Things to Do in Darjeeling, West Bengal
A short, practical guide to Darjeeling in West Bengal: what is worth your time, how long it takes, and when to go.
Why Darjeeling is worth the stop
Darjeeling is a colonial hill station at around two thousand metres, built on tea, with Kanchenjunga visible from the ridge on clear mornings.
Things to do in Darjeeling
- Tiger Hill at sunrise for the Kanchenjunga view.
- The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway toy train joy ride.
- A working tea estate tour at Happy Valley.
- Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the adjoining zoo.
- Observatory Hill and the Mall Road promenade.
A sensible one-day plan
- Pre-dawn drive to Tiger Hill.
- Breakfast, then the toy train ride to Ghum.
- Tea estate tour and tasting before the afternoon cloud.
- Evening walk along Mall Road with momos.
Getting around
Shared jeeps handle everything outside town; the centre is steep but walkable. Allow extra time on the hill roads during the rains.
What to eat here
Steamed pork or vegetable momos, thukpa, and first flush Darjeeling tea bought at an estate rather than a tourist shop.
When to come
The comfortable window is March to May and October to November. Avoid June to September unless you handle heat or heavy rain well. Nearest airport: Bagdogra Airport (IXB). A mid-range day in Darjeeling, covering a room, food and local transport, runs about 2,000 to 5,000 rupees.
One thing most visitors miss
First flush tea is picked in March and April and mostly exported; buying at the estate in spring is the one reliable way to taste it fresh.
Common questions
Will I see Kanchenjunga?
Only in clear weather. October and November give the best odds; the monsoon gives almost none.
Is the toy train worth it?
The short Darjeeling to Ghum joy ride is. The full journey from the plains takes most of a day.