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Sight
Seeing
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Darjeeling
Kolkata is the capital city of West Bengal. West Bengal
is a state where you find Bay of Bengal at the south and
the Himalayas at the north. You can see jungles at both
the north and south edge of the state. If you can travel
between 2 and 12 hours by road or rail you can spend a
fantastic week end. You could enjoy the depth of sea,
height of mountains, scenic beauty and solitude of the
forests. Hers is a short tour to Darjeeling the queen
of hill which is only overnight journey from Kolkata. |
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The
journey from the plains to Darjeeling itself is a great attraction
for tourists. Whether you set out on a hired car or a bus
which take about three hours to cover the winding roads up
the mountains from Siliguri or the century old toy train from
New Jalpaiguri which takes most of the day to leisurely climb
up the hills, you will begin to realize why Darjeeling, the
abode of thunderbolts, is often referred to as the Queen of
the Hills even on your way up.
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Hidden away from the plains by commanding mountain ranges
at an altitude of approximately 7000 feet, this picturesque
town which has grown in many times its former size during
the recent years, is a different world altogether for
its splendid location and unique culture. |
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Look
north, and you will see a panoramic view of the snow-capped
Khanchendzonga, the third highest peak in the world and perhaps
one of the most difficult ones to climb. Walking through the
narrow streets in the bazaar or the outskirts of the town, you
might catch a glimpse of its snow-laden slopes between the houses
and tin-roofs. At spots like the "Back Mall" or "Shrubbery",
you will be able to see the entire range before you without
any obstruction. And a visit to Tiger Hill to see the sun light
up the southern face of Khanchendzonga at daybreak has over
the years become customary for most tourists.
Sometimes
you wake up to find the green and blue mountains partly hidden
veiled by the mist, partly lit up by the sunlight, almost
like a Chinese water colour sketch. After sunset, the hills
light up like a cluster of stars spreading its arms in many
directions. The headlights of a car negotiating a bend somewhere
on another mountain ridge suddenly flashes sweeping an arc
of light across the slopes. You become aware of tin-roofed
cottages and tall conifers all around you and then it is dark
again.
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In
the silence, you can hear the crickets, smell the resin
of the Cliptomeria Japonica or the Dhuppi trees, as
they are known locally, even hear someone strumming
the guitar and singing a folk tune.
No
wonder some people come back here as often as once every
year. And some just spend time idling around the Mall
or doing some shopping in the Bazaar. But there are
lots of other things to do in Darjeeling!
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Visit
the Zoo to see some of rare species of Himalayan wildlife
like the Yak. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is for
mountaineering-enthusiasts. Besides these, you may also take
a ropeway ride down the slopes to Singla and be back in the
evening. Darjeeling also has numerous other places you might
like to visit: museums, monasteries, curio shops, tea estates
... Besides these, Darjeeling is an excellent base to start
off on a trekking route or go for adventure sports like rock
climbing and river rafting around the region.
How
to reach
Catch a Bus or train from Sealdah or Howrah and reach Siliguri
(New Jalpaiguri Rail Station) covering 600 km overnight. Take
a cab or bus to ply 82 km road journey from Siliguri to Darjeeling.
By mid day, you will be at the Queen of Hill. For accommodation
at Darjeeling, you can visit West Bengal Tourism development
Corporation Office at BBD Bagh or visit website www.elginhotels.com.
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