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Tiger Hill |
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The highest spot in the area at 2590m, Tiger Hill
is near Ghoom, about 11km from Darjeeling. The hill is famous for its
magnificent dawn views over Kanchenjunga and other eastern Himalayan peaks. On a
clear day even Mount Everest is visible.
Every day a large convoy of battered Land
Rovers leaves Darjeeling at 4.30am, which means that in the smaller lodges
you get woken up at this time every day, whether you like it or not. It can be
very cold and very crowded at the top but coffee is available. There is a view
tower. Halfway down the hill a temple priest causes a massive traffic jam by
anointing the steering wheel of each vehicle for the return trip. Many take the
jeep one way and then walk back - a very pleasant two hour trip. |
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Senchal Lake |
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Close to Tiger Hill is Senchal Lake, which
supplies Darjeeling with its domestic water. It's a particularly scenic area and
popular as a picnic spot with Indian holiday-makers. |
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Kanchenjunga Views |
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 At
8598m, this is the world's third highest mountain. From Darjeeling, the best
uninterrupted views of it are from Bhan Bhakta Sarani. The name Kanchenjunga
is derived from the Tibetan Khang (snow), chen (big), dzong (fortress or
treasury) nga (five) - big five peaked snow fortress, or big five peaked
treasury of the snow. |
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Bhutia Busty
Gompa |
 Not far from Chowrasta is this colourful
monastery, with Kanchenjunga providing a spectacular backdrop. Originally a
branch of the Nyingmapa sect's Phodang Monastery in Sikkim, it was transferred
to Darjeeling in 1879. The shrine here originally stood on Observatory Hill.
There's library of Buddhist texts upstairs which houses the original copy of the
Tibetan Book of the Dead. |
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Ghoom Gompa |
More correctly known
as Yogachoeling Gompa, this is probably the most famous monastery in
Darjeeling and is about 8 km south of town, just below Hill Cart road and
the train station near Ghoom. It enshrines an image of the Maitreya Buddha.
Foreigners are allowed to enter the shrine and take photographs. As Ghoom is
frequently swathed in mists, and the monastery is old and dark, it is often
affectionately called Gloom monastery.
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Other Gompas |
There are three other gompas in Ghoom: the very large but relatively
uninteresting Samdenchoeling, the nearby and smaller
Sakyachoeling, and the Phin Sotholing.
Nearer Darjeeling, on Tenzing Norgay Rd, Aloobari Monastery welcomes
visitors. The monks often sell Tibetan and Sikkimese handicrafts and
religious objects (usually hand bells). If the monastery is closed ask at
the cottage next door and they'll let you in.
Halfway between Ghoom and Darjeeling is the Thupten Sangachoeling Gompa
at Dali. Westerners interested in Tibetan Buddhism often study here. A
little closer to Darjeeling on the same road is the opulent Sonada Gompa.
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Observatory Hill |
Situated above the Windamere Hotel, this viewpoint is sacred to both
Hindus and Buddhists. There is a Kali shrine here and the multicoloured
prayer flags double as trapezes for he monkeys. Watch out for them as they
can be aggressive.
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Dhirdham Temple |
The most conspicuous Hindu temple in Darjeeling, this is just below the
railway station and is modelled on the famous Pashupatinath Temple in
Kathmandu.
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Bengal Natural History Museum |
Established in 1903, a comprehensive but dusty collection of Himalayan and
Bengali fauna is packed into this interesting museum. Among the 4300
specimens is the estuarine crocodile, the animal responsible for the
greatest loss of human life in Asia. The museum is open daily except
Thursday, from 10am to 4pm.
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Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park |
This zoo was established in 1958 with the objectives of study, conservation
and preservation of Himalayan fauna. The animals are well cared for by
dedicated keepers. To protect and breed the dwindling stocks of wild
animals, to educate the public and instill in them a sense of the worth of
these wonderful creatures, it is necessary to keep them in pseudo-natural
habitats. The zoo houses India's only collection of Siberian tigers and some
rare species, such as the red panda and the Tibetan wolf.
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Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) & Museums |
Entered through the zoo, on Jawahar Rd West about two km from the town, the
HMI runs courses to train mountaineers, and maintains a couple of
interesting museums. The Mountaineering Museum contains a collection
of historic mountaineering equipment, specimens of Himalayan flora and fauna
and a relief model of the Himalaya. The Everest Museum next door
traces the history of attempts on the great peak.
Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, who conquered Everest with Edmund Hillary in 1953,
lived in Darjeeling and was the director of the institute for many
years. He died in 1986 and his statue now stands beside cremation spot just
above the institute
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Tibetan Refugee Centre |
A 20 to 30 minutes walk from Chowrasta through leafy glades and tea
plantations, brings you down to the Tibetan Refugee Centre. Established in
1959, the centre comprises a home for the aged, and orphanage, school,
hospital and craft workshops that produce carpets of pure ladakhi wool,
woodcarving, leather work and wool items. The weaving and dyeing shops and
the wood carving shop are particularly interesting.
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Gymkhana Club |
The word gymkhana is actually derived from the Hindi gendkhana (ball house).
Games on offer include tennis, squash, badminton, roller-skating, table
tennis and billiards.
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Passenger Ropeway |
At north point, about 3 km north of the town, is India's oldest passenger
ropeway. It is 5 km long and connects Darjeeling with Singla bazaar on the
little Ranjeet river at the bottom of the valley.
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Lloyd Botanical Gardens |
| Below the bus and taxi stand near the market, these gardens contain a
representative collection of Himalayan plants, flowers and orchids. The
hothouses are well worth a visit.
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