West Bengal · Eastern Himalaya
Darjeeling
Developed as a hill station by the British in the 1830s, Darjeeling is now synonymous with the tea that bears its name, grown on steep estates across the surrounding hills since the mid-1800s.
Its narrow-gauge "toy train", running since 1881, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right, and Tiger Hill draws early risers for sunrise views toward Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest peak, on clear mornings.
How to reach Darjeeling
Places to visit
Tiger Hill
A sunrise viewpoint with views of Kanchenjunga, and on rare clear days, Everest on the horizon.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
A UNESCO World Heritage narrow-gauge "toy train" running since 1881.
Happy Valley Tea Estate
One of Darjeeling's oldest working tea gardens, open for factory tours and tasting.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
A high-altitude zoo known for its red panda and snow leopard breeding programs.
Batasia Loop
A spiral railway loop with a war memorial garden, a regular stop on the toy train route.