Darjeeling
is a popular hill station, surrounded
by tea plantations on all sides.
The views over the mountains
to the snowy peaks of Kanchenjunga
and down to the swollen rivers
in the valley are magnificent.
Buddhist monasteries, tea plantations,
colourful markets and handicrafts
shops. Trekking are some of
the major attractions, not to
mention the famous 'toy train'
which is part of the fun in
getting there. Excursions include
Kalimpong on the foothills and
deep valleys of the Himalayas;
Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim,
overflowing with ancient temples,
palaces, monasteries and colourful
bazaars. Darjeeling tea is one
of the finest teas in the world
and the snowcapped mountains
form a picturesque background
to the many tea plantations
in the region.
In 1817, the East India Company
struggled with Himalayan States
on behalf of Raja of Sikkim,
The Raja of Sikkim restored
the country between Mechi and
the Tista rivers.This was the
result of the Treaty of Titaliya
of 1817.Ten years after the
treaty,disputes on the Sikkim-Nepal
frontiers arose and the then
Governor General sent two Officers
viz. Captain Lloyd and Mr. Grant.They
recommended the present place
of Darjeeling as a site for
a sanatorium.The Governor General
then deputed Captain Herbert,
the Deputy Surveyor General
to examine the country. The
court of Directors approved
the project. General Lloyd was
directed to start negotiations
with Raja of Sikkim and he succeeded
in obtaining the execution of
a deed grant by the Raja of
Sikkim on 1st February, 1835.
" The Governor-General
having expressed his desire
for the possession of the
hills of Darjeeling on account
of its cool climate, for the
purpose of enabling the servants
of his Government, suffering
from sickness, to avail themselves
of its advantages, I the Sikkimputtee
Rajah out of friendship for
the said Governor-General,
hereby present Darjeeling
to the East India, that is,
all the land south of the
Great Runjeet river, east
of the Balasur, Kahail and
Little Runjeet rivers, and
west of the Rungpo and Mahanadi
rivers." This was an
unconditional cession of what
was then a worthless uninhabited
mountain; but in 1841 the
government granted the Raja
an allowance of Rs. 3,000
as compensation, and raised
the grant to Rs. 6,000 in1846.
