Darjeeling is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal. The town is the headquarters of the Darjeeling district. This city is situated in the Shivalik range in the lesser Himalayas. The average altitude here is 2,134 meters (6,982 ft).
The word Darjeeling is derived from two Tibetan words, Dorje (thunderbolt) and Ling (place). It means "the place of millets."[1] During the British Raj in India, Darjeeling was made a hill station due to its temperate climate. The British residents used to come here during the summer season to get rid of the heat.
Darjeeling is internationally famous for its Darjeeling tea. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway of Darjeeling is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a famous site. The cultivation of tea here started from 1856. The tea growers here have created a blend of black tea and fermenting techniques that are among the best in the world. [2] The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which connects Darjeeling town to the Samthar site, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. . This steam operated device is rarely seen in India.
Darjeeling also has British-style private schools, which attract many students from India and Nepal. In the 1980s, the demand for the statehood of Gorkhaland started from this city and its nearby city of Kalimpong. Now this demand of the state has reduced somewhat as a result of the formation of an autonomous hill council. In recent times, the environment here is deteriorating due to more tourists and haphazard urbanization.
Introduction
This place was discovered during the Anglo-Nepal war when a British troop was looking for a short cut to reach Sikkim. Due to the easy access to Sikkim through this route, this place was strategically important for the British. Apart from this, this place was also very prosperous naturally. The cold climate and snowfall here was in favor of the British. For this reason, the British people started settling here slowly.
Initially Darjeeling was a part of Sikkim. Later Bhutan captured it. But after some time Sikkim recaptured it. But again in the 18th century, it was lost to Nepal. But even Nepal could not retain its authority for a long time. After the defeat in Anglo-Nepal in 1817 AD, Nepal had to hand it over to the East India Company.
Due to its strategic importance and the political situation at that time, Darjeeling turned into a battleground in the 1840s and 50s. At that time this place had become a venue for the demonstration of power of various countries. First the people of Tibet came here. After that the Europeans came. After this Russian people settled here. The Amir of Afghanistan chased them all away from here. This political instability ended only when the Amir of Afghanistan was defeated in a war with the British. Since then it was occupied by the British. Later it also became the workplace of the Japanese, the Kuomintang and the Indian National Army of Subhash Chandra Bose. After independence, Buddhist monks who fled from Lhasa settled here.
Presently Darjeeling is a part of West Bengal. The city is spread over an area of 3149 square kilometers. This city is triangular. Its northern part is adjacent to Nepal and Sikkim. Here autumn which is from October to March. It is very cold here during this season. The summer season here lasts from April to June. The weather at this time is mildly cool. It rains here from June to September. Most of the tourists come here in summer only.
Highlights
This city is situated on the top of the mountain. There is a network of roads here. These roads are connected to each other. While roaming these streets, you will come across many buildings built during the colonial period. These buildings look quite attractive even today. The old windows in these buildings and the chimneys made to extract the smoke are reminiscent of the old times. You can also find cemeteries, old school buildings and churches here. Along with the buildings of the old times, you will also see the concrete buildings of the present day here. The combination of old and new buildings gives this city a special beauty.
Sakya Monastery : This monastery is situated at a distance of eight kilometers from Darjeeling. Sakya Math is a very historical and important monastery of the Sakya sect. This Math was established in 1915 AD. It also has a prayer hall. 60 Buddhist monks can pray together in this prayer hall.
Drug-thubtan-sangg-chosling-monastery : The 11th Gyulwang Drugchen Tanzin Khyen-Rab Gelegs Wangpo died in 1960. In his memory, this Math was established in 1971 AD. The construction of this monastery was done in Tibetan style. Later this Math was re-established in 1993 AD. It was unveiled by the Dalai Lama.
Macadog Monastery : This monastery is situated at a distance of three kilometers from Chowrasta in Alubari village. This monastery belongs to the Yolmova sect of Buddhism. This monastery was established by Sri Sangay Lama. Sange Lama was the head of the Yolmova sect. It is a small community that earlier lived in the northeastern part of Nepal. But later the people of this community came and settled in Darjeeling. The construction work of this monastery was completed in 1914 AD. In this monastery, every effort has been made to depict the social, cultural and religious identity of the people of Yolmova sect.
Japanese Temple (Peace Pagoda) : This stupa was established by Fuji Guru who was a friend of Mahatma Gandhi to bring peace to the world. There are a total of six Shanti Stupas in India. Nippon Myoji Buddhist Temple which is in Darjeeling is also one of them. The construction work of this temple started in 1972 AD. This temple was opened for the common people on 1 November 1992 AD. From this temple, there is a beautiful view of the entire Darjeeling and Kangchenjunga range.
Tiger Hill : The main joy of Tiger Hill is in climbing it. You will find tourists climbing it every morning. Kangchenjunga peak is near this. From 1838 to 1849 AD, it was considered the highest peak in the world. But from the survey conducted in 1856, it became clear that not Kangchenjunga but Sagarmatha of Nepal, which was named Everest by the British, is the highest peak in the world. If you are lucky, you can see both Kangjanjunga and Everest peaks from Tiger Hill. There is a difference of only 827 feet in the height of these two peaks. Presently Kangchenjunga is the third highest peak in the world. Kangchenjunga has been awarded the title of the most romantic mountain. Due to its beauty, tourists have awarded it this title. Many poems have been written on the beauty of this peak. Apart from this, this peak has been shown many times in Satyajit Ray's films.Free to watch only, the fee for climbing the tower is Rs.10. The fee for sitting on the tower is Rs.30. You can even go by jeep. The fare from Darjeeling to here and back is Rs.65 to 70. is between
Ghum Monastery (Gelugus) :Near Tiger Hill is the Ega Choeling Tibetan Monastery. This monastery belongs to the Gelugs sect. This Math is also known as Ghoom Math. According to historians, this monastery was not established for religious purposes but for political meetings.This monastery was established in 1850 AD by a Mongolian monk, Lama Sherpa Yaltsu. Yaltsu came to India around 1820 AD to fulfill his religious desires. A 15 feet high statue of Buddha was installed in this monastery in 1918 AD. At that time, 25000 rupees were spent on making this idol. The cost was incurred. This idol is made of a precious stone and gold plated on it. There is also a collection of valuable texts in this monastery. These texts are translated from Sanskrit to Tibetan language. Kalidasa's Meghdoot is also included in these texts. There is another Gelugpa monastery established by Samten Choling near Hill Cart Road. Timings: Open on all days. Photography is allowed outside the monastery.
This is the oldest monastery in Darjeeling. It was originally built by Lama Dorje Ringje in 1765 AD on Observatory Hill. This monastery was looted by the Nepalese in 1815 AD. After this, this monastery was re-established in 1861 AD near St. Andrew's Church. It was finally established in 1879 AD in Bhutia Basti, near its present location Chaurasta. This monastery is built in Tibetan-Nepali style. Precious ancient Buddhist material is also kept in this monastery.
The Makhala temple here is very attractive. This temple is established at the same place where the Bhutia-Basti-Math was initially built. This temple must also be visited. Timings: Open on all days. Photography is allowed only outside the monastery.
Tenzing's Legacy : The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was established in 1954 AD. It may be noted that the Himalayas were conquered for the first time in 1953 AD. Tenzing was the director of this institute for many years. There is also a mountaineering museum here. In this museum, objects related to many historical expeditions made to climb the Himalayas have been kept. One of the galleries of this museum is known as Everest Museum. Everest related items have been kept in this gallery. Mountaineering training is also given in this institute.
Entry Fee: Rs 25 (Includes entrance fee to Biological Park) Tel: 0354-2270158 Timings: 10 AM to 4:30 PM (Half an hour off in between). Thursday closed.organic garden
The Padmaja-Naidu-Himalayan Biological Park is situated on the right side of the Mountaineering Institute. The park is famous for its breeding program for snow leopard and red panda. You can also spot Siberian tigers and Tibetan wolves here.
The Lords Botanical Garden is in the old market below the main bus stop. This garden is named after Mr.W. Named after Leonard. Leonard was a famous banker here who donated the land for this garden in 1878 AD. The garden has a valuable collection of 50 species of orchids. Timings: 6 AM to 5 PM.
The Natural History Museum is located near this botanical garden. This museum was established in 1903 AD. Here different varieties of birds, reptiles, animals and insects have been kept in a state of conservation.
Timings: 10 AM to 4:30 PM. Thursday closed.
Tibetan Refugee Camp : The Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center (tel: 0354-2252552) is located 45 minutes walk from Chowrasta. This camp was established in 1959 AD. A year before this, in 1958, the Dalai Lama had sought refuge in India. It was in this camp that the 13th Dalai Lama (currently the 14th Dalai Lama) spent his time in exile from 1910 to 1912. The building where the 13th Dalai Lama lived is in ruins today.
Today this refugee camp is home to 650 Tibetan families. These Tibetan people sell different types of goods here. These items include carpets, woolen clothes, wooden artefacts, toys made of metal. But if you want to fully enjoy visiting this refugee camp, then definitely visit the workshop to make these things. This workshop remains open for tourists.
organic garden : The Padmaja-Naidu-Himalayan Biological Park is situated on the right side of the Mountaineering Institute. The park is famous for its breeding program for snow leopard and red panda. You can also spot Siberian tigers and Tibetan wolves here.
toy train : This unique train was built in the second half of the 19th century. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a wonderful piece of engineering. This railroad is 70 kilometers long. This entire railway section is situated at an altitude of 7546 feet above sea level. Engineers had to work hard in the construction of this section. This section passes through many zigzag routes and circular routes. But the most beautiful part of this section is Batashia loop. At this place the railway section becomes in the shape of eight points.
If you do not want to travel the entire Darjeeling by train, then you can take this train from Darjeeling station to Ghoom Math. While traveling by this train, you can enjoy the natural views around it. To travel on this train either go very early in the morning or late in the evening. At other times it is very crowded.
tea garden : Darjeeling was once famous for spices. Darjeeling is known globally for tea only. Dr. Campbell, the first inspector appointed by the East India Company in Darjeeling, first planted tea seeds in his garden around the 1830s or 40s. Christian missionaries, the Barenas brothers, planted medium-sized tea plants in the 1880s. The Baren brothers did a lot of work in this direction. The tea garden planted by the Baren Bandhs is currently known as the Bainukkavarna Tea Garden (tel: 0354-2276712).
The first seed of tea which was of Chinese bush was brought from Kumaon Hill. But with time it became famous as Darjeeling tea. In 1886, T.T. Copper estimated that 600,000 lb of Chinese tea was consumed annually in Tibet. It was mainly produced in Sejhwan province. Copper was of the view that if Tibetans used Indian tea instead of Chinese tea, India would get a very valuable market. Everyone knows the history after this.
Due to the local soil and the Himalayan air, the quality of Darjeeling tea is excellent. At present there are about 87 tea gardens in and around Darjeeling. About 50,000 people have got work in these gardens. Each tea garden has its own history. Similarly, the variety of tea in each tea garden is different. But these teas are collectively known as 'Darjeeling tea'. The best time to visit these gardens is during the summer when the tea leaves are plucked. The Happy-Valley-Tea Garden (Tel: 2252405) which is 3 km from the town is easily accessible. Here you can see laborers plucking tea leaves. You can also watch the fresh leaves being converted into tea. But to visit the tea garden, it is necessary to give prior information to the managers of these gardens.
Season
The temperate climate of Darjeeling consists of 6 seasons: spring, summer, autumn or winter, monsoon. and (Shishir Ritu - Hemant Ritu)
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