This little town founded by the two British
officers during the British rule in India
(Dr. Campbell and Lieut. Napier) grew very
rapidly and within ten years (between 1839
and 1849), the population rose chiefly be
immigration from 100 to about 10,000 persons,
a truly remarkable tribute to the East India
Company and the administration of their officers.
This rapid growth, however, excited the jealousy
of the Maharaja of Sikkim, or rather of his
Prime Minister, and when Dr. Campbell and
the eminent explorer and naturalist, Sir Joseph
Hooker, were touring in Sikkim in 1849, with
the permission of both Governments, they were
suddenly seized and imprisoned. Many indignities
and even severe insults were thrust on the
British Agent during weeks of meaningless
detention, and as a result the usual expeditionary
force had to be sent to teach good manners
to the uncivilized authorities in Sikkim.
Fortunately there was no necessity for bloodshed,
and after the Company's troops had crossed
the Rangeet river into Sikkim hostilities
ceased. Consequently on this trouble, and
further ebullition of misconduct on the part
of the Sikkim authorities a few years later,
the mountain tracts now forming the district
of Darjeeling became a portion of the British
Indian Empire, and the remainder of kingdom
of Sikkim became a protected State.
After India's independence from British,
Darjeeling remained a part of West Bengal.
Around 1986, a powerful movement started for
independence of Darjeeling as a separate state
in Indian Union. This was ended with the establishment
of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council under
the Chairmanship of Mr. Subash Ghissing and
has been given considerable autonomy in administrative
matters.
Tiger Hill : Situated
at an altitude of 2590 metres (8482 ft.),
it is 15 km from Darjeeling town. An early
morning trip to the Tiger Hill promises
an unique experience. A view of the sunrise
amidst the Himalayan range has earned it
an international fame. From here you can
get a glimpse of Mount Everest, the highest
mountain and Kanchenjunga range.
Observatory Hill : Apart
from the magnificent view it commands, this
hill atop the Mall also is attached with
great religious importance as a revered
temple complex for both the Hindus and the
Buddhists. You can see here a number of
colorful Prayer Flags flying with the winds
at Observatory Hill.
Darjeeling Toy Train :
The Toy Train or Darjeeling Himalayan
Railway is the first, and still
the most outstanding example of a hill passenger
railway. It was inscribed on the list of
World Heritage Sites. This fascinating narrow
gauge steam engine train still operates
with the original steam engine and the loops
and the zigzags along the route are remarkable
feats of engineering. The journey from New
Jalpaiguri may be a pleasant experience
but it is the short ride from Darjeeling
town to Ghoom, the nearest station, that
becomes a joy ride in itself. The Toy Train
is considered an engineering marvel and
some prefer to call it one of the wonders
of the world, to be preserved forever.
War Memorial & Batasia Loop
: About 5 kms. from Darjeeling,
this railway loop is a marvellous feat of
engineering and with its magnificent view
of Darjeeling town with the Kanchenjunga
mountain is worth an experience, whether
aboard the Toy Train or just watching the
Toy Train pass through this loop. The War
memorial is constructed in the memory of
the brave sons of Darjeeling who died for
the country since Independence in 1947.
The Mall and Chowrasta : The
Mall road originates and culminates at the
Chowrasta which is the hub of Darjeeling
town, a square on the ridge of Darjeeling
town and a good place to sit and relax.
It is ideal for a leisurely walk around
a setting that is perfect. A walk around
The Mall is a must just at any time of the
day with the pleasant view of the mountains,
valleys with rhododendron trees and old
houses.
Tibeten Carpet weaving Center :
Darjeeling has some interesting places to
watch the local handicrafts being made as
well as a various range of choiced handicraft
souvenirs. The Tibetan Refugee Self Help
Centre is a self-supporting Centre for Tibetan
refugees which manufactures some intriguing
Tibetan handicrafts. Established for the
rehabilitation of Tibetan refugees who had
followed the Dalai Lama to India in early
1959. It offers a wide choice of Tibetan
handicrafts, Tibetan woollen carpet is very
popular. Hayden Hall, a Roman Catholic social
service centre also has a handicraft section
with the purpose of helping the local poor
people.
Handmade items are available for sale at
reasonable prices. The Manjusha Bengal Emporium
offers prominent hill handicrafts, handloom
and silk products of West Bengal for display
and for sale. It is situated at Nehru Road.
Gram Shilpa is another such showroom displaying
Khadi handloom silk products and set up
by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission,
Govt. of India. It is situated in Chowrasta.
Darjeeling Tea Gardens :
While in Darjeeling a visit to any nearby
Tea Garden to watch the actual process of
the manufacturing of Darjeeling Tea is worth
it. Some of the Tea Gardens also sell their
packet teas. There are about 70 tea gardens
in this hill region and the most accessible
one is the Happy Valley Tea Estate, which
is about 3 kms. from the town or within
a walking distance of about 40 minutes (Closed
on Monday).
Japanese Peace Pagoda : The
Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist inaugurated the
Japanese Peace Pagoda in 1992. It is a recent
landmark constructed by Japanese Monks and
commands an excellent view of the town and
the Himalayan Range.
Buddhist Monasteries : In
and around Darjeeling there are important
and interesting Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries.
The oldest one is called the Yiga Cholling
Monastery which is situated about 8 kms.
from the town at Ghoom and enshrines an
image of 'the Coming Buddha' or the Maitriya
Buddha. It was constructed in 1875 and belongs
to the Gelugpa Sect. The Samten Cholling
Monastery is another interesting monastery
nearby. The Drukpa Kargyud Monastery, also
known as Dali Monastery, is a big monastery
located 5 kms. from the town. It belongs
to the Drukpa Sect and the Drukchen Rimpoche
resides here. The Bhutia Busty Monastery
is situated at C.R. Das Road and is within
15 minutes walk from the Mall.
Dhirdham Temple : Situated
just below the Railway station the temple
is a structural replica of the famous 'Pashupatinath'
temple of Kathmandu, Nepal.
Natural History Museum :
While taking a walk in The Mall a visit
to the Museum of Natural History which lies
closeby is worthwhile. This fine small museum
exhibits an unique collection of the fauna
of the Himalayan region, especially of the
Eastern Himalayas.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
: It was founded in 1954 after
the historic conquest of Everest on the
29th of May in 1953, when two people set
foot atop Mount Everest. They were, Tenzing
Norgay (Sherpa) from Darjeeling and Sir
Edmund Hillary from New Zealand. As an honour
to the great Sherpa this Institute was formed
with the aim of imparting mountaineering
skills to all the enthusiasts. Tenzing Sherpa
himself was one of the founding members
and also the Field Director of the Institute.
It is situated on Jawahar Parbat and adjoins
the Zoo. This Institute also houses a museum
which holds a rare collection of mementos
from various Everest expeditions. Nawang
Gombu, the first man to have climbed the
Everest twice is presently the Chief Advisor
for the Mountaineering Training.
Himalayan Zoological Park and Snow
Leopard Breeding Centre : A high
altitude wild life park and new home of
the Siberian Tiger, Himalayan Black Bear,
Barking Deer etc. , Padmaja Naidu Himalayan
Zoological Park or the town Zoo exhibits
some rare Himalayan Fauna including the
Snow Leopard, Red panda, Tibetan Wolf, Himalayan
Pheasants, etc. It is a treat for all wild
life enthusiasts. Just nearby is a very
successful Snow Leopard Breeding Centre.
Lloyds Botanical Garden : This is a colourful
garden situated just below the market. In
1878 Mr. W. Lloyd gifted 40 acres of hillside
to make a garden with local plants and flowers.
It still has the most varied collection
of rhododendron, magnolia, orchids, etc.
of the Eastern Himalayas. It also has a
glass-house full of alpine flowers and also
features an Orchidarium and a collection
of medicinal plants. With an area of 1,200
sq. miles, the district is shaped like an
irregular triangle, the southern region,
the base, comprises the Terrai, a marshy
low-lying area at an average height of 100
m above sea level; the apex is formed by
the Phalut ridge where Nepal meets India.
The eastern frontier lies along the rivers
Tista and Rangeet, beyond is Rishi-La and
Bhutan. The lower regions of the labyrithine
hilly forest-clad ridges, have been cleared
for the cultivation of the world famous
Darjeeling tea. Started in the area of only
14,000 acres in 1872, it had risen to 7,87,000
acres by 1956. The town itself laid out
by Lord Napier of Royal Engineers, is at
an altitude of 2,134 m (lies between 26°
31' and 27° 13' North Latitude and between
87° 59' and 88° 53' East Longitude);
moving up the hills one is greeted by smiling
tea gardens, changing to firs, pines and
fast moving torrents, while around 4,000
types of flowering plants and 300 varieties
of ferns, including the rare tree fern.
Beyond the town itself, modern elegant and
sophistacated, lies nature in the raw in
hills, valleys and forest, unbroken and
untamed.
Lloyds Botanical Garden : Darjeeling
Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway :
This Ropeway is in one of the most beautiful
part of the town and is situated at North
Point about 3 kms. from town. The cable
car ride takes 6 passengers at a time and
it passes over the lush green tea gardens
with breathtaking view of the mountains
(Kanchenjunga) and provides an experience
that cannot be easily forgotten. The valley
has glorious views of Sikkim and the river
Rangeet.
Ava Art Gallery : Approximately
10 minutes by taxi from the motor stand,
it is just below the main road on the way
to Ghoom. This gallery houses fine art and
embroidery work of Mrs. Ava Devi.
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