"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles."~Anne FrankIt has been long stay to Kolkata but not yet visited such beautiful place ‘DARJEELING’.
Darjeeling has always been a fabulous destination to hit during summers and that’s why planned to visit this Queen of Hill Station.We started on 15 April 2010 and back to Kolkata on 20th April 2010.It was splendid and enjoyed lot 3 days stay in Darjeeling and Mirik. It was another unforgettable trip.
Tourist inflow into Darjeeling has been affected by the political instability in the region, and agitations from recent past have hit the tourism industry hard.That’s why before traveling we were afraid of strike which happened in recent pasts. We afraid that if there would be strike then we are lost and our trip can be washed out but THANK GOD ...it wasn't and we were lucky enough. I don't know why political parties called up the bandh, all in all strike affects the life of common people like shopkeeper and hawkers who are completely dependent on tourist. Even, some people told that it's not good and affect their business. I will not talk much about bandh here....but I will do say that it straightway paralyzed life in Darjeeling hills.
Our planning to Darjeeling was suddenly and it was difficult to get train tickets from Kolkata-NJP-Kolkata but we were determined and have to manage some way to visit.
We booked tickets in tatkal to reach to destination and for coming by Volvo bus. While coming back, Journey was overnight though bit tough as don't like traveling by bus.
The train journey from Sealdah (Kolkata) to NJP is backbreaking as not got AC tickets and traveled by sleeper class. Complete night listening the railway track music, we managed to reach NJP which nearest railway station for our destination. We reached NJP in the morning and started for Darjeeling which is about 80KM from NJP. It was terrific to go to height 6500 Ft. with narrow and snake kind of road, it's Tenzing Norgay Road NH55. The scene was awesome on the way to Darjeeling. My big THANK to Taxi driver as sometime, we felt afraid as road was so steep and narrow. We have never been pass through such route. We reach to our destination in fours hours exactly at 12:00 PM which was our check in time of Hotel. The contemporary culture and the Mongoloid faces make us wonder whether it is part of West Bengal. Everywhere I find slogans of Gorkhaland "Gorkhaland Hamra Janmsidh Adhikar Hai " and some vehicle number plate was not WB but it's with GL (Certainly unapproved).
Our hotel, was a century old beauty, categorized as one of the oldest and finest hotel Named as ‘Olde (Main) Bellevue which was very close to the ‘chowrasta’. We found this hotel rooms beautiful with wooden wall and floor.There was no fan in the room, It was fantastic to know this as in summer season where need AC but in Darjeeling NO fan needed. This was splendid experience. The first day we just walk through to the chowrasta and Mall road. It is lined up with shops, restaurants and hawkers. Kanchenjunga, one of highest peak is the most prominent mountain visible and can be sighted from almost all places in Darjeeling.
Chowrasta many people sit , enjoy the tea and horse riding.It was nice and peaceful place and in fact romantic place. For the next day, we booked car for sightseeing all the points in Darjeeling.
Places where we visited in Darjeeling were Tiger Hills, Buddhist Monastery, Batasia Loop, Peace Pagoda, Japanese temple, Rock Garden, Tea Garden, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Padmja Naidu Zolological Park, Tibetan Refugee Center.
Tiger Hills is the highest point in Darjeeling and very known to have view rising sun with the first rays of the sun strike the mountains, their white snow-capped peaks don a warm pinkish blue hue. We started early in morning at 4:30 AM covered in winter clothes for such breathtaking sight but, unfortunately...we can not as there was dense fog and cloudy weather. It looks like all tourist of Darjeeling were there to have glance of Sunrise. It was too cold in the morning and pleasant weather.
Batasia Loop is place which is known as Gorkha War memorial. It’s beautiful place. Here, we dressed in Pahadi dress and that was splendid. We have seen Japanese Temple and it was a good experience. Next move was towards Rock Garden; the road which goes to rock garden is very steep and narrow and known as snake road. It was thrilling while passing through this road by car. While driving, slight deviation from concentration of driver can take us to new world. Thanks to driver Raman who drove safely.
Got to know that there was heavy land sliding in this area almost year before and some peoples died road was completely blocked. Rock garden name says its garden of rocks and it has got beautiful waterfall.
Next move was to Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park. It is home to Himalayan animals including Siberian tigers, red panda and the Tibetan wolf. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) and museum is the one to know lot about Himalayan Mountaineering . This was inaugurated by Pt. Jahwahar Lal Nehru. Tenzing Norgay was first head of HMI. HMI has an excellent museum, specimens of flora and fauna, traditional attires of Himalayan tribes and a full-fledged school for mountaineers.
A tour to this hilly retreat will never be complete without visiting a tea estates so our post-lunch session involves a visit Tea Garden.
I had three reasons to visit this place. Firstly, because it’s a hill station and is home to a toy train, which was in blockbuster film ‘Aradhana’, in the song ‘mere sapnon ki rani kab aayegi tu’.I watched it my school days and ever since it has been my cherished dream to tour this place. Secondly, awesome climate in Darjeeling and lastly, Darjeeling tea as having sip of tea from childhood but never seen Tea Garden.
Second day we allotted for shopping and a ride on the toy train. We decide to begin it with purchase of tea. Nathmull’s tea shop is located everywhere in Darjeeling, it looks
this shop has got chain in Darjeeling. We realized that the tea here is extremely expensive and of high quality. There were varieties of tea from 1000 Rs per Kg to 12000/- per Kg.
The final day we allot or Mirik while going back to Siliguri we went to Mirik which another stop for 3 hours. Mirik is about two hours drive from Darjeeling and is a perfect place to take a jaunt.Our cab steers through a big estate to reach Mirik which has got very beautiful lake.
This was last place of our trip and like all things, though our time had to reach an end.
Then we locate to return back to Siliguri to catch the Bus for Kolkata and back to Kolkata in the morning on 19th April 2010.
It was memorable trip and enjoyed lot. Please do visit City of Tea Garden: Darjeeling during
summer for a good weather and for a splendid view.
