Introduction:
Darjeeling - The beauty of Darjeeling is
incomparable to any other place in India. Darjeeling is famous
for the picturesque sunrises over the Tiger Hill, the famous
Buddhist temples and monasteries and also the botanical and
zoological gardens. Sightseeing in Darjeeling is a great experience
for both the local and the foreign tourists. The snow-capped
mountain ranges of the Kachenjunga attract a lot of people
from all over the world. The place is popularly known as the
Paradise of the East and people love to visit the place time
and again. Darjeeling originally belonged to the independent
state of Sikkim. Later in the eighteenth century, it was taken
over by the Bhutanese and the Gurkhas. Tiger Hill is the highest
point in Darjeeling. From here one can see the peaks of the
Kanchenjunga and on a clear day the Everest looms into view.
The other monasteries are the Samdenchoeling, Sakyachoeling,
Phin Sotholing, Aloobari, Thupten Sangachoeling and Sonada
Gompas. The Dhirdham Temple is the most prominent hindu temple
here. The Bengal Natural History Museum has a large collection
of Himalayan flora and fauna. Best time to visit Darjeeling
:-
The best time to visit this hill station is between April
and June and September and December. The summer temperature
hovers between 14° C and 8° Celsius and the winter
temperatures fall to a freezing 6°C to 1° Celsius.
So be sure carry woollens when you visit.
Sightseeing:
Senchal Lake
Close to Tiger Hill is Senchal Lake, which supplies Darjeeling
with its domestic water. It's a particularly scenic area and
popular as a picnic spot with Indian holiday-makers.
Observatory Hill
Situated above the Windamere Hotel, this viewpoint is sacred
to both Hindus and Buddhists. There is a Kali shrine here
and the multicoloured prayer flags double as trapezes for
he monkeys. Watch out for them as they can be aggressive.
Tiger Hill
Tiger Hill is near Ghoom, about 11km from Darjeeling. The
hill is famous for its magnificent dawn views over Kanchenjunga
and other eastern Himalayan peaks. On a clear day even Mount
Everest is visible.
Dhirdham Temple
The most conspicuous Hindu temple in Darjeeling, this is just
below the railway station and is modelled on the famous Pashupatinath
Temple in Kathmandu.
Tibetan Refugee Centre
The Tibetan Refugee Centre. Established in 1959, the centre
comprises a home for the aged, and orphanage, school, hospital
and craft workshops that produce carpets of pure ladakhi wool,
woodcarving, leather work and wool items. The weaving and
dyeing shops and the wood carving shop are particularly interesting.
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