Place To Visit

After local legend Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary conquered the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest, on 28 May 1953, The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was set up. It is the oldest mountaineering institute in the country and it conducts a multitude of mountaineering courses every year.

At the Lebong Cart Road on Jawahar Parbat, just 2 km northeast of the Chowrasta, the Everest Museum in Darjeeling settles paying tribute to the history of attempts made to scale and summit the mighty Mount Everest.
The museum showcases intriguing mementos and photos of all those who have been ambitious enough to climb of the Mount Everest.

Overlooking the mighty Kanchenjunga ranges, the Bhutia Basti Monastery is nestled about a kilometer away from Darjeeling. The Bhutia Basti is the oldest monastery in Darjeeling, originally built on Observatory Hill in 1765 by Lama Dorje-rinzing. It was sacked by the Nepalese in 1815 and then rebuilt near St Andrews Church in 1861. It was finally moved to its present location in the Bhutia Basti, near Chowrasta, in 1879.

Shrubbery Nightingale Park in Darjeeling is a beautiful public park in the city. Erstwhile the private courtyard of Sir Thomas Tartan's Bungalow, this park was once upon a time the relaxing place for the British women back in the colonial days. After being destroyed in a devastating earthquake in the year 1934, it was rebuilt into a splendorous park that became renowned for its beauty all over the country. During 1950s and 60s the park was a hot spot for Bollywood movies. However, with passing time after a couple of decades the park was neglected due to the growing tension in Darjeeling hills.

The Mirik Lake near Darjeeling is a beautiful spot where one can enjoy the beauty of nature at its best. It is hardly 50 km away from Darjeeling and the road trip to Mirik is sheer paradise. A good part of the drive is along orange orchards, tea estates, and gentle hill slopes.
The Mirik Lake is a huge lake that is surrounded by beautiful pine trees. There are also old huts on the bank of the lake that give an old world charm to it. There are facilities for boating as well as horse riding. It is originally known as the Sumendu Lake. The two banks of the lake are joined by an arching footbridge called Inderani Pull.

Near Tiger Hill is the Yiga Choeling Tibetan Monastery of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect, also called the Ghoom Monastery. It probably came up in 1850 and was built by a Mongolian monk, Lama Sherpa Gyaltsho, whose faith brought him to India in the 1820s. The foundation date is commonly stated as 1875, though. Check out the beautiful thangkas on the walls.

Named aptly as ‘Peace’ Pagoda, the tranquility of the place can hardly be expressed in words. The Japanese Peace Pagoda in Darjeeling was built under the supervision of Nichidatsu Fujii, a Buddhist monk from Japan, who advocated the Nipponzan-Myo-ho-ji Buddhist Order. It is a revered place that is believed to be a symbol of spirituality and peace.

Treat yourself to an unique collection of Bengali and Himalayan Fauna at this museum. Bengal Natural History Museum in Darjeeling was set up in 1903. The museum has taxonomic displays of a wide range of birds, reptiles, animals, insects and is a must visit on your itinerary when you visit this picturesque hill station.

Chowrasta is a huge boardwalk in Darjeeling, situated above a ridge. Located in the heart of the town, it is dotted with many shops and restaurants. People here assemble to chat, spend leisurely time basking in the sun or just stroll in tranquility. The Bradbourne Park in Chowrasta features a musical fountain, the sight of which is enjoyed by many. The place is free of all vehicular movements and one can view the scenic beauty of the mountain range from here.