If you’re fancying a trip to Darjeeling, have a read. This blog shares the five best sightseeing locations in Darjeeling that you can cover within two-three days. Wrapped up in a stunning mountainous backdrop, Darjeeling, our Queen of Hills, houses beautiful tea gardens, green hills, rolling roads, rhododendrons, orchid pines, etc.
The city vibes exhibit modern and colonial ardour. Mall Road Darjeeling is a mountain walkway, where you can take a leisure stroll amid locals. Book one of the top budget hotels in Darjeeling near Mall Road. It’s a prime location here, keeping your journey hassle-free, hence, comfortable.
Let’s check out five local sightseeing options for your Darjeeling holiday:
Batasia Loop
Batasia Loop and Darjeeling city are around 4 km apart. It's a war memorial park to commemorate/honour Gorkha Soldiers. Batasia Eco Park is open from 5:00 Am to 4:30 PM. The awesome loop is created by the man-made engineering of the railway loop that is to lessen the gradient of the ascent of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR).
This iconic sightseeing location serves a majestic view of Mt. Kanchenjunga along with a panoramic vista of Darjeeling. There are some famous restaurants near Batasia Loop offering authentic Indian and Chinese dishes.
Ghoom Monastery
Ghoom Monastery is a popular sightseeing option here, approximately 8 km from Darjeeling. It was constructed in 1850, belonging to the Sakya order. Yiga Choeling Monastery is the name of Old Ghoom Monastery, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Darjeeling.
This beautiful Buddhist temple sits at 2026 m. and belongs to the Yellow Hat Sect (the Gelugpa). You’ll see a 15-foot Lord Buddha Model there, called the Maitreya Buddha. Various images of Buddha deities, Buddha compassion, and Buddha’s manuscripts, huge drum, bells, etc. you’ll spot as soon as you step inside.
Japanese Peace Pagoda
Darjeeling Peace Pagoda is a popular Buddhist Temple, about 10 min from the heart of Darjeeling. This monastery is known as Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Temple. It’s a two-storeyed white building, built in 1972 in a Traditional Japanese design.
Japanese Peace Pagoda in Darjeeling showcases four avatars of Lord Buddha. The prayer timings here include 4:30 am-6:30 pm. And the backdrop is dominated by lush greenery and mountain vistas. Find the best hotels in Darjeeling near Mall Road.
Tiger Hill
Tiger Hill is a must-visit destination in Darjeeling, scenically aligned at 2590 m. Tiger Hill is a mountain, home to a spectacular sunrise view that enthralls every visitor. Witnessing the snow-capped mountain peaks among cotton clouds will fill your heart with great delight.
Get up early in the morning and head out for the sunrise view. It takes some 1 hr to reach Tiger Hill from the heart of Darjeeling. Enjoy the unmatched landscapes of Great Himalayan peaks, like Mount Kanchenjunga, Mount Everest.
Rock Garden
Barbotey Rock Garden or Rock Garden Darjeeling is located scenically at a natural waterfall called Chunnu Summer Falls and Ganga Maya Park. Rock Garden and Darjeeling city are some 10 km apart, bounded by hilly terrain. Many stalls are there set up by the locals, serving momos, noodles/Maggie, tea, bread omelet, etc.
The positions of the clouds are very surprising and delightful. On your way to Rock Garden, you’ll witness a brilliantly created tourist attraction by cutting the rocks at different levels. Terraced seating setups at several levels, shrubbery, trees, and green hills, augment the beauty of the location.
You might hire a tour guide for more promising sightseeing exploration in Darjeeling. All these places cater to honeymooners, nature lovers, laid-back travelers, adventure seekers, etc. Besides conventional tourist attractions, you can pay a visit to offbeat destinations in Darjeeling, such as Lepcha Jagat, Lamahatta, Tinchuley, Takdah, Sittong, Bara Mangwa, Chota Mangwa, Mirik.