DARJEELING : A Designer Destination !!!

A view from Mall   

Laudable Landscape @ Darjeeling Mall

Designers are said to leave their mark of  creativity and aesthetic sense  with a feeling of “one & only” that others follow as followers.  But the creation walks tall with the passage of time making the “Designer” iconic even after death.

It seems to be so as the same is applicable here. Amidst so many adverse and changing circumstances, Darjeeling stands even today  such a destination  amongst countless of hill stations across the world  because of  the touch of  a supreme “Designer” backed by  an  out of the world design.

This is one of the rarest  places where you find culmination of  all best ingredients of life  at the top of 6000 ft.  from the sea level, for which the contribution have come from both - nature and man .

Kanchanjunga Peak

It is where :

• True color of nature is showcased in the  riot of colors at Tiger Hill ;
• Endless unabashed greenery as the carpet all over to soothe your eyeballs;
• Aroma of tea makes every morning worth living ;
• Himalayan Circuit with misty mountains and winding roads to tone up your leg muscles ;
• Playful Cloud with sun and shadow ;
• Leisurely hours at Mall with the clock ticking all the way and children on the back of the ponies ;
• Simple and cosmopolitan lifestyle of dwellers;
• Heritage and history empower the place with  evergreen USP and trademark;
• Toy train over 129 years  has proved that a toy can be a wonder that drives the mass of international tourists  to log in for Darjeeling;
• Best of schooling  and hostel facilities  concentrate for the elites  to endear the place for shaping up a special childhood ;
• Food paradise for all taste buds with  delicacies  even from continental to colonial era  to regional ones;  

Whenever I be there, I salute the creator everyday for creating  this wonder.

Road from Mall to Market

LOOKING BACK IN WONDER ….

History of Darjeeling has always been wonderful to know. Let’s dig  for a while  through FAQs & Answers:

Q : Why Darjeeling as the name of the place ?

A :  In local language , it is called Land of thunder  i.e “Dorjee” , the god of thunder lives here as believed by oldest tribes of the area.

Q : When the proposal of building the  first ever sanatorium for British soldiers  was received  from the then  ruler of Darjeeling ? How many residents had been registered in Darjeeling ?

A :  1829  / 100 nos.

Q : When British rulers could create the territory of Darjeeling, Tarai and Kalimpong  from Kingship of Sikkim?

A :  1935

Darjeeling Town : Mall

Q :  How many hours did it take then to reach  Darjeeling ?  And the cost ?

A :  15 days /  by foot , chariot, horse carriage and  boat / during that period , the cost was @ Rs. 300/-

Q :  How many hours does it take now to reach  Darjeeling ?  And the cost ?

A :  3 hours / by jeep, trekker, car / cost  is @ Rs. 60-100/-

Q :  How had Darjeeling been  treated during British regime ?

A :   It had carried a very special place in their heart since being “Summer Capital ”. The place had grown in every way from Teagardens to Missionary Schools to Sanatoriums to tourist centre to Churches  for which special credit should go to Mr. Campbell.  Entire Darjeeling even today  has been carrying on with the British architecture. The old is gold in the field of food and beverages for all – as on date the old joints & confectioners like Keventer’s and Glenary’s  still remain crowd pullers with equal ease  and  force the new born restaurants  to be shaky enough for the rise in  sales chart .    

Glenary's ; Must Visit Spot For English Breakfast & Darjeeling Tea 

Q  : What is the oldest church ?

A  :  St. Andrew’s Church – foundation  in  1843

Q  : What is special about  “Toy Train” ?

A : Such tiny wonder (a steam engine driven small tram type of carriage) has been in place since July 1881 running across 3 loops, 6 reverses, and highest station Ghoom (7401 ft.) in the midst of forest terrain. It takes 7 /8 hrs. per trip , when a tourist gets real time look and  feel of the lifestyle of local residents. The experience of most of the tourists is “awesome”.

Toy Train 

MUST  SEE SPOTS…..

• Tiger Hill
• Ghoom Monastry  & Railway Station
• Mall
• Observatory Hill
• Natural History Museum
• Mahakali Mandir
• Tibetan Refugee Center
• Tenzing Norgay Mountaineering Instt. 
• Padmaja Naidu Zoological Garden
• Botanical Garden
• Lebong Race Course
• Tea Estate
• Step Aside -  Residence of Deshbandhu C.R. Das , who died here in 1924
• Ropeway
• Mirik , can be reached by vehicle
• INOX

Pineridge Hotel : English type Hotel with Fire Place 

GOING

By train you have to arrive at New Jalpaiguri Station. There from, to Siliguri Main Bus Stand. Hundreds of vehicle await passengers to take to Darjeeling town. Time – 3 hrs.

By flight, please arrive at Bagdogra Airport from Kolkata. There  from , to Siliguri for Darjeeling bound vehicle.

*** If you know driving or like driving at sea level , you will realize the skill of the drivers  taking you to the hill top at ease by  twists and turns while gossiping with local lads.

STAYING   

There are no dearth of hotels. They are plenty …….  From A-1 to shoe string budget.  You may not expect a hole in your pocket the way you may have experienced in other city .  There are some old hotels near mall. We stayed at  Pineridge Hotel , 1 minute from Mall. This hotel is of English architecture having room heater, mountain facing rooms.

The school going kids at Mall 

The enjoyable time is from March – May  and Sept – Oct.  In winter, cold hits  at 1 degree to 10 degree.

EATING

Here , you may be spoilt for choice.  But, pls. do not miss following recommendations :

• GLENARY’S
• KEVENTER’S
• MOMO &  THUKPA
• CHINISE DISHES   

Slow and relaxed pace of life @ Mall during daytime 

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