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DARJEELING |
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Darjeeling, the enchanting town, also known as the “Queen of
Hills” lies nestled in the
 grandeur
of the snow-capped mountains and lush green tea gardens. A
holiday resort during the British rule, this town still
exudes its past grandeur, charm and majesty, attracting a
lot of visitors. Tucked away in the Himalayas, south of the
state of Sikkim, Darjeeling at an altitude of almost 7000ft
is situated in West Bengal, sharing its border with Sikkim
in the north, Nepal in the west and Bhutan in the east.
Darjeeling derives its name from the local Tibetan name
‘Dorjee-ling’, meaning ‘Place of the Thunderbolt’. |
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Kalimpong is a small sleepy hill resort
at an altitude of about 4000 ft and is cradled on a saddle
between the Durpin Hill and Deolo Hill. Kalimpong meaning
‘Fort of the King’s Minister’ was once the hub of the trade
of India with Tibet, but now attracts a lot of visitors
looking for a quiet holiday. |
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 Darjeeling
internationally acclaimed as one of the best hill resorts is
also a paradise for trekkers and adventure seekers. Trekking
in Darjeeling is an experience which no lover of nature
should miss. It takes one to places where nature is yet in
her premival majesty. It brings one face to face with
sublime grandeur of the Himalayas.
The region abounds in rhododendrons, magnolias, primulas,
orchids and ferns of numerous varieties. About six hundred
different species of birds inhabit the green forest on the
slopes of the mountains. |
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GENERAL INFORMATION |
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VISA AND PERMITS: Foreigners visiting
Darjeeling must possess an Indian visa. No special permit is
required for either traveling or trekking inside Darjeeling.
However, necessary travel documents need to be shown as and
when required.
Transport is providing by buses, four-wheel drive and
smaller vehicles. Local taxis are also available for hire
for getting around.
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ACCESS: From Kathmandu, take the
one-hour flight to Bhadrapur (the nearest Nepalese airport
to Darjeeling), drive to Kakarbhitta (Nepal-India border, 34
km), to Siliguri (36 km) and to Darjeeling (77 km, 2 hours
30 minutes). Darjeeling is also connected by road with
Sikkim (120 km) and Bhutan (about 200 km). Darjeeling town
is 90 km from Bagdogra, the nearest Indian airport, where
scheduled flights operate from New Delhi, Kolkota and
Guwahati. The nearest railheads are Siliguri and New
Jalpaiguri (88 km), which is, connected Kolkata, New Delhi,
Guwahati and other major Indian cities. From Siliguri,
buses, taxis and the famous toy train (8 hours) leave for
Darjeeling. |
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SEASON: March-May and
September-November are the best times to visit. Bring light
woolen clothing during summer (maximum temperature 16
degrees Celsius) and heavy woolens in winter (minimum 1.6
degrees). |
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ADVENTURE: Trekking, white water
rafting, kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking and rock
climbing. |
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