Darjeeling To Mirik - A Day Trip

Mirik is a small and sleepy hill town in Darjeeling district and 49 kms (i.e. 30 miles) away
from Darjeeling town. It takes about two and half hours by car to reach Mirik from Darjeeling.
From Ghoom there is a scenic road that goes to Sukhiapokhri, a hilly locality 11 kms from
Ghoom. The road continues to Mirik.

So what do you experience during this day trip? It's a wonderful scenic drive through tea
gardens on hill slopes. You will pass by the famous Thurbo tea estate of Goodricke as well as
several others like Gopaldhara Tea Estate. On the way you will also see a lot of orange
orchards.

If you start early and have a reserved car, a short 2 kms from Sukhiapokhri you can reach a
beautiful place called Jorpokhri. This tiny place on a hill top has twin lakes, surrounded by
forest and offers magnificent views of Kanchenjunga. This is where you can see the rare lizard
like small Himalayan Salamanders which were once considered extinct.

Spend some 45 minutes at Jorpokhri soaking in the views and walking around the lakes and
forests. You can also visit Jorpokhri on your way back from Mirik.

On my way to Mirik from Darjeeling

You will need to come back to Sikhiapokhri market area. And then in about 20 minutes from
Sukhiapokhri, you will reach a wonderful view point called Simana - a 60 feet by 40 feet
plateau and a viewing area. Simana in Hindi means border. This is the Indo-Nepal border
area, the road itself belongs to India and the viewing area falls in Nepal. But you can freely
cross over to get the views.

Simana View Point, on the way to Mirik

You can see Maneybhanjan below and the beautiful mountains on a clear day. You can also
see the narrow winding road leading to Sandakphu on the other side of the valley. Look to
your right and you can see the dazzling Kanchenjunga snow peaks.

View of Maneybhanjan from Simana.

You can also see the trail to Sandakphu.

From Simana for a long way towards Mirik, the road acts as the divider between India and
Nepal. On both sides, the people, their language & culture are the same. They are all mostly
Nepalese. but strangely their voters identity cards show different countries in their addresses.
They all move freely across the border (which is the road itself). In fact many families have
marriages across the border and have their in-laws' houses face to face but at the opposite
side of the border.
At Simana, you will find several small stalls - some selling tea & snacks, others chocolates
and knick knacks. Have a hot cup of tea from Pashan Lamu, an oldish lady selling tea from
her stall since ages. Her stall is right on the road. She also makes excellent Jhalmuri,
vegetarian steamed momos and aludum.

You will see how alcoholic beverages like beer and spirits are sold freely here. You can enjoy a
drink as you watch the views sitting on a bench. But be careful about the inviting gorge :)

Pashan Lamu making Jhalmuri

Next to Pashan Lamu is the stall of Usha Chettri. Like several others, she sells all kinds of
chocolates and candies that are brought from Nepal, as well as water and beers (as you can
see on her table and right in front).

Take one or two packets of chocolates. They are not expensive. But they look nicer than they
taste though. If you show interest, be sure that you will be sold some items whether you like
it or not. They will keep persuading, and if you buy from one, others will also keep
requesting.

Don't be surprised to hear comments from some of these women like "Itna bolnese to
bhagwan bhi kharid leta" which means "Even God would have bought by now after so many
requests"; and some other lady will say "Nepal me akey to kuch lo" ('having come to Nepal,
take something').

Usha Chettri - All Smiles!

Further down, you will reach Pashupati Market at the India-Nepal border. The market is full
of imported electronic gadgets, jackets, perfumes & cosmetics and clothes. The main market
is about 1km walk from the border. Be careful about the fakes. Many items sold here are too
cheap to be good. The Market is located in Nepal area.

You can quickly complete formalities with the border security and enter the road that leads to
the market. This road can be taken to get into Nepal and go all the way to Katmandu.
Cameras are not allowed inside. Note that only Indians and Nepalese are allowed to cross
over the border area.

Foreign nationals are not allowed to access the border. You are required to carry a Photo ID
card in case you want to cross over the border and visit the shops. You can also visit the
market on your way back.

Gopaldhara Tea Estate

Having visited Simana and Pashupati Market, as you move on further towards Mirik, you will
come across lovely landscapes full of tea gardens on your left. There are several small round
hillock formations with pine trees on top making it a picture perfect site. This is Gopaldhara
Tea Estate. In fact you can walk down the isle through the tea gardens and reach a view point
from where you get wonderful view of the gardens all around.

And here on the opposite side of the road is Gopadhara Tea Stall. Halt for a while to taste a
cup of tea. The tea is prepared to perfection by a lady and served in a transparent cup so that
you can see the color. If you haven't yet tasted green tea, this is the place to try that. But
you should not mix milk or else you won't get the authentic flavor. The tea served here is
from Gopaldhara Tea Gardens.

In fact you can also buy packaged tea of the gardens from here. I do so whenever I am
traveling on this route. They have different brands... the black tea sold with maroon cover is
good for getting colors as well as nice flavor. There is toilet facility here. The stall also sells
packaged snacks.

Gopaldhara Tea Stall

Mirik is located further 12kms from Pashupati Market and at an average altitude of 5,000ft.
After reaching Mirik, first visit the Mirik Monastery on top and then the Mirik Lake. These are
the top attractions of the place. There are separate bus and car parks on the right side of the
lake on an open flat area.

Sit along the bank of the lake and relax. You can also do boating in the lake (mostly paddle
boats). Or walk over the arching footbridge and crossover to the other side (western bank) of
the lake, turn left and take the walkway through the dhupi forest and enjoy the nature. There
is a temple in the forest (known as Devi Sthan). Pony rides are also available around the lake
and quite popular with children.

Mirik Lake

On the eastern (right) side of the lake, there is a flat land and number of small stalls and
restaurants. The stalls have colorful umbrellas and chairs laid out where you can relax, have
some momos or chaats and fresh tea. Several stalls here sell curios, gift & souvenir items,
clothes, hats etc.

Update October 2014: The flat open land area at the eastern side of the lake has been
converted into a fenced garden with many flowering plantations. There is no entry fee. It's a
good place for families to sit and relax.

The Day Center is on the eastern side of the lake. It has a nice seating area and you can have
tea, snacks or lunch here. The Day Center is operated and managed by GTA (erstwhile
DGHC). On the right of the Day Center you will see Park Hotel & Restaurant. The restaurant
here is also quite popular for tourists and serves Indian & Chinese dishes at budget prices.
But the preparations are quite ordinary.

Mirik Day Centre - For Day Booking

 For lunch, one of the best places in Mirik is the restaurant at Hotel Jagjit. They serve multi
cuisine dishes and specialize in north Indian items. It's in Krishnanagar and a short walk from
the lake. I have stayed in Hotel Jagjit several times and have seen both the hotel and
restaurant being upgraded and expanded over the years. It's a mid scale restaurant and not
very expensive. You will get toilets and washrooms there.

And if you are a Bengali, you must be looking for fish. Just walk down towards the area called
Krishnanagar (couple of minutes from the lake) and you will see couple of restaurants
Annapurna and Kolkata Hotel (formerly known as Baudi's Hotel). They serve all kinds of
Bengali dishes including fish, mutton and chicken preparations.

After lunch, take a walk along the trail that goes by the right bank of the lake and you will
reach a stony stairway at the end. The stairway leads to the Mirik market at an upper level.
There are number of small shops selling all kinds of items including woolens, clothes
& souvenirs. Spend some time here before you start your return. On your way back, try to
cover the lovely Mirik Monastery which you can see on a hill top from the lake area. Check
out Mirik Tourism for more options & activities in Mirik.

How to reach Mirik from Darjeeling

Mirik is about 49 kilometers from the town center of Darjeeling. You can hire a cab (private
taxi) from one of the taxi stands in Darjeeling. You will get ample taxis from either the
Clubside Taxi Stand (across Gandhi Road Police Point), or at Chowk Bazaar area. It takes
about 2.5 hours to reach Mirik. Alternatively go through a Tour Operator, you can then expect
a car in good condition and an experienced driver, although the fare may be a bit higher. You
can also take a shared jeep or a bus from Darjeeling and save on cost, but in that case you
can not cover Jorpokhri or halt at Simana, Pashupati or other places. Shared Jeeps and buses
are available from stands near Chowk Bazaar (lower town area).

Here is the route:

Darjeeling town to Ghum via Hill Cart Road (8 kms)
Ghum to Sukhiapokhri (12 kms)
Sukhiapokhri to Pashupati Market (12 kms)
Pashupati Market to Mirik (13 kms)
 KALIMPONG(pop.45,500) is a sleepy little town situated at an altitude of 1,200 m, 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 caravan over the Jelepla pass on the Sikkim-Tibet
border.

The places to visit are Kalimpong Arts and Craft Center 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 Bhuddhist temple; Parnami Mandir and Mangal Dham; 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 views; Zong Dog Palri Fo Brang Monastery at Durpin Danda;
Delo View Point for magnificent views: and Kalimpong famous flower nurseries.

LAVA - LOLAYGAON
Lava is situated at a height of 7200 ft. and is 101 kms from Siliguri via Kalimpong. The beauty of this
quiet and romantic place lies in its dense forests of Berch, Pine and Juniper and the variety of orchids.
While at Lave, enjoys a day's outing to the fascinating Chhangey Ralls (12 kms from Lava) with 2
Sunrise points viz. Ghanti Dara and Tiffin Dara, Lava Monastery, Nature Interpretation Centre. If you
are a little adventurous you can take a 12 km trek to Jelepa and Rachela pass situated on the
Trijuntion of Sikkim,Bengal and Bhutan.

Just 24 km from Lava, at 7012 ft, Lolengaon offers wondrous views of the peaks of Khangchendzonga,
Pandim, Kabru, Jana Siniolchu, Kang, Talung, Kaumbhakarna, Dome, Jupuno, Narsing and Simvo.

Rishap at 8500 ft. is a small hamlet at tri-junction of Sikkim, West Bengal and Bhutan and it reached
by a 9 km jeep able road from Lava. You can also reach there by a 3 km trek from Lava. Over viewing
Neora Valley National Park and with spectacular 360 degree views of snow clad peaks & passes (Mt.
Khangchendzonga, Nathula, Jelepa), Rishap is a real treat for tired eyes and souls.

KURSEONG (elevation 1,458 m) is a quaint little town about 30km 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. The places to visit are Eagle's Crag which has a park from where
glorious views of Khangchendzonga on one side and the southern plains on the other 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 (elevation 1,767 m) is another tiny hill resort easily accessible from Siliguri, Kurseong or
Darjeeling. The center-piece of the town is the Sumendu Lake where boating under the serene gaze of
Khangchendzonga makes for a most relaxing pastime. Rameetay Dara and Deosi Dara are two elevated
points near the lake from where the view is terrific. Apple orchards and tea gardens are other
attractions.

7-Point Tour of Darjeeling

Usual timing: Half Day, 9am-12:30pm / 2pm-5:30pm

Here are the most common points covered under this tour. Sometimes some variations are
made.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Zoo: These are two attractions in the same
complex. The institute, which was built to honor Tenzing Norgay's triumph to the Everest is
dedicated to train mountaineering and rock climbing lessons to students from all over the
 world. There is an HMI museum. The highlights of the museum include the artifacts from
various Himalayan expeditions, the Everest section showcasing Tenzing's personal belongings,
an eagle found dead at 26,000 feet during 1960 Everest expedition, a high power telescope
that once belonged to Hitler and was used by the Institute etc. The zoo has many high
altitude Himalayan animals including Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, Himalayan Black Bear, Red
Panda, yaks etc. There is a combined entry fee.

Darjeeling Ropeway: You will board the cable car from Singamari located 3km away from the
town center. The 45 minutes ride takes you from an altitude of 7,000ft to 800ft with
wonderful vista of a valley around Rangeet river, tea estates and sweeping views of the snow
peaks of Himalayan range including Kanchenjunga. Ticket needs to be purchased. During high
season, there may be long queues. So try to book in advance.

Tenzing & Gombu Rock: These huge rocks are located on Lebong Cart Road where rock
climbing is practiced. At the Tenzing Rock, Tenzing Norgay used to practice rock climbing.
Look at it from the left side where you can see the bottom of this gigantic rock. During a visit
of former Prime Minister Late Jawaharlal Nehru, Tenzing demonstrated a climb on this rock
without any safety equipment. No entry fee.

Happy Valley Tea Estate: An old tea estate that exports all its produce to Harrods in London
and few other countries. You can see the delicate tea processing in the factory with the help
of a guide and buy tea packets from its outlet. You won't get this tea anywhere else in the
country. There is no entry fee, however there is fee for the guide.

Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center: A center and a factory established by the Tibetan refugees
who fled Tibet and took refuge in Darjeeling. They not only live here, but also produce
varieties of exquisite handicraft items to make their livings. The hand crafted items include
jackets, carpets, gloves, aprons, bags, curios, cards, pouches, carved wooden items, Tibetan
paintings etc. This is a great place to buy a gift or a souvenir for your friends and relatives.
There is no entry fee.

Lebong Race Course: 8km away from Darjeeling Town Center, this was the smallest race course
in the world (a full lap is 480 yards) and the one located at the highest altitude (5935 ft). It
was created in the 1800s during the British colonial days when horse betting was very
popular. However, it is no longer used as a race course and has been converted into a parade
ground. You can see the ground from Darjeeling Mall road.
 Lebong Race Course (the field)

Gorkha Football Stadium: This is an alternative to the race course. The stadium is also located
in Lebong. Youngsters play soccer here. The ground is also used for many soccer tournaments
as well for festivals. The ground looks wonderful with Kanchenjunga and the other snow
peaks forming the backdrop.

Rock Garden & Gangamaya Park Tour

Usual timing: Half Day, 9am-12noon / 2pm-5pm
Cost: Given at the last section of this page

Rock Garden, also known as Barbotey Rock Garden is a lovely picnic area located some
10kms from Darjeeling Town. The road is steep and winding and descends by several
thousand feet. However the garden with natural water streams flowing through it over the
rocks and seating areas with flower gardens at different levels, is great place to picnic and
spend few hours.

A short distance from here and further down is the Gangamaya park which too has water
streams, parks and fountains. There is a cultural dance program held here during the high
season. Many locals walk down to these places. I won't recommend that for visiting tourists
who are not used to hill walking.

Check out Rock Garden & Ganga Maya Park for details with pictures.
You can also get tickets at Darjeeling Railway Station. If you decide to take the ride while in
Darjeeling, you can call them up and check the availability before you go to the station for
booking. Phone (Inquiry): +91 354-2252555
5) If you have difficulty booking the tickets online, you can request your hotel or tour
operator in Darjeeling to help you book seats in the toy train. Several hotels, guesthouses
and operators do so. They will need a scanned or photo copy of your Photo ID (passport in
case of foreigners) to book the tickets across the counter.

Kalimpong Sightseeing Tours

Local sightseeing in Kalimpong area includes visits to famous monasteries that have old rare
scriptures & Tibetan architecture, lovely view points offering sweeping views of Kanchenjunga
snow peaks, rivers & landscapes, visits to museums, parks, flower nurseries, historical
missionary schools and so on. You can also make great day trips to near by areas like
Pedong, Lava, Loleygaon, Rishyap, virgin villages etc.

All taxi drivers and tour operators in Kalimpong offer standard package tours for local
sightseeing in Kalimpong. It could be half day or full day package covering the major
attractions in and around Kalimpong. However such local package tours will take you to
places and attractions within 8-10 kms of the town center. If you like to reach out to places
further away, you will either need to work out the cost with the taxt driver or go through a
tour operator.

The easiest way to avail a tour in Kalimpong is to walk down to the taxi stand on the main
market area (Rishi road) and choose a taxi of your choice. Taxis here are mostly private cars
that are used commercially. They come in various makes from small to large vehicles like
Alto, Maruti Van, WagonR, Santro, Scorpio, Sumo etc. The tour operators & hotels can
organize luxury vehicles like Innova, Tavera etc.

Rates are different depending on the vehicle you take. A small car like Alto would be the
cheapest. But keep in mind that road conditions in some places like Rishyap, Loleygaon etc
can be very bad and small cars can be very uncomfortable on such roads. You should check
beforehand about the current road conditions before deciding on a vehicle. Sumos, Jeeps and
Scorpios can negotiate bad roads much better. However there is no problems taking a small
car for local sightseeing though.

Note that while local sightseeing tours (half or full day) have standard rates, the rates offered
for day trips and non conventional tours can vary widely. So always talk to a few drivers and
negotiate before zeroing on one. Low season rates are lower.
Below I have described the different tours that you can undertake in Kalimpong.

LOCAL SIGHTSEEING (EAST KALIMPONG) - HALFDAY, 4 HOURS

1) Dr Graham's Homes: This missionary school was set up by Dr. J A Graham in 1900 as an
orphanage cum school for the destitute Anglo Indian children. It started only with one cottage
that accommodated up to 35 children. Over the years it has grown as a well known multi
religious and co-educational school spanning over 500 acres of lush landscape and having
some 50 cottages. It is located on the way to Deolo Hills. You can walk across to various parts
of the school.

Dr Graham's Homes, Kalimpong

2) Lord Buddha Statue: Close to Deolo there is a small rock garden in which you will find this
nice statue of Lord Buddha sitting in a lotus position. This is only a quick stop over point and
a good place to click a picture.

Buddha statue & park, Kalimpong

3) Sherpa View Point: This is a watershed near Buddha statue from where you get great
views towards both north and south. You get excellent views of Sikkim hills and Mount
Kanchenjung if you look north, towards south is the beautiful view of a valley and the Relli
river flowing through it as well Loleygaon (Kafer) and also the hills of Samthar plateau. This
view point is unfortunately not well maintained.

4) Durga Mandir: This is a Hindu temple of Goddess Durga located near Sherpa View Point. A
nice garden full of flowering plants and a viewing gallery. The temple is small but quite nice.
Good place to relax for a while.

5) Hanuman Temple: Right after Durga Mandir is a huge statue of Lord Hanuman perched on
the hill. Climb several flights of stairs to reach up to the temple.

6) Deolo Hill: This is the major attraction in East Kalimpong. The tourism department has
created an 8-acre lush parkland with manicured flower gardens and several view points with
breathtaking views of Kanchenjunga, Durpin hill, Kalimpong Township and the valley with
rivers flowing through them.

Deolo, Kalimpong

Deolo hill is the highest point of Kalimpong with an altitude of about 5,500ft. There is a GTA
(erstwhile DGHC) lodge here and a multi cuisine restaurant. Children can also take pony
rides. At one corner of the lawn are stalls offering coffee and snacks. Overall a great place to
have a picnic or just relax. Entry fee: Rs. 10/- for day visitors.

7) Mangal Dham: An excellent temple complex built in the memory of late Guruji Mangal
Dasji and dedicated to Lord Krishna. Devotees come from far away places.

Mangal Dham, Kalimpong

8) Thongsa Gompa: This is the oldest monsatery in Kalimpong which was built in 1692. It's
also known as the Bhutan Monastery and located close to Mangal Dham.

LOCAL SIGHTSEEING (WEST KALIMPONG) - HALF DAY, 4 HOURS

1) Nature Interpretation Center: This is a museum run by the forest department. It has many
pictures and paintings of flora & fauna explaining the nature and environment of Kalimpong
area. It's located close to the town.

2) Army Golf Course: A scenic 9-hole golf course which was conceived and laid by the army
authorities. You can see the golf course from the roadside Watershed View Point. From here
you also get splendid views of the mountains as well as Loleygaon. It's located close to the
Circuit House.

Army Golf Course, Kalimpong

3) Morgan House: This used to be an old British property and reflect a typical colonial
architecture with sprawling garden and views of Kanchenjunga. It has been converted into a
hotel and now run by West Bengal Tourism Department. You can enter the premises and walk
around, but can not go upstairs in the building where most rooms are located. Morgan House
is located opposite to the Army Golf Course.

Morgan's House, Kalimpong

4) Durpin Monastery: This Tibetan monastery is located on the Durpin hill and hence such
name. The actual name is Zang Dog Palri monastery. It was built in 1972 and has some rare
Buddhist scripts that were brought here by Dalai Lama from Tibet. From the upper terrace of
the monastery, you get magnificent views of Kalimpong town with Kanchenjunga in the
background, the valley and the plains, Teesta & Reang rivers flowing down, and lovely tea
estates of Peshoke area.

Durpin Monastery, Kalimpong

5) Jelepla View Point: You get spectacular view of Jelepla Pass which once used to be a route
for regular trade with Tibet. You can also see the confluence of river Teesta, Reang and Relli.
The view point is maintained by the army.

Jelepla View Point, Kalimpong

6) Pratima Tagore House: This house with nice garden and lovely views was built by Pratima
Tagore in 1943, daughter-in-law of the poet Rabindranath Tagore. You will find original
furnishing, lot of memorabilia and poet's verses in this house. It is located on Atisha road
close to the Pine View Nursery.

7) Pine View Nursery: It has great collections of cactus and ornamental plants. You get great
view of Kalimpong town from the backside lawn. Entry fee: Rs. 10/- per person.

Pineview Nursery Kalimpong

8) Kali Mandir: Temple of goddess Kali. Climb a stairway from the roadside to reach up to the
temple. From an adjoining terrace, you get wonderful view of west Kalimpong and the
mountain range.
FULL DAY LOCAL SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF KALIMPONG

You can combine the East and West Kalimpong local tours I have described above to make a
full day local sightseeing tour. In addition to all the places I have mentioned above, you can
also cover the following:

1) Kalimong's colorful market (particularly Haat Bazaar which sets up on Wednesday or

Saturday). You can buy unique local hand made products here and taste local food.
2) Sahid Park - a monument and a small park set up in memory of the Gorkhas who laid their
lives during the agitation of Gorkhaland movement for a separate state.
3) Gouripur House - Poet Rabindranth Tagore used to visit this house and wrote several of his
verses here. This house was one of his favorites.
4) Rishi Bankim Park - nice park for a leisure stroll.
5) Kalimpong College, Surya Sadan, Curcuit House etc.

DAY & OVERNIGHT TRIPS FROM KALIMPONG

1) Lava & Loleygaon Trip: Drive to Loleygaon (2.5hours), take a canopy walk amongst tree
tops on a thrilling tree-top hanging bridge made in lush jungle, then drive to Lava (1hour),
visit the Lava monastery and drive back in the evening via Algarah. If you plan to stay
overnight in Lava or Loleygaon, know what else you can do & where to stay.

2) Pedong and View Points: Take a short drive of about half an hour and see the ruins of
Damsang Fort of 1690. Then visit Pedong, its heritage sites and some of the lovely view
points around, and drive back to Kalimpong in the evening.

3) Village Tour & Trek: Visit several villages, experience the village life in virgin Kalimpong
area, understand Nepali culture & traditions, interact with the villagers to get deeper insight
into their lifestyle, experience quaint home stay and village food, walk through the forests
and villages and be one with nature.

KALIMPONG TOUR OPERATORS

Here are some well known tour operators in Kalimpong. They can organize sightseeing tours
from Kalimpong and also transfers to other places in Darjeeling area and Sikkim.
Gurudongma Tours & Treks: They have over 15 years of experience in the tourism industry
and offer sightseeing tours in Darjeeling district & Sikkim areas, as well as other places in
India. They also offer Nature Tours, Treks and Mountain Biking.
Gurudongma House, Hill Top, Kalimpong. Email: gurudongma@gmail.com
Phone: +(91)-3552-255204; Mobile: +(91)-9434062100, 9002692611

Himalayan Travellers: Established in 1990. They offer services such as tour packages, air
& bus ticketing, hotel reservations etc.
Motor Stand, Kalimpong. Mobile: +(91)-9434166498, 9614964277

Kalimpong Tours & Travels: Other than offering local tours, they also do bus and air ticketing,
hotel reservations etc. They are operating since 2011.
Near Axis Bank Complex, D S Gurung Road, Kalimpong.
Mobile: +(91)-9563620190, 9932203063
Kurseong to Darjeeling
(Train timings are subject to change)

1) The train (no. 52545) leaves Kurseong at 3pm reaching Darjeeling at 5:50pm. Total
distance is 31kms. The down train (no. 52544) departs Darjeeling at 10:15am reaching
Kurseong at 13:10pm. It is usually hauled by a Diesel Engine having 2 or 3 coaches (number
& combination of first and second class coaches vary).

2) There is also a daily school train that runs between Kurseong and Darjeeling. This diesel
engine hauled train starts from Kurseong at 6:30am in the morning (no. 52587) and reaches
Darjeeling at 9:05am. The train returns from Darjeeling at 4pm (no. 52588) reaching
Kurseong at 6:30pm in the evening.

3) A steam engine hauled toy train known as Red Panda has been introduced on Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday between Darjeeling and Kurseong. It has two first class coaches. The
train 52570 starts from Darjeeling at 9:15am and reaches Kurseong at 12:30pm. The return
train 52571 departs Kurseong at 2pm and reaches Darjeeling at 5:45pm. Update March
2017: Red Panda is not operating currently.

NOTE: Do not plan to board with heavy luggage on the toy train which originates from
Kurseong. They do not have luggage vans. Luggage space in the normal coaches are limited
to overhead racks and below the seats.

Kurseong Attractions & Local Tours

Many of you may not be familiar with Kurseong and think this might be another small
roadside village on the way to Darjeeling. Well many years back it was actually a small
hamlet, but over the years its has grown into a bustling township. Today it's a subdivision of
Darjeeling district. Spread of Kurseong is much more than what it may seem.

And the spread is beyond the township to lovely tea gardens along the mountain slopes,
forests with many different flora & fauna, quaint villages and so on. And expectedly, there are
many view points, tea estates, temples & churches, museums, as well as famous historic
schools that were setup during the British colonial days.

You can easily spend two to three days in Kurseong and remain immersed with its attractions.
There are plenty of local taxis available near the station and market area all of who will be
willing to take you for local sightseeing tours. There are half day and full day local tours
depending on what you want to cover. Talk to a couple of local drivers before you finalize
one ... the rates vary and some can and do ask for too much.

Below are the best and most popular tourist attractions of Kurseong:

Eagle Craig
This is a lovely view point and a garden on top of a hill. You can actually take the narrow lane
next to Kurseong station and walk up to Eagle Craig. It will take about 25 minutes of walk.
The view point and the park land is located at the end of the road which is the highest point
on this mountain.

Eagle Craig (as seen from Rohini Road)

A small concrete stairway leads up to the garden above. The garden is full of hedges and
flowering plantations. There is also a watch tower on one side of the garden. The views of the
mountains on the opposite side and also that of the lower plains from here is awesome. You
need a clear day though to get great views.

There is a concrete altar here and a Khukri (traditional Nepali knife) placed on it. It serves as
a monument which was constructed by the erstwhile DGHC in memory of the Gorkhas who
lost their lives in 1988 agitation in the hills.

Eagle Craig Kurseong

A large water reservoir here supplies water to Kurseong town. Eagle Craig has always been a
favorite place for the local young couples. Being on top of a hill and a bit isolated, this place
offers a nice romantic ambience. Eagle Craig is open on all days from morning till sunset.
There is no admission fee.

Dow Hill
Kurseong is spread across several hills of mountains. Dow Hill is one of them. A large section
of the hill is covered with dense forest and the locals will vouch on the fact that there are
leopards in the forest. While no lives have been lost, the leopards seem to be targeting the
sheeps and goats. The hill is also famous for its many attractions including forest museum,
excellent views, historic schools, parklands etc. Some of the attractions of Dow hill are
described below.

Dow Hill Park

Earlier this was known as Deer Park since you could see lot many deers here. However with
deforestation, such sights are now rare and hence the change in name.
In the adjacent forest there is a large fenced area where you can still see some deers. But
venturing into the forest is not allowed, you can only look for the deers from outside the
fence and often they can be seen moving around, but not in the park.

Dow Hill Park, Kurseong

Dow Hill park is located on top of Dow Hill. The fenced park itself is quite small. There are
hedge and other different kinds of plantations. There is a gazebo in the park where you can
sit and relax. There is also a small children playground with swings and slides. The park is
open from 10am to 4pm. Closed on Thursdays. A nominal entry fee needs to be paid to enter
the park.

Dow Hill Forest Museum

It's a large two-storeyed museum in Dow Hill that stores many exhibits of flora and fauna of
the region. It has been recently renovated and restored.

Next to it is the Forest Training School. The museum is open daily.

Forest Museum, Dow Hill, Kurseong

Dow Hill Forest Rest House
Close to the Forest Museum in Dow Hill is the Forest Rest House. You can book this rest house
through the forest department in Kurseong and stay amidst the nature and surrounded by
dense Dhupi forest ... all you can hear is the chirping of the birds.

Dowhill Forest Rest House

There is a lovely garden at the rest house with flowering plantations, pine trees etc.
Update March 2014: The rest house is temporarily closed. Due to the ongoing renovation
work at the Forest Museum, all the exhibits and museums materials have been stored at the
rest house. So check out before you go. However you can still enter the Rest House premises
and enjoy the garden and view of the forests.

Dow Hill Girls School

This is a heritage boarding school on Dow Hill with a lovely colonial architecture. It came up
during the British era when Governor Sir Ashley Eden had set up this school in 1879 for
children of government officers. Initially it was a small school for boys only. Later the boys
section was shifted to Victoria School and it became a girls school. Apart from its attractive
architecture, the school is also located in a scenic setting with wonderful view of the
Himalayan range and surrounded by lush vegetation. The school runs under the state
government and offers a good standard of education.

Dow Hill Girls School

Victoria Boys School at Dow Hill

This is the boys school in Dow Hill which was also set up during the British colonial time. Very
well known for its high standard of education and run under the state government, the school
has both boarding and day students. Currently there are about 350 students in the school out
of which about 200 are boarders.

Victoria Boys School

One of the great features of the school is its large play fields for the students. The play field
at the lower level is the largest in Kurseong.
 Students during break at Victoria School

There is a chapel in Victoria School premises just nest to the entrance. It has been lying
closed for many years, a clear indication of the fact that there are hardly any Christian
students or staff left in the school who require services of the church.

Dow Hill Water Reservoir

There is a large reservoir in downhill where rain water is stored. It acts as a water source to
many areas of Kurseong sub-division. The setting is picturesque as you can see in the picture.
The reservoir is surrounded by lush pine and coniferous trees. There is also a picnic area here
at an elevated level. The view of the water from here is great.

Water Reservoir - View from picnic point

Note that the entrance to the reservoir is through an unassuming iron gate. It's difficult to
make out that you are actually approaching such a large water body.

Giddapahar View Point

One of the other hills in Kurseong is Giddapahar. This view point is located few kilometers
from the town (takes about 15 minutes by car) along Hill Cart Road towards Siliguri. The view
point is accessible by stairway right from the roadside. You will need to enter through a gate
and then climb the stairs.

Giddapahar View Point

The view of the mountains, the snow peaks (including Kanchenjunga) and the valley is
awesome. However it should be a clear day to get good views.

Valley View from Giddapahar View Point

If you look towards the Hill Cart Road below, you can see the road winding down side by side
with the toy train track. Giddapahar view point is open daily during the day time and there is
no entry fee. You can park the car by the road side.

Hill Cart Road and the Toy Train Track

Giddapahar Seti Mata Temple
This is a Hindu temple of goddess Durga. The idol is an ancient carved stone. The temple can
be accessed by a stairway from the Hill Cart Road and is located at a higher level from the
road. It's considered very sacred and quite popular with the locals.

Seti Mata Temple

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Museum

This museum is located in Giddapahar area. It was originally a private house purchased in
1922 by Sarat Chandra Bose, the writer and veteran freedom fighter. Later between 1933 to
1935 Sarat Chandra and subsequently Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose were kept here by the
British under house captivity.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Museum, Kurseong

With lush greenery and gardens all around, the atmosphere is tranquil and serene. It has
been now converted into a museum. You can see many original furniture used by Netaji
including bed, chairs, tables etc. This is where Subhash Chandra Bose wrote his speech which
he delivered as the president of Haripura Congress in 1938. The museum also stores many
articles, letters and artifacts that reflect the story of the leader.

Inside the museum

The museum is also known as Netaji Institute for Asian Studies where research and studies
are conducted on Himalayan languages, society and culture. The museum is open daily. There
is no admission fee. You will be required to take off your shoes before entering the museum.
No photography is allowed inside.

Ambootia Tea Estate

This is a sprawling tea estate with lovely gardens on the mountain slopes that produce black,
green, white Darjeeling teas. It's located about 10kms below the Kurseong town and takes
about 35 minutes to reach by car. This is usually not a part of standard sightseeing tour. You
will need to pay extra to the driver to get there, but it's worth the money. The estate spans
across an area of 350 hectares and employs over 900 workers. It has been operating since
the British time of 1850s.

Ambootia Tea Garden

You can get wonderful view of Kurseong township from the tea gardens here.

Ambootia Shiv Temple

Further down from the tea estate and along steep dirt road through the forested area you will
reach the famous and one of the most revered temples. It takes another 20 minutes or so. It
feels like a long bumpy ride on a treacherous road. This is a Hindu temple of Lord Shiva. The
idol (i.e. the Shiv Linga) is an old dead trunk of a tree. While the temple has many devotees
who are mostly garden workers families, the driver mentioned that this temple is a wish
fulfilling temple and one who offers prayers, gets blessings of Lord Shiva that helps solve
one's problems in life.

Ambootia Temple
Another strange phenomena. The priest of the temple mentioned to me that although the idol
is a dead trunk, it keeps growing with time. And he himself has seen it becoming taller since
his childhood. Locals firmly believe that too. So that makes the temple very special where the
god (i.e. Lord Shiva) is sitting live.

Ambootia Temple - Priest and the Idol of Lord Shiva

Makaibari Tea Estate

This is one of the most famous tea estates in Darjeeling district. It's located 3kms from
Kurseong town and on Makaibari road. This is one of the oldest tea estates in the district
producing some of the finest tea varieties and also one of the first to set up a tea processing
factory. Owner Rajah Banerji is also the first in the area to introduce organic farming. With his
support, the tea garden workers and their families have extended their homes and now offer
homestays for tourists. This is an excellent opportunity to experience tea garden life and the
local village culture of Kurseong. You can visit the factory and also the tea gardens below.
Castleton Tea Estate
This tea estate is owned by the Goodricke Group and is one of the most well known ones that
produce fine black, green and white Darjeeling tea from authentic Chinese bushes. The estate
was set up by Dr. Charles Graham in 1885. It spans over an area of about 170 hectares. The
factory gate is near Kurseong town and on Pankhabari Road. You can visit the factory and
observe tea processing.

Castleton Tea Factory, Kurseong

St. Mary's Hill

About 3kms from Kurseong town towards Darjeeling, this is a beautiful hill area with a church
perched on top (St. John's Church). There are statues of Jesus and Mary here nearby. With
lush green vegetation and lovely views, the ambience is wonderful. Walk further up to the
Forest College. There is also a prayer spot here.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum

This is one of the three DHR museums of Darjeeling district which is located in Kurseong
station premises. You will need to first visit the station office and buy the entry ticket. A staff
will then come with the keys and open the museum room next to the platform. It's all yours
then. What do you see in the DHR museum in Kurseong?
The museum houses many treasures, historical artifacts and exhibits of the Darjeeling
Himalayan Railway, how the toy train was created to overcome the steep mountain gradients,
pictures of the loops & engines, and parts of the original rails as well as machinery and
accessories used to set up the tracks.

Toy Train ride between Kurseong and Darjeeling

From Kurseong station, you can make a day trip to Darjeeling. One of the best ways to do so
is by taking a toy train from Kurseong station. There are two trains every day between
Kurseong and Darjeeling. One leaves Kurseong in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
Both take about 3 hours to reach Darjeeling and then return. You can also take the train one
way (up or down) and use a private or shared taxi the other way for saving time. It only
takes little over one hour by taxi between Kurseong and Darjeeling. For Toy Train schedule,
train numbers etc, check Toy Train Service and refer to the section under Route #3.

Trekking in Kurseong area

There are some lovely trekking trails in Kurseong areas through forests and lush vegetation
on the slope of the mountains. You can explore the nature, its flora and fauna and also
several almost unnamed villages and their people & culture.