About Darjeeling
Until the early part of the eighteenth century, Darjeeling was under the king of Sikkim. Later Gorkhas invaded the region and annexed the area, which they eventually lost to British. The British used the place to escape the heat and found the strategic importance of the area. They, hence, developed the area as a hill station and tea-growing area. Darjeeling is well known for its tea industry and eco-tourism.

Darjeeling is thought to be derived from Dorjeeling, which literally means “the place of Dorjee,” the majestic thunderbolt. Some believe that the thunderbolt belongs to the Lamaist religion and some believe that it belongs to Lord Indra.

Attraction
Aloobari Gompa
Aloobari Gomba, which is situated three kilometers away from the center of Darjeeling, is a monastery where you can find Tibetan and Sikkimese monks. These monks sell religious accessories and other handicrafts. If you are interested in shopping as well as sightseeing, then Aloobari Gomba is a place of choice to visit.

Badamtam Tea Estate
Badamtan Tea Estate was originally owned by the more than 150-years-old Lebong Tea Company. The tea estate was one of the tea company owned and managed by the British. It is located across the Rangit River. A walk to this tea estate will take a refreshing half a day.

Bengal Natural History Museum
The Bengal Natural History Museum is near Chowrashtra, the heart of Darjeeling. The museum contains a representative and comprehensive, but dusty, collection of Himalayan and Bengali fauna. The museum houses more than 4300 specimens. Bird species, reptiles, and other animals of the Eastern Himalayas are displayed at true to life altitudes.

Bhutia Busty Gompa
Bhutia Busty Gompa is a monastery situated just under a kilometer out of Darjeeling. Kanchenjunga provides a spectacular backdrop to this monastery. This monastery is a branch of the Nygpama sect’s Phontag Monastery in Sikkim. It was transferred to Darjeeling in 1879.

Darjeeling Toy Train
The Darjeeling Toy Train made its first journey in September 1881. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has acquired UNESCO’s endorsement as a World Heritage icon in 1999. The journey starts from Siliguri and at Chunamandi the train comes to its z-crossing, starting the zig-zagging or reversing in order to attain higher elevation. Sensation corners, which are nothing but loops, are excellent viewing points.

Everest Museum
Everest Museum and Mountaineering Museum are entered through the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Zoo. The zoo and the two museums are run by the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, which trains mountaineers.

Kanchenjunga
Kanchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world (the first two being Mount Everest and K2), standing at an altitude of 8586 m. There are five peaks in Kanchenjunga. If you watch Kanchenjunga from the Observatory Hills, you might be deceived that the mount is a calm and serene upheaval of ice and snow.

Karmi Farm
Karmi Farm is a family-run farm that offers comfortable accommodation in Darjeeling. This farmhouse is floored using traditional wood and decorated with hand-woven rugs that are locally made. The farmhouse used local workers to produce organic food in Nepalese and Sikkimese traditional way. Sometimes food is brought from outside. The farmhouse has fabulous terraces that overlook the valleys.

Mountaineering Museum
Everest Museum and Mountaineering Museum are entered through the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Zoo. The zoo and the two museums are run by the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, which trains mountaineers.

Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park
Padmaji Naidu Zoological Park is claimed to be the only zoo in the world to breed Tibetan wolf in captivity. It is also the first South Asian zoo to breed Snow Leopard and Siberian Tiger. Rare red pandas are also seen here.

Tiger Hill
The Tiger Hill is located about 11 km from Darjeeling, at an altitude of 2555 meters above the sea level. The dawn view of Kanchenjunga, the highest mount after Mount Everest and K2, and other eastern peaks of the Himalayas is excellent.