Where is Darjeeling?

Darjeeling is truly a dream destination for many photographers, nature lovers and weekenders. The immense natural beauty of the hill town attracts nature lovers. Here, the mighty Kanchenjunga creates a dramatic backdrop. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and Indian Army Toy Train are among the key attractions in here.

Like we know by now we are talking about one of those hill stations where you can escape the unpleasant heat of the plain areas and enjoy a spell of fresh mountain air along with its scenic beauty, cultural heritage, natural variety and much more. As a result, the weather here remains pleasant all through the year.

Darjeeling at a Glance

It is a town in the Himalayan foothills. Once a summer resort for the British Raj elite, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, or “Toy Train,” completed in 1881. Its backdrop is Mt. Kanchenjunga, among the world’s highest peaks.

Darjeeling is a beautiful town in West Bengal, a state in North-East India.

Most well known for–

• The DHR , and

• The Darjeeling tea!

Darjeeling hills can be enjoyed throughout the year. Tourists may pick any season to catch a glimpse of the stunning sunrise from Tiger Hill or ‘tuck into’ plates full of many delicacies during momo festival in winter. Also, they can take an exhilarating ride on toy trains running at very low speeds. At the same time they can spend hours looking out for white water-races flowing down beneath them in summer.

See all the tourist places you cannot miss in Darjeeling here.

The Queen of Hills: History and Origin

Darjeeling is affectionately known as the “Queen of the Hills” . It is an ideal gateway for people looking to be in tune with nature, nestled among the undulating slopes with the gleaming Mt Kanchenjunga towering above the azure sky. This is the home of the famous muscatel-flavor Darjeeling tea, highly regarded by tea enthusiasts all over the world.

The hill station derives it’s name from the Tibetan words “dorjee” and “ling”. Which means the land of thunderbolt and where there is a Buddhist monastery.

Also, the Mount Kanchenjunga (the world’s third highest peak) and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway are names that come from this region.

The region was once under the reign of Sikkim before gaining its statehood as a separate administrative district in 1866. It was still a part of British India till 1947 when India became independent and divided into dominions. The chief administrator used to call himself “Rajah” and his assistant “Vakil”. And therefore, it became “Raj-Vaka”. With time, due to the dialect spoken by the people here, it came to be pronounced as “Dorjee-ling.”

Written history on the region’s name is not present as it was a part of Sikkim. The area where the town stands now used to be thick forest where wild elephants roamed about. Tigers also lurked in these jungles as per the local legends say.

For detailed information check out The Good Darjeeling Life: Culture and History.

So, Where is The Queen of Hills Located?

Darjeeling is a town and a municipality in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located in the Lesser Himalayas at an elevation of 6,700 ft.

Darjeeling is where the three mighty Asian mountain ranges-

• The Great Himalayan Range,
• Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m);
• Kangchenjunga Himalayas (which is a world heritage site and)
• Mahabharata Lekh

How to Reach Darjeeling?

There are many modes of transportation to Darjeeling. We can approach it through road, rail and air. Heading south on the National Highway NH – 1, one reaches Moreh. One can also take a train up to Darjeeling which is located at a summit at an altitude of 1755m above the sea. From here one can catch a bus to Darjeeling which will take around 6 hours. A scenic route also takes one immeadiately north to Darjeeling which would take approximately 5 hours by a jeep and then by mini-buses.

With all the distractions, time tends to drag. As a result, while you’re on a trip and sometimes only wish to travel without getting distracted, this can also turn out to be not so easy. However, no need to worry! Just compare your destinations with possible Darjeeling travel itinerary and start planning that animated journey.

You can reach this enchanting land through Siliguri or NJP. Travelers have many questions about Darjeeling and its famous tea gardens, which are a popular destination on the tourist trail. For answers to these questions and more click here.

You can also visit Darjeeling from Kolkata. Click here for more information.

What is the language of Darjeeling?

The official language of Darjeeling is Nepali, but most people use a mix of several languages. Bengali, Hindi, and English are also very common. Darjeeling, the land of tea is located in the mountain region between Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. No other single place in India comes close to its misty beauty contained in emerald hills, orchids and orchid nurseries, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Buddhist monasteries, gompas and tranquil lakes.

This intimate mountain town has a colorful history, with many different languages spoken and traditions practiced. It was once a Nepal’s territory and still inhabits rich Nepali culture and tradition.

It is the only Indian state where Urdu and Nepali are both official languages.

For many years, the Darjeeling district has been home to an ethnic group of people known as the Lepchas. Lepcha is their primary language. Today, however, popular languages such as Nepali and English are also recognised as the languages of Darjeeling.

For detailed information check out The Good Darjeeling Life: Culture and History.

Darjeeling for tourist

This quaint little hill station soon developed into a beautiful tourist spot.

Here, all sorts of accommodations were built, souvenir shops, eateries and other attractions that tourists look out for when visiting any new place.

It was only after the establishment of the railway station here that people started settling around its vicinity which is how Darjeeling got its present shape.

Travelers and traders used to pass through this place with their goods and were wise enough not to stop for rest due to fear of getting attacked by wild animals. The British established a sanatorium (a resort where people suffering from pulmonary diseases such as tuberculosis are treated medically) where natural treatment was given to patients mostly from European countries.

The town began to grow after the sanatorium’s inception where people came in droves to seek medical assistance for their loved ones where other necessities got added over time to it. The place where the sanatorium stood is where the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway station now operates from.

See all the tourist places you cannot miss in Darjeeling here.

Conclusion

This is a place where one can witness many endangered animals roaming freely or while going on treks one gets to discover some rare species of birds that also add charm to this place making it a worth visit for nature lovers.

So for your next trip I want to visit Darjeeling because of its old heritage buildings, toy train trip in the hilly mountain with great views, romantic tea gardens and snowing. It is the perfect place for you to spend your vacation enjoying many beautiful and amazing scenes.

If you have any questions for me, leave them below! Thanks for reading my blog and have a wonderful day!