Top places to visit in Darjeeling

• Tiger Hill

  sunrise-point · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · entry ₹50

  Darjeeling's legendary sunrise point at 2,590 m, where dawn light sets Kanchenjunga ablaze and, on clear days, Everest is visible on the horizon.

• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train)

  heritage-railway · 4.6 rating · about 2.5 h · entry ₹1,310

  The UNESCO World Heritage "Toy Train", a 2-ft narrow-gauge steam railway from 1881 climbing to Ghum (India's highest station) via loops and switchbacks.

• Batasia Loop & War Memorial

  railway-loop · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · entry ₹20, ₹20 per person entry.

  A spiralling railway loop where the toy train coils through a landscaped garden around the Gorkha War Memorial, with sweeping Kanchenjunga views.

• Darjeeling Mall Road Walk

  promenade · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The pedestrian promenade at 2134m with benches, horse rides, and views towards Kangchenjunga. Chowrasta (four-way junction) is where Darjeeling social life converges with bookshops, cafes, and toy stalls.

• Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park

  zoo · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · entry ₹180

  A renowned high-altitude zoo specialising in endangered Himalayan species — snow leopards, red pandas and Tibetan wolves — set on forested slopes.

• Chowrasta & The Mall

  promenade · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The pedestrian town square at the top of the Mall, ringed by colonial-era shops, the Oxford Book Store and cafes — Darjeeling's lively social heart.

• Himalayan Mountaineering Institute

  mountaineering · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · entry ₹180

  A premier mountaineering institute founded after the 1953 Everest ascent, with a museum on Himalayan climbing and Tenzing Norgay's memorial on the grounds.

• Keventer Snack Bar Darjeeling

  cafe · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Darjeeling most beloved institution since 1900, serving hot dogs, cheese rolls, and milkshakes. Its balcony on Nehru Road is the best spot for watching morning fog roll over the valley while eating breakfast.

• Darjeeling Municipal Market

  market · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Darjeeling bustling local market with fresh mountain produce, Tibetan crafts, woollen goods, and local street food. The steep market lanes wind down from Chowrasta in a series of steps — a living slice of hill town culture.

• Happy Valley Tea Estate

  tea-estate · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Darjeeling's most accessible working tea garden (est. 1854) just below town, where you can walk the slopes and tour the factory in season.

• Japanese Peace Pagoda

  pagoda · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A serene white Nipponzan-Myohoji Buddhist pagoda with gilded Buddha figures and chanting, offering peaceful views over the town and hills.

• Observatory Hill (Mahakal Temple)

  sacred-hill · 4.4 rating · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate

  The sacred hilltop above Chowrasta shared by Hindu and Buddhist shrines (Mahakal Temple), draped in prayer flags with grand mountain vistas.

Things to do

• Darjeeling Toy Train Joyride Sightseeing Tour · 2 h · from INR 1,500 per person
• Tiger Hill Sunrise Tour Sightseeing Tour · 4 h · from INR 800 per person
• Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park Wildlife · 3 h · from INR 200 per person
• Happy Valley Tea Estate Tour Cultural · 2 h · from INR 800 per person
• Darjeeling Tea Plantation Sunrise Pluck Nature · 4 h · from INR 1,500 per person
• Darjeeling Heritage Train Photography Tour Heritage · 4 h · from INR 1,200 per person
• Darjeeling Buddhist Monastery Meditation Heritage · 2 h · from INR 300 per person
• Darjeeling Night Market and Street Food Walk Heritage · 2.5 h · from INR 500 per person

Day trips and tours

• Darjeeling Sunrise & Sightseeing Day 9 h · from INR 2,000
• Darjeeling Tea, Zoo & Monastery Day 7 h · from INR 1,800
• Mirik & Tea Valley Day Trip 8 h · from INR 2,200

Where to stay in Darjeeling

• Mall Road about INR 3,000 per night

  Main shopping and dining area with hotel clusters

• Upper Darjeeling about INR 2,500 per night

  Peaceful residential area near Kanchenjunga viewpoint

Hotels

• Glenburn Tea Estate Darjeeling 5-star · INR 30,000 to INR 90,000 per night
• Tea Estate Bungalow Darjeeling 5-star · INR 20,000 to INR 60,000 per night
• Jasmine Homestay Darjeeling 2-star · INR 950 to INR 1,400 per night
• Chamong Chiabari Mountain Retreat 4-star · INR 12,000 to INR 38,000 per night
• Cochrane Place Darjeeling 5-star · INR 8,000 to INR 25,000 per night
• HIMALOK HOMESTAY 2-star · INR 1,584 to INR 2,000 per night

Where to eat

• Keventers Darjeeling Continental, British, Breakfast · about INR 500 per person
• Chowrasta Momo Corner Darjeeling Tibetan, Nepali, Street Food · about INR 150 per person
• Darjeeling Chowrasta Food Court Street Food, Tibetan, Chai · about INR 150 per person
• Glenary's Bakery, Continental, Cafe · about INR 500 per person
• Tiger Hill Pre-dawn Tea Stall Street Food, Chai, Tea · about INR 100 per person
• Darjeeling Momo Factory Tibetan, Street Food, Nepali · about INR 200 per person
• Ghum Station Tea Stall Darjeeling Tea, Street Food, Chai · about INR 50 per person
• Keventer's Continental, Breakfast, Cafe · about INR 450 per person

Getting to Darjeeling

Airport: Darjeeling (IXB)

How visitors arrive in Darjeeling

• Road via Siliguri By road from Siliguri · most visitors

  Most road travel climbs from Siliguri; shared and prepaid taxis run from Bagdogra airport and New Jalpaiguri station. Source: darjeeling.gov.in

• Fly to Bagdogra airport By air from Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati · common

  Bagdogra is the nearest airport, with flights from Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati, then a road transfer. Source: darjeeling.gov.in

• Train to New Jalpaiguri By train from New Jalpaiguri · common

  New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri are the nearest stations; the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway also runs up the hill. Source: darjeeling.gov.in

From the airport to the centre

• Shared jeep from Bagdogra via Siliguri

  Shared vehicles leave from spots around Siliguri and from New Jalpaiguri station and depart when full. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Taxi from NJP station or Bagdogra

  Booking and prepaid counters are at the taxi stand in front of New Jalpaiguri station; taxis are usually shared by three or four people. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway toy train unconfirmed

  The narrow-gauge toy train starts from New Jalpaiguri on selected days; book ahead in peak season. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Shared Taxi main way to get around

  Darjeeling relies on shared paratransit taxis that run without set routes or timetables.

• Taxi main way to get around

  Paratransit taxis are the main form of motorised travel in Darjeeling.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Pre-paid taxi "broken meter"

  Airports, train stations, popular squares

  Driver insists meter is broken, quotes ~3x the fair price; or detours via "shopping" stops earning commission.

  How to avoid it: Use pre-paid taxi counter at airport, or Uber/Ola/Rapido apps. Insist on meter or agree price upfront.

Best time to visit Darjeeling

• Jan 11°C
• Feb 12°C
• Mar 16°C
• Apr 19°C
• May 19°C
• Jun 20°C
• Jul 20°C
• Aug 20°C
• Sep 20°C
• Oct 19°C
• Nov 17°C
• Dec 14°C

More in India

• New Delhi
• Agra
• Jaipur
• Panaji
• Mumbai
• Varanasi

Frequently asked questions about Darjeeling

What are the top-rated places to visit in Darjeeling?

The highest-rated places in our Darjeeling guide are Tiger Hill, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train), Japanese Peace Pagoda, Batasia Loop & War Memorial, Darjeeling Mall Road Walk.

Where should I stay in Darjeeling?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Darjeeling: Mall Road, Upper Darjeeling.

How do I get around Darjeeling?

Ways to get around Darjeeling covered in our guide: Shared taxi, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Darjeeling?

Scams reported to us for Darjeeling include Pre-paid taxi "broken meter". Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Darjeeling?

Average daytime highs in Darjeeling run from 11°C in Jan to 20°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Darjeeling?

The nearest airport to Darjeeling has the code IXB.