Places to Visit in Darjeeling

• Chowrasta, a wide promenade atop a ridge lined with shops and restaurants.
• Mall Road, starting and splendid views.
• Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park which has the Siberian tiger, Himalayan black bear, red panda, snow leopard and many other animal and bird species, and the nearby snow leopard breeding centr.
• Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, a training centre for mountaineers which also houses the Everest museum.
• Natural History Museum, with its fine display of Himalayan wildlife.
• Observatory Hill which has Hindu and Buddhist shrine.
• Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre, a major center for the production of Tibetan carpets, woodwork and leather goods.
• Thupten Sangag Choling (Dali) and Yiga - Choling(Ghoom) - the Buddhist monasteries of Bhutan Busty.
• Batasia Loop, a marvelous feat of railway engineerin.
• Tiger Hill for its renowned sunrise view over Kanchenjunga and the eastern Himalayan.
• Japanese Peace Pagoda, established by the Japanese Buddhist order, Nipponzan Myohoji; and Lloy's Botanical Garden which has a varied collection of Himalayan flora.

Visitors can also stake a ride in the Darjeeling - Rangit valley passenger cable car or hop on the Toy train which wheezes and winds all the way from Siliguri to Darjeeling town via Kurseong.

Important Towns Close to Darjeeling

Kalimpong

Kalimpong, a sleepy little town situated at an altitude of 1,200 m. It is some 50 km to the east of Darjeeling . It once used to be the hub of the trans-Himalayan trade between India and Tibet when merchants used to ferry commerce by mule craven over the Jelepla pass on the Sikkim- Tibetan border.

Popular places to visit in Kalimpong:

• Kalimpong Arts and Crafts Centre for handicraft goods.
• Tharpa Choling Monastery, a repository of old scriptures and documents.
• Thongsa (Bhutan) Monastery, the oldest in the area.
• Dharmodaya Vihar, a Nepalese Buddhist temple.
• Parnami Mandir, belonging to the Parnami sect of Hinduism.
• Durpin Danda from where the mountain ranges of Sikkim, including Jelepla, Tiger Hill and the confluence of the Relli. Riang and Tista rivers can be viewed.
• Zong Dog Palri Fo Brang Monastery at Durpin Danda.
• Kalimpong's famous flower nurseries for witnessing varieties of flowers from around the region.

Kurseong

Kurseong( elevation 1,458 m) is a quaint little town about 30 km to the south of Darjeeling on the way to Siliguri. The market consists of rows of shops lining the main road which is crisscrossed at several points by the railway tracks of the toy train.

Popular places to Visit in Kurseong:

• Eagle's Crag which has a park from where glorious views of Kanchenjunga on one side and the southern plains on the can be taken in;
• Dow Hill which has the forest museum
• Deer park a water reservoir, all set amidst moss-laden conifers and Chimney, a serene, open meadow

Mirik

Mirik (elevation 1,765 m approx) is another tiny hill resort easily accessible from Siliguri, Kurseong or Darjeeling. The centerpiece of the town is the Sumendu lake where boating under the serene gaze of Kanchenjunga makes for a most relaxing pastime. Tameeta Danda and Deosi Danda are two elevated points near the lake from where the view all around is terrific and breathtaking.