*DARJEELING:
This write-up is for students and those people who are travelling in shoe string budget. See list of hotels in comment.
HOW TO REACH DARJEELING:
The nearest airport is Baghdora. The nearest main-line railway station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP).
From Mumbai: 5645 Guwahati Express that reaches New Jalpaiguri at 1:10 hrs.
From Delhi:4056 Bhramputra Mail (Tinsukia) that reaches New Jalpaiguri at 4:30 hrs. Both these trains will reach early in morning so that you take a shared taxi from just outside the railway station and reach Darjeeling early.
If you have extra luggage, you can deposit the same at the cloak room situated on the platform no. 1 and collect it on return. Take only the minimum baggage. If you have heavy trolley baggage, you can utilise the ramp on the platform on the last bridge to pull the bagage by yourself as porters demand too much at the station to carry your luggage despite government prescribed rates of rs. 6 per baggage.
As soon as you come out of the station from the bridge you will find a pre-paid taxi stand that operates hand in glove with taxi drivers, therefore unreliable. So, negotiate with taxi drivers. The official rate for prepaid share taxi to Darjeeling is Rs. 120 per passenger. But if you negotoate the rates are Rs. 120 for front seat next to driver. Rs. 100 per passenger for seats behind the driver and Rs. 90 for seats at the back of the tata sumo. I suggest you take the back seat for Rs. 90as you will get the best view from the large glass of the back door of tata sumo. Avoid Maruti van. The amount is to be paid to the driver but the taxi will start from pre-paid taxi stand only !!
WHERE TO STAY:
There are plenty of hotels to suit all budgets. Students can stay at the Youth Hostel in Darjeeling (Rs. 100 per day for each person).
But for the adventurous types who are keen to see Kanchanginja peak...Sterling Resort is the best option. Although it is litle expensive hotel (Rs. 1800 per day for two), but it is the only hotel which can offer you view of Kanchanjunga right from their restaurant. They also have a platform in the garden for viewing the Kanchanjunga peak at sunrise. The restaurant is moderately priced with excellebt Aloo / Muli paratha for Rs. 35, and pot tea for Rs. 10 (good enough for two). Rs. 10 per dish is charged extra for room delivery. Sterling Resort is situated in Ghoom, very near to Ghoom Railway Station, 7 Kms before Darjeeling. You can tell the taxi driver to drop you at te nearest point and he will do so. You can walk to the Sterling resort from here. It's 5 mins pleasent walk. Do not forget to have steaming hot jalebis at the only hotel on the right side of your walk. I am telling you...there are the best jalebis in town.
BEST WAY TO EXPERIENCE YOUR TRIP:
Taxis are available from the Sterling resort travel desk at following rates-
Sunrise from Tiger Hill (Rs. 100 per head / Rs. 350 full van):** The taxi starts at 4 am and reaches you to Tiger Hill for sunrise view from air-conditioned viewing gallery (Rs. 40 entry ticket). You can also view from common platform for FREE, but its too cold here. If you don't want to visit tiger hill, you can view Kanchanjunga at sunrise from the platform from the Sterling Resort itself.
Darjeeling Fun-Ten package for Rs. 200 per passenger or Rs. 800 for full taxi: This tour covers Batasia Loop, Ava Art Galarry, Zoo, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Tenzing Rock, Ranjeet T. E., Tibetian Refugee Centre, Japanese Temple, Peace pagoda, Mall Road (for lunch).
Jore Pokhari, Mirk Lake & Pashupati Nagar for Rs. 275 per passenger or Rs. 1100 for full van: This tour package will take you to Jore Pokhari from where you get full view of the entire Darjeeling township. Then to Mirk and Sumendu Lake, and then to Pashupati Nagar shopping centre, which is inside Nepal border.
Rafting on Teesa for Rs. 750 per head: The rate is inclusive of transfer, rafting, guide and equipment.
If you are not interested to hire taxi to visit museums, temples and gardens, you can explore the city on your own. This is best way to know the city and its people.
HOW TO EXPLORE THE CITY ON YOUR OWN:
If you are staying in Sterling Resort, and want to explore Darjeeling city on your own, its quite easy and cheaper. Get up at 5 am in morning, and reach the Kanchanjunga viewing platform at 5:30 am to view the Kanchanjunga peak. The spectacular view of peaks turning faint red to orange and then yellow to white is really somehing to watch. People come to Tiger Hill from Darjeeling (one hour frive) to watch this only. But at sterling Resort, you can view the same from your garden saving time and money.
After this you can get ready and have breakfast at the restaurant in the resort that opens at 7:30 am. Try stuffed parathas (Rs. 35) and Darjeeling tea (Rs. 10). The restaurant will give you views of kanchanjunga peak right from your seat.
Catch a shared taxi from the main highway (5 mins walk) to reach Darjeeling (Rs. 10 for half an hour drive). Get down at New Market. Visit old market and you will find that woolens are the cheapest here. There are few very small restaurants that serve good momos, chana bhatura, sweets, and tea.
You can climb up to Chorasta, a happening place full of shops and eateries. From the chowk you can get view of Sikkim. Visit Nightangae park in evening when the park is lit up with coloured lights.
If you like walking, you can walk down to Tea gardens (one hour walk) from new market, or take a taxi for Rs. 200. On way you can see cable car spot (no more operational), Tenzing rock (nothing intersting), St. Joseph's School, Zoo, and local college.
Ava Art Gallery will be on way to Darjeeling from Ghoom, near Darjeeling railway station.
There is also the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) that takes you for a joy ride for Rs. 425 from Darjeeling to Ghoom (7407 feet) and return. This runs on steam engine.
The most wonderful thing to experience is the Toy Train. Its advisable to book your seat in advance at Darjeeling Railway station as Ghoom station does not have this facility. Submit the duly filled-in reservation form at extreme right window at Darjeeling station to book your return journey from Ghoom to New Jalpaiguri by Toy Train. Charges for second class is Rs. 50, and Rs. 100 for first class. The Toy Train starts at 9:45 hrs from Ghoom station and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 16:20 hrs. This is an interesting ride that travels across markets, villages, and jungles. It's more or less a trek on wheels among the hills. Do not miss this opportunity to view the hills so closely. The train descends from a great height to plains, reverses at few places to change tracks, and stops at small stations for tea and snacks.
On reaching New Jalpaiguri, you can take the train back to your home with memories of the hills......
