The trip to the
summit of the hill is through Ghoom,
the highest railway station on the
D.H. Ry. The elevation of Ghoom
is 7,407 feet from sea level, while
the altitude of the top of this
hill exceeds that of Ghoom by 1,100
feet. In the fast receding glimmer
of the night, the spectator finds
himself standing on the mound bedewed
with sparkling frost, plunged in
hush and silence and steeped in
frigid cold. A traveller whose vision
has not been entertained with the
two sights, the Taj Mahal by moonlight
and sunrise from Tiger Hill, has
missed a pleasure that does not
lend itself to be substituted.
The altitude of
Senchel (water reservoir for the
supply of water to Darjeeling town)
and Tiger Hill are 8,163 and 8,515
feet respectively. The first rays
of the sun shoot ahead and shed
light upon the twin peaks of Kanchenjunga
and gradually paint the whole of
its snow body with a beautiful orange
colour. From Tiger Hill, just the
top of Mount Everest (29,002') is
visible, peeping out through two
other peaks standing by its side.
The peak that looks highest is that
of Makalu (27,799'). These three
peaks are seen to the north-west
a little left of Phalut. Everest
looks smaller than any of its two
sisters, although Everest is not
only higher than either of them,
but the highest peak in the world,
the distance in straight line of
Everest from Tiger Hill being 107
miles. This phenomenon arises from
the fact that Everest is several
miles beyond them.
Kurseong is visible
to the south. In hazy distance are
noticeable like so many silver bands,
the Teesta, the Mahanady, the Balasun
and the Mechi, meandering down to
the south. Chumal Rhi mountain of
Tibet which is by far the most beautiful
mountain in the world is seen in
the north-east, 84 miles away as
the crow flies. It looks like a
great rounded mass over the snowy
Chola Range. One comes face to face
with this peak of superb beauty
from Phari Jong which is 129 miles
away from Darjeeling.
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