Darjeeling

3–4 daysBest: Mar–May, Oct–NovMountains#tea#toy train#kanchenjunga

Queen of the Hills and the toy train

Why this weekend?

Tiger hill sunriseToy trainTea gardens

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The day-by-day plan

Day 1 · Sunrise & rail
- Arrive by toy train or road
- Evening Chowrasta walk
- Book the Tiger Hill jeep
Day 2 · Kanchenjunga & loops
- 4:30 am Tiger Hill sunrise
- Batasia Loop + Ghoom
- Toy train back, afternoon tea garden walk
Day 3 · Temples & tea
- Peace Pagoda + Dali monastery
- Happy Valley tea tasting
- Sunset at Chowrasta
Day 4 · Out
- Mirik lakeside morning or head to Siliguri (Bagdogra airport)

Geography & terrain

Darjeeling sits at ~2,045 m on a steep ridge of the eastern Himalaya in West Bengal, above the Mahananda river valleys. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m, the world's third-highest) fills the northern skyline on clear mornings.

History & culture

Ceded by Sikkim in 1835 as a British sanatorium, Darjeeling became the 'Queen of the Hills' and the hub of the 1850s tea boom. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1881, UNESCO) and the 1892 Planters' Club survive from that golden age.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,000–2,500/night

Mid-range

₹2,500–5,000/night

Comfort

₹5,000+/night

Things to do

Tiger Hill
Batasia Loop
Toy train
Happy Valley tea estate
Peace Pagoda

Eat & drink

Kosha mangsho
Macher jhol (fish curry)
Sorshe ilish
Sandesh
Rasgulla

Getting there

Fly: Kolkata (CCU) / Bagdogra (IXB)
Train: Howrah & Sealdah junctions
Road from Kolkata: varies by district — 50–600 km
Getting around: Metro (Kolkata), autos, buses

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹7,500–19,000 (3 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹1,000–5,000/night
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Activities: ₹600–1,000

Month by month

Jan · Best: 9–27°C · None rain
Feb · Good: 12–31°C · None rain
Mar · Hot: 17–36°C · None rain
Apr · Hot: 23–41°C · None rain
May · Hot: 26–42°C · None rain
Jun · Monsoon: 27–38°C · Heavy rain
Jul · Monsoon: 25–32°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 25–31°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Monsoon tail: 24–33°C · Moderate rain
Oct · Good: 18–32°C · Light rain
Nov · Best: 12–29°C · None rain
Dec · Best: 9–26°C · None rain

Practical info

Language: Bengali (English understood in tourist spots)
Best window: Mar–May, Oct–Nov
Connectivity: good 4G in towns
UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

Evenings are near-freezing — layers, gloves, beanie
Tiger Hill is 2,590 m — easy altitude, still keep a jacket
The Mall's monkeys and the Pagoda's monks both like snacks — keep bags closed

Frequently asked questions

When can I see Kanchenjunga?

October–December and March–May mornings are the reliable windows. Winter (Dec–Feb) is crispest; monsoon (Jun–Sep) hides the peak.

How do I get to Darjeeling?

Fly to Bagdogra (70 km) or rail to New Jalpaiguri, then the toy train or a 3-hour road climb.

Is the toy train worth it?

The Ghoom–Darjeeling section is the highlight — book it and ride the window side.