yes bikes and scooty are available for rent from ₹600 to ₹800 per day.