INDIA DARJEELING
Where the leisurely
troy train chugs along and little red cheeked monks greet with a smile. A
slight nip in the air as you settle down with a piping hot cuppa. That’s when
you know you are smitten by hr. She’s
Darjeeling.
During the British raj Darjeeling’s temperate climate led to
its development as a hill station for British residents seeking to escape the
summer heat. Arthur Campbell , a surgeon with the company, and Lieutenant
Robert Napier established a hill station there.
The first road connecting the town with the plain was
constructed between 1839 and 1842. Darjeeling became the formal summer capital
of the Bengal Presidency after 1864.The opening of the Darjeeling Himalayan
Railway in 1881 further hastened the development of the region.
THE DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY IS A UNSECO WORLD HERITAGE
SITE
The train moves so slow that you can hop off,savour some
mouthwatering momos and hop on.
THE FORMIDABLE KANCHENJUNGA
Kanchenjunga humbles you. Towering and awe inspiring, her
presence is perhaps the driving reasons why you and many other visit
Darjeeling.
Kanchenjunga was first climbed on 25 May 1955 by Joe Browne
and George Band, who were part of a British expedition. They honoured the
beliefs of the Sikkimese, who regard the summit sacred, by stopping a few feet
short of the actual summit. Ever since mountaineers have followed the
tradition.
VIEW FROM TIGER HILL
If you manage to wake up at 3 in the morning and travel 13
kilometres uphill, then you are on course for an experience of a lifetime. As
the first days rays of the sun kiss the
Kanchenjunga, she turns pink. Gradually the orange hues set in. When the sun is
fully up, the Kanchenjunga looks resplendent in golden. Going through this
colour carnival is one of those rare moments of sheer bliss.
Situated at an altitude of 2590 meters (8482 feet) and 13
kms from the town,the Tiger Hill offers magnificent view of the sunrise over
the Kanchenunga and the great eastern Himalayan Mountains. Even Mount
Everest,the world’s highest peak, is visible from here.
BATASIA LOOP & WAR MEMORIAL
Just 5 km away from Darjeeling town is the gigantic railway
loop where the Toy Train makes a 360 Degree turn. It was built to enable the
Toy Train to cut the steep ascent. The Batasia Loop offers a panoramic view of
the Kanchenjunga Range.
There’ also a War Memorial constructed in the memory of the
brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in various wars since independence.
For locally made purses, bags and other decorative items, one can visit the
nearby market.
GHOOM
Just 8kms from Darjeeling , Ghoom .Monastery is located at
an elevation of 8000 feet.The monastery follows the Gelug school of Tibetan
Buddhism.There is a 15 feet high statue of “Maitreya Buddha”in the monastery.
At an altitude of 2225.7 m(7407 feet) Ghoom is the highest
railway station in India.
THE MALL
The Mall is Darjeeling’s most happening hangout with book
shops. Tibetans selling hand knitted sweaters ,souvenir shops , eateries and
loads of other activities. It leads to the Chowrasta.It is a pedestrian only
road in the heart of the town.
When was the last time you spent time with yourself? Well,
now is the time.Shed the serious image and do take the pony ride around the
iconic Mall. Or just laze around, sitting on one of those special benches.
Take a stroll. Fell the pulse of
Darjeeling.
IT’S A BEAU TEA!
Revered by connoisseurs across the world, Darjeeling Tea is
a considered to be the finest. It has a unique flavor which cannot be
replicated.
Even the tea pluckers , well aware of the status their
produce enjoys throughout the world, pick only the finest 2 leaf and the bud to
enhance the unique flavor which has been described as “Muscatel”.
There are a total of 87 estates in the Darjeeling district
covering a whopping 17500 hectares producing over 9 million kg of teat every
year.
The European Commission has registered Darjeeling Tea as a
Protected Geographic Indication (PGI) product –the first commodity from India
to get such a tag.The statues implies that the brew produced only in Darjeeling
can be sold as Darjeeling Tea in the European Union countries.
Always check-the packet must have a Darjeeling Tea Logo.
“Darjeeling “or ‘Pure Darjeeling” or 100% Darjeeling –must be mentioned.
KEVENTERS
Take a seat at this famous eatery. Finish your half read
novel and enjoy a hearty breakfast .If you are in Darjeeling, you should also
visit Keventers. Get up early and make yourself comfortable at the terrace with
a ham or a bacon sandwich followed by flavoured Darjeeling tea.
MYSTIC MUNGPOO
Tucked away in a quaint corner, 35 kilometres east of
Darjeeling, Mungpoo epitomizes peace. Originally named Mong Pong, meaning “A
Heap of Millet” in Lepcha, the regional dialect later changed the name to
Mungpoo. While travelling form Darjeeling, lush green tea gardens and winding
rivers cross your way en route Mungpoo.
MIRIK
Spare half a day for Mirik.Located at an altitude of 495
m(4905 ft), Mirik’s key attraction is the pristine Sumendu Lake.The lake is
surrounded by a garden on one side and pine trees on the other, linked together
by an arch shaped bridge popularly known as the Indreni Pull (rainbow bridge).A
boat ride is recommended
No comments:
Post a Comment