No
visit to Darjeeling in India is complete without
a visit to Ghoom which is 6 km away from the main
town. The hillock is dominated by the famous Yiga
Choeling Monastery which has 15 images of the
Maitreya Buddha. Belonging to the yellow hat sect,
the monastery contains many ancient palm leaf
and paper manuscripts in Tibetan script. The Museum
of Natural History is where one can see a fine
collection of Himalayan animals, reptiles, birds
and insects. If flora is what one enjoys, then
Llyod Botanic Garden is the place of interest.
It has a marvelous collection of alpine flora
and orchids.
Padmaja
Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is the only center
in India for the breeding of the rare snow leopard.
The Ussurian tigers and the Himalayan black bear
are also among its attractions. Neighboring the
zoo is the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
established in 1954 by the then Prime Minister,
Jawaharlal Nehru, in the wake of the conquest
of Everest. Tenzing Norgay was its first Director
and Advisor till his demise. A kilometer from
the zoo is the Darjeeling-Rangit Valley ropeway.
Considered the longest in Asia, it is a thrilling
ride with splendid views. If one is looking for
souvenirs, then the Tibetan Refugee Self Help
Center. It produces excellent Tibetan crafts like
carpets, wood and leather work. Established in
1959 after the Dalai Lama and his followers fled
Tibet, it is a haven for ethnic Tibetan art.
PLACES
AROUND DARJEELING
Tour
to Darjeeling KALIMPONG - Across the river, Teesta
lies lush Kalimpong. The road weaves lazily up
a steep incline to suddenly open up to an unexpected
panorama. The first sight to greet the eye is
the steeple of the Mac Farlane Church. Once the
headquarters of a Bhutanese Governor, the word
kalim means king's minister and pong, the stronghold.
It is also called Kalimpong or the black spur
by the locals. However, the meaning that is popularly
accepted is the Lepcha translation of the name
which is "the ridge where we play" as
the local tribesmen used to organize field sports
here. At an altitude of 1250 meters, it has an
area odd just 3.5 square miles with an approximate
population of 40,000. Its rolling meadows are
as yet untouched by tourism.
Prominent
amongst the places of interest is a school, Dr.
Graham's Homes which was founded by Dr. John Anderson
Grahman in 1900. This has been built on the slopes
of Delo Hill, three kilometers from the town.
For a bird's eye view of the picturesque place,
one has to go to Durpin Dara, an observatory point
atop a hill from where one can get an awe-inspiring
view of the mighty Himalayan ranges. Numerous
monasteries dot the area among which the Pedong
monastery and Thongsha Gompa are the oldest. Another
monastery of interest is the Tharpa Choling Monastery
constructed in 1937 by the Yellow Hat sect which
is situated at Tirpai Hill at a distance of two
kilometers from town.
About
4 km from town towards Teesta is located Kalimpong's
famous Swiss Welfare Dairy. It was set up many
years ago by a Swiss missionary, father Andrea
Butty. Cheese, butter and other dairy products
of this center are in great demand and the quality
is comparable to the finest that is imported.
The visit to Kalimpong won't be complete unless
one spends several hours at the two bazaars. One
on the main road, the other near 10th mile. It
is a unique experience to see villagers turning
up in their local costume at the bazaar on weekly
market days to sell their farm products.
Tour
to Darjeeling MIRIK - Set in idyllic surroundings,
Mirik is the place for those seeking peace and
tranquility. At an altitude of 1967 meters, the
climate is cool and temperate. The Sumendu Lake
at the bottom of Mirik Spur is the most dominating
feature reflecting the magnificence of the eastern
Himalayas. The lake is 1.2 kilometers long and
is fed by perennial streams. Riding on the colorful
boats or crossing the lake over an artistic bridge,
leads one to a charming path through forests on
the other side. Fishing is a popular past time
here.
Mirik
is also almost completely surrounded by some of
the best tea gardens of the region. It is also
the largest producer of oranges in West Bengal.
The orchards are on a spur two kilometers from
Mirik. Tourist cottage constructed from locally
available material have been constructed in the
dense forest and provide all modern facilities
for a comfortable sojourn. The DGHC Tourism (Tourism
Deptt. of the Darjeeling Gurkha Hill Council)
organizes conducted luxury coach tours from Darjeeling
to Mirik and back on the same day during the tourist
season.
TREKKING
TRACKS OF DARJEELING
Darjeeling
in India was the first hill region where organized
trekking was first conducted by Dr. Hooker in
the 1840s. The breathtaking panoramic views of
Everest and Kanchenjunga have been alluring thousands
of nature lovers from different parts of the world
since then. Treks in this region are organized
through both high and low altitude areas.
The
most popular of treks is the one through high
altitude areas across the Singalila range in Darjeeling.
The trek starts at Maneybhanjang (2134 m), goes
to Meghma (2900 m), Toughu (3070 m), Gairibas
(2621 m), Sandakphu (3636 m), and Phalut (3600m).The
fourth and last day is the return trek to Darjeeling
which may be taken along the along the same route
or via Ramman, Rimbick and Bijanbari.
The
best time of the year to undertake trek in Darjeeling
in India is April-May and October-November. It
is advisable to carry one's own provisions. Trekking
equipment can be hired at nominal charges from
the Youth Hostel, as well as some travel agencies.
