Offbeat Places To Explore Around Darjeeling!

Situated in the Indian state of West Bengal, Darjeeling is better known for its tea industry. Darjeeling is on the must-visit places map of most travelers and is one of the most prevalent getaways among Indians and International travelers alike.

One of the most prevalent hill stations in India – Darjeeling is an accurate collage of snowy and mighty Himalayan varieties, winding walking tracks, monasteries, valleys, tea plantations, momos, and toy trains. Among the green-grey hills, the serene vegetation and picturesque vistas guarantee a vacation to cherish forever.

Tourist locations nearby Darjeeling deliver an accurate weekend getaway for laid-back vacationers or adrenaline-propelled adventures alike. Several tourist places near Darjeeling present the beauty of the location and propose a memorable travel experience. Find here the topmost places to visit near Darjeeling. 

Siliguri

A picturesque town at the foothills of the Himalayan ranges, Siliguri is a postcard-faultless amalgamation of urban culture and natural attractiveness. The attractive city is endowed with the superlative of nature, full to the edge with its rolling green tea gardens and the snow-clad Himalayan mountaintops glancing into the horizon at a distance.

Due to its rich wildlife populace, tourism in Siliguri is identical to its wildlife safari services. The massive Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary, rambling between the banks of Teesta and Mahananda, is home to several species of animals and birds, and also delivers its guest sufficient opportunities for trekking and bird watching.

The sanctuary also houses the North Bengal Wild Animals Park, where travelers can avail themselves the jeep rides to watch the animals play and be in their natural habitats.

On this day in 1999, UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway as a World Heritage Site. pic.twitter.com/IUOfbQVG6J

— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) December 5, 2022

A foremost tourist attraction in Siliguri is the Salugara Monastery, prevalent for its 100-foot stupa constructed by Tibetan Buddhist Monks. The monastery, better known as The Great International Tashi Gomang Stupa, is located only 6 km away from the major town and houses five foremost Buddhist relics, making it one of the most prevalent Buddhist monasteries around the world. Siliguri, however, is not neglectful of other faiths.

One can also find here the wonderful ISKCON temple enthusiastic to Lord Krishna, and Kali Mandir which greets several pilgrims each year. If one is looking to shop across Siliguri, the Hong Kong market on Hill Cart Road is the place to go. A flea market selling goods at an equally cheap rate, the Hong Kong market is a prevalent go-to place for tourists and is thronged by shoppers during the year.

The best period to visit Siliguri would be throughout the winter months between November and February when the weather is impartially cold and outdoor activities such as trekking, safaris, and bird-watching can be relished in a humidity-free atmosphere. 

Kurseong

If you like approving exotic flowers increasing in wild nature, Kurseong is one of the places to visit near Darjeeling you should plan your next trip. It is named the Land of White Orchids! This hill station is teeming with enigmatic waterfalls, lush green insights, and snow-enclosed mountains shining under misty skies. Trek up to its several hilltops and get astonished with plentiful white orchids greeting you with their flourishing smiles. This location is also home to temples, churches, museums, and Buddhist universities.

The rains are much required for the flora and fauna of the area. Kurseong, the ‘Land of White Orchids’, gets its name from the flowers found in profusion on its hill-slopes. It’s hard not to fall in love with the view of tea plantations, and lush green forests in the bird’s-eye setting of snow-clad mountains.

During sunset, you can see a consolidation of the most gorgeous colors in the sky. You can see the British leftovers in the form of churches and schools in the town. This small hill town makes for an inordinate stopover for tourists looking for a more nonviolent alternative to Darjeeling.

Gangtok

Gangtok, the interesting capital city of Sikkim, is a Buddhist haven. In sync with the Zen philosophy that spirituality can only make its manner through clean and clear surroundings, Gangtok is an embodiment of neatness and is one of the few such places around India. The stunning panoramic insights of the snow-capped Mount Kanchenjunga, only enhance the Gangokian surroundings.

Proposing the best tourist places in Gangtok, this place is also prevalent for its dissimilar cuisine, of which Momos and Kinema, are exceptional examples. Gangtok is a city of excellent food, atmospheric sceneries, and fascinating Buddhist monasteries, which involve Rumtek and Enchey. It has inordinate potential for sightseeing as well, involving the Nathu La Pass and Tsomgo Lake.

Gangtok is also a testament to the exclusive fashion sense of the North East. The people here are known to have a keen sense of style and have a refreshing manner of wearing the most unintentional outfits. Gangtok also has a very unsophisticated and indie live-music sentiment. Finally, the individuals make the place and it is the accommodating and friendly citizens of Gangtok, who are factual exemplars of the principles of the Buddhist lifestyle.   

Dooars

Dooars is the resultant of the word Door. This place has as several as 18 corridors or manners that run between it and Bhutan. And so, one of its prevalent names is Gateway to Bhutan. This place is prosperous with natural wonders that involve mysterious mountains of Eastern Himalayan ranges, thick forests, lakes, a wide variability of plants and animals, etc.

The place is perfect for nature photography, wildlife exploration, and nature stays. The natural attractiveness of the region and the variability of experiences it has on proposed make Dooars one of the most captivating places to visit in Darjeeling.

Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in the Eastern foothills of the Himalayas, the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary along with Gorumara National Park is prevalent for one-horned rhinoceros, spotted deers, elephants, Bengal Tigers, barking deers, wild pigs, sambhar deers, bison, hog deer, and bison. The blues here too will be a part of your traveler spot with a generous variability of eagles, Bengal florican, Indian Hornbill, jungle fowl, peafowl, partridges, and many more. Variabilities of eagles such as crested eagles and fishing eagles can also be witnessed.

You can also visit the Gorumara National Park nearby and the wrecks of an old fort located inside the Chilapata Forest. Since Jaldapara is prevalent for its uncountable elephants, you can take an elephant ride through the park. Alternatively, you can also take the Safaris accessible on hire.

Mirik

Serving as a breath of fresh air for tourists around the globe, Mirik, or the “Valley of the sun” is a small hill station found on the border of a massive lake. Romantic and exhilarating, the place enables visitors to relish several activities involving boating and looking upon the mesmerizing sunset. This attractive and shining town near Darjeeling proposes an exhilarating and rejuvenating gateway for families, just married couples, and solo explorers. 

The bazaar here is also prevalent for a buffet of traditional clothes, handicrafts, and ornaments. One of the must-visit places across Darjeeling, Mirik is a natural delight accurate for both family holidays and romantic getaways. 

There are different eateries in Mirik in Krishnagar and Mirik Bazaar locations. You will primarily get north Indian and Chinese dishes, and few restaurants are proposing homemade Bengali food. Some also propose South Indian food. 

Head to this picturesque place and rediscover your appetite for nature, pamper in enthralling activities such as boating, catch long moments of tranquillity, and shop to your heart’s content across the traditional bazaars.

Kalimpong

Kalimpong was previously a subdivision of Darjeeling district but is now an individual district of West Bengal effective 14^th Feb 2017. Kalimpong itself is a small, situated nearly 2.5 hrs drive from both Siliguri and Darjeeling. But the town and its surrounding locations propose an immense choice for travelers. 

Kalim in the resident dialect means King’s Minister and Pong means Throttlehold. So, the name Kalimpong means Stronghold of the king’s minister and has founded from the time of the king’s dynasty around the region. In addition, it is situated at an altitude of 4,100ft. Owing to its relatively lower altitude associated with Darjeeling or Gangtok, the weather is pleasant and milder for most of the year.

And hence it suits all travelers who are looking for such agreeable weather amalgamated with the significant views of Kanchenjunga and several other Himalayan snow peaks, lush greenery, and sweeping insights. 

Lataguri

An enjoyment for wildlife lovers, Lataguri is a location with endless thrills. Mending among the lush tropics, spotting the wild, and taking some memorable images are some of the several exciting activities, celebrated by the visitors here.

From the attractive atmosphere of the Murti River to the greenery of the Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, there are a diversity of places to discover in Lataguri. All in all, if you are a traveler, a backpacker, or someone on a road trip with the family, Lataguri is one of the most sought-after places to visit near Darjeeling. 

Jaldhaka

At 1500ft above sea level, Jaldhaka river valley is a potential tourist destination for Dooars. The river valley is situated under the Kalimpong sub-partition and is cut off from the rest of the Darjeeling district by a mountain ridge plunging south-east from Reche-la of Neora Valley National Park and is detached from Bhutan by the Jaldhaka River.

The Jaldhaka river begins at Kupup lake in the East Sikkim Zuluk tourist circuit location. From here it flows partially through Bhutan and partially through the Bhutan-Bengal border. The last bounce of its Himalayan journey is through the Jaldhaka river valley denoted here. From the Himalayas, it arrives at the Dooars plains and slowly takes a much greater and sturdier form thanks to its several tributaries.

The Jaldhaka river passes through the East of Gorumara forest and takes a south-eastern way. Through Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar districts, it passes before incoming Bangladesh nearby Mathabhanga in the Coochbehar district. Across the Coochbehar district, the river takes the name Singimari. After the incoming, the Bangladesh river Jaldhaka again transforms its name to Dharla and flows into the Brahmaputra near Kurigram.

Pelling

Pelling is a small town located in the hills in West Sikkim, 7,200 feet above sea level. Despite being one of the slighter-known towns across the area, it is slowly attaining attention as a prevalent tourist destination.  Pelling is a dream destination for nature lovers, trekkers, explorers, bird-watchers, and serenity seekers.

The city is sprinkled with heritage structures such as ancient monasteries and breathtaking waterfalls such as the Kanchenjunga falls, the Rimbi Waterfall, and the Changey Waterfall. The Sanga Choeling Monastery and the Pemayangtse Monastery are two of the foremost monasteries in the location that one must visit for their heritage and architectural implication when they are in Pelling. 

Pelling is effortlessly accessible from both Gangtok and Darjeeling. It is situated at a distance of 131 km from Gangtok and 73.9 km from Darjeeling. The adjacent airport is the Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri from where one can hire buses and cars to reach Pelling. One can also hire buses that leave at common intervals from Gangtok and Siliguri that pass through Pelling. 

The great time to visit Pelling is from December to May, which comprises winter, spring, and summer. Throughout December, the temperature drips down to -5 degrees Celsius, enabling the tourists to take benefit of the snow and relish sports like snow skating. The summers are similarly vibrant, with temperatures remaining cool during the day and dissimilar kinds of flowers filling up the valleys in the area. 
The major language spoken here is Sikkimese, but Nepali and Hindi are also spoken confidently by the locals. The cuisine here is majorly north-Eastern and dissimilar local shops sell fragilities that are a specialty of this place. The town is well-equipped with several hotels and restaurants to confirm a comfortable stay for travelers. 

Best Time To Visit Darjeeling 

The best time to visit Darjeeling is from April to June when the weather is agreeable. However, a lot of individuals also prefer visiting the place throughout the winter months from October to December. With heavy rainfall, a lot of roadblocks are witnessed in the hill station, and therefore visiting Darjeeling throughout these months is not very worthwhile. 

The months from October to March see a sudden shift in the weather, as by the end of October a slight cold reigns around the area. Winter is at its peak from mid-November to January and the temperature varies between 7 degrees to 5 degrees Celcius. 

April to June symbols the offset of summers around the city. Darjeeling in these months is enjoyable and not very hot. The gushing bright sunlight makes it perfect for exploring tourist spots. September again is an outstanding time to visit as there is less rainfall and the greenery is at its finest at this time of the year.

How To Reach Darjeeling? 

By Air

The adjoining airport to Darjeeling is Bagdogra which is nearly 95 km away from the city. There are some direct flights from the cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, and Guwahati to Darjeeling. From the airport, you can easily reach the city by hiring a taxi. Flights are accessible from all foremost cities.

By Rail

The nearest railway station to Darjeeling is New Jalpaiguri which links the city with all the foremost parts of the country. There are several trains from major cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, and Kochi. Individuals can hire private cabs from the railway station to reach Darjeeling.

By Road

Darjeeling is well linked to some of the foremost cities close by such as Gangtok and Kalimpong which are situated at a distance of 100 km and 51 km respectively. The city is also linked with Kolkata which is 651 km away and it takes nearly 14 hours to reach here. The capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu is just 310 KM away from this attractive place. From the airport, you can easily reach the city by Bus or Cab.

Conclusion 

Darjeeling is home to several places worth discovering on a holiday. Ghum Monastery, Peace Pagoda, Happy Valley Tea Estate, and Darjeeling Ropeway, among others, are counted among the most attractive places to visit in Darjeeling. Additionally, Snowfall in Darjeeling is a very infrequent event. It frequently happens in the month of December, January, and February. One must plan a trip for at least 4-5 days to Darjeeling for an eventual experience. Darjeeling and its nearby places host unforgettable experiences for travelers from around the country.

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