|
Home | ||
Kanchenjunga |
|
Kangchenjunga (Kanchenjunga) has remained virgin and unconquered, inspite of the several attempts furnished with the most modern equipments till 1975. Within 7,000-sq-kms area is contained the world’s third highest 8,586m, but the most romantic mountain.Kangchenjunga (Kanchenjunga) is located on the Sikkim (India) - Nepal border as part of the Himalayan mountain range. Kangchenjunga has 5 peaks, of which the true Summit is 28,169 feet or 8,586 meters. The name Kangchenjunga (Kanchenjunga) means "The Five Treasures of the Snow" in the local dialect, referring to its five summits all over 8,000 meters. |
|
Badamtam Tea Estate |
Top^ |
 Badamtan Tea Estate was originally owned by the more than 150-years-old Lebong Tea Company. The tea estate was one of the tea company owned and managed by the British. It is located across the Rangit River. A walk to this tea estate will take a refreshing half a day.Badamtan Tea Estate is also a place en route in a hiking from Darjeeling and Glenburn. You can purchase first flush tea, which fills the estate with sweet flavor and fine aroma. One should not miss the Buddha of Badamtan, a 14-foot-high statue of Lord Buddha. Unlike the usual closed-eye position, this statue has Buddha’s eyes wide open as if looking up to gods above, having attained enlightenment. |
|
Lloyd Botanical Garden |
Top^ |
 Lloyd Botanical Garden is a colorful garden located in the beautiful hill station of Darjeeling. Situated just below the market motor stand, this garden is laid out by Mr. W. Lloyd in 1878. It contains a vast collection of rare Himalayan plants, flowers, orchids and many more flora species.Built on a 40 acre of land, Lloyd Botanical Garden has a garden code ascribed by the Indian Botanical Garden Network. The garden mainly preserves various flora varieties belonging native to Darjeeling Himalayan region, Sikkim and other neighboring areas. Not only these, it also preserves several exotic plants variety too. The Orchid collection of this botanical garden is also fascinating. While the cacti and Succulent section of plants forms a separate conservatory in the garden. This different section displays near about 150 floral species. |
|
Observatory Hill |
Top^ |
 The oldest site in Darjeeling is the Observatory Hill, locally called as Makal-Babu-Ko-Thaan. The Hill has a fascinating story to it. According to legend, Lord Indra's scepter (Dorje), emblematic of his thunderbolt, is believed to have fallen at the place (ling) where the Observatory Hill now stands. Darjeeling thus derives its name from the Tibetan words 'Dorje' and 'ling'.If you are in the vicinity of the Chowrasta square, just called The Mall locally, you should visit the Observatory Hill. A Red Hat Buddhist Monastery called Dorje Ling, or 'place of the Thunderbolt' once stood at this very spot. A temple of Mahakala now stands here and the hill is thus popular with both Buddhist as well as Hindu worshippers. What's more, the Hill affords the most spectacular view of snowcapped peaks, including the majestic Mount Kanchenjunga in the far distance. |
|
Tiger Hill |
Top^ |
 Tiger Hill in Darjeeling, makes the place a paradise on earth. The warm glow and the brilliant hues that the rising sun casts over the entire setting is nothing short of being ethereal. Sunrise over the Tiger Hill in Darjeeling is a treat for the eyes and draws in visitors from all around the world, who throng here to begin their days with a grand riot of colors.The way to Tiger Hill in Darjeeling is covered by the ancient forests of oak and green fern leaves. The view of the Hill becomes more spectacular with the road towards Senchel running down through Ghoom. The Tiger Hill in Darjeeling is located 11kilometrs away from Darjeeling and at around 8500 feet high . The first rays of the sun brush the peaks of the Tiger Hill at Darjeeling swathing it in a warm pinkish hue. As the sun climbs up the horizon, gradually the colors change into a pulsating orange. |
|
Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park |
Top^ |
 The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling was established in the 14 th August, 1958. The main objective of the zoo is to preserve the endangered species of animals. The zoo is situated at an elevation of about 2133.5 meters. The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling is also dedicated towards conserving several endangered varieties of Himalayan fauna.The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park at Darjeeling houses a number of endangered species named Red Panda, Tibetan Wolf, the Siberian Tiger and Snow Leopard. Captive breeding programs are undertaken in order to preserve the Red Panda. The Himalayan Black bear is an old resident of the zoo. The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling is a well-known center for captive breeding, with great care taken by the authorities during the entire breeding and raising process. |
|
Snow Leopard Breeding Centre |
Top^ |
 The Snow Leopard breeding centre nearby is interesting. Because it was so foggy, the Snow Leopard enclosure appeared to be empty. I walked around the enclosure and to prevent myself slipping on the muddy ground I used my fingers to hold onto the enclosure. As I approached one corner, I heard a whooshing sound approaching rapidly from within. Instinctively, I let go. Moments later there was a crashing sound where my fingers had been holding onto the enclosure. It was the male Snow Leopard. The Snow Leopard quickly ran back into the fog. I was a little shaken and wondered what might have happened to my fingers if I hadn't let go of the enclosure. I continued to walk carefully around the enclosure and came by a small group of people. They were all watching the female Snow Leopard with her cubs. The female didn't seem to mind the attention, her full attention was on her cubs. The cubs looked liked fluffy balls of fur and delighted in jumping up into the air. |
|
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Zoo |
Top^ |
 Everest Museum and Mountaineering Museum are entered through the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Zoo. The zoo and the two museums are run by the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, which trains mountaineers.The mountaineering museum has a grand collection of historical mountaineering equipment, specimens of Himalayan flora and fauna, and a relief model of the Himalayas. The Everest museum is situated next door. This museum traces the history of attempts to climb the Everest. Sherpa Denzing Norbay, who conquered Mount Everest along with Edmund Hillary, was the director of the institute. He died in 1896. His statue is standing near his cremation spot. |
|
Bhutia Busty Gompa |
Top^ |
 Bhutia Busty Gompa is a monastery situated just under a kilometer out of Darjeeling. Kanchenjunga provides a spectacular backdrop to this monastery. This monastery is a branch of the Nygpama sect’s Phontag Monastery in Sikkim. It was transferred to Darjeeling in 1879.The monastery houses a well-stocked library, which contains many old Budhist texts. The Bhutia Busty Gompa is in the C. R. Das Road. The shrine in the Gomba is originally situated on the Observatory Hill. The ill-fated monastery was ruined by the massive earthquake in 1934; its existence is attributed to the munificence of the late Raja of Sikkim. |
|
Aloobari Gompa |
Top^ |
 Aloobari Gomba, which is situated three kilometers away from the center of Darjeeling, is a monastery where you can find Tibetan and Sikkimese monks. These monks sell religious accessories and other handicrafts. If you are interested in shopping as well as sightseeing, then Aloobari Gomba is a place of choice to visit. Aloobari Gomba is known as Mak Drong Gomba and is along Tenzing Norgay Road. Thupten Sangachoeling Gompa and Sonada Gomba are other monasteries also seen nearby, in between Aloobari Gomba and Darjeeling. |
|
Ghoom Monastery |
Top^ |
 Ghum Monastery situated at an altitude of 8,000 feet, 8 km south of town is one of the holiest and better known of Darjeeling?s monasteries ? the Sampten Choling or the Ghum Monastery.Built in 1875 by Lama Sherab Gyatso, one of the chief features of the monastery is the 15 ft tall statue of the Maitreya Buddha (Coming Buddha), resplendent in gold polish and embedded with precious stones. Thangkas adorn the ancient walls and you will find a rare collection of books on Buddhism as well as Tibetan translations of great Sanskrit works here. Amongst the Buddhist texts available are the Kangyur, the Buddhist Tibetan canon running into 108 volumes. With its high altitude and misty surroundings, the interiors of the monastery often seem dark and ancient giving it its sobriquet of the Gloom monastery! |
|
Darjeeling Toy Train |
Top^ |
 The Toy Train ride is a romantic approach to the Himalayas, a mysterious region. The landscape can only be described as spectacular and the views of the Himalayan peaks breathtaking. The Darjeeling Toy Train is one of the most famous narrow (2 feet ) gauge trains. This joy ride begins at New Jalpaiguri, a busy railway station in the plains. The plains are much more warmer than the hills and as the train climbs up the mountains the climate gets much colder. Therefore it is advisable to keep warm clothes handy as one needs them. Leaving New Jalpaiguri station the train passes through the outskirts of Siliguri town and reaches Siliguri station. After a short halt the train leaves Siliguri station and crosses the Mahanadi bridge over the Mahanadi river which flows from the Himalayan foothills. |
|
Sandakphu |
Top^ |
 Sandakphu is a peak in Darjeeling. The name is derived due to the profound growth of poisonous plants around the peak. Sandakphu literally means “the height of poison plants". It is located at a height of 3636 meters and around 58 km from Darjeeling.Maneybhanjan is the starting place of any trekking activity to Sandakphu. From Sandakphu one can easily absorb the beautiful view of four peaks - Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, and Lhoste. Subalpine flowers, primulas, magnolias, rhododendrons, and hundreds of varieties of orchids blossom in this peak to capture the eyes of visitors. Sandakphu can be visited any time in the year. |
|
Passenger Ropeway |
Top^ |
 Darjeeling Ropeway is a popular tourist attraction with rides, where the tourists enjoy the panoramic view of this hilly estate from high altitudes. Darjeeling has two long ropeway systems; the main ropeway connects Darjeeling with Bijanbari, a town downhill in the Rangit valley. This is the longest ropeway in Asia. This ropeway runs close to the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park.The Darjeeling Ropeway was started in 1968 by the forest development department and comprised only a single car which ran one way. Later it was renovated to 16 cars and moved in both directions. From an elevation of 2,134 m (7,001 ft) in Darjeeling`s North Point (Singamari), this bicable ropeway slide down to 244 m (801 ft) at Singla on the banks of the Ramman River. After a short halt at Tukver, Burnesbeg and Singla tea estates, it used to take 45 minutes to reach Singla Bazar, eight km away. The Darjeeling Ropeway passed over dense forests, mountain ridges, flowing rivers, water falls, green valleys and tea gardens. |
|