Darjeeling is known as “The Queen of Hills”. It is located at an elevation of about 6,700 ft. This hill station is one of the most preferred holiday destinations for countless tourists in and across the country. Nature has bestowed this endearing hill town with the abundance of glorious and imposing features like striking sunrise viewpoint, magnificent mountain views, lush green tea garden and forests, cascading river streams and a profuse species of flora & fauna.
Highlights:
Location: Northern part of West Bengal, 27°3’N 88°16’E. It is landlocked between Bhutan and Nepal.
Temperature: Summer 14.9 – 8.6 C and Winter 6.11 – 1.50 C
Best time to visit: Summer is the best season to chill out there.
How to reach Darjeeling:
Nearby station- NJP (Siliguri)
Nearby Airport – Bagdogra Airport
You can get government buses from Siliguri bus stand.
You can also go to Darjeeling by booking a private car or a cab from Siliguri Junction.
Except that, the beautiful Toy Train is available.
Route of Toy Train: Siliguri to Darjeeling (Departure- 10 am Siliguri Junction, and reached by 5 pm onwards at Ghoom Station, Darjeeling).
After reaching Darjeeling, you can opt for car rental for Darjeeling tour at a cheaper rate by booking one of the best travel agencies in Siliguri. There are numerous amazing places to see in Darjeeling which will make you spellbound. Among them, Rock Garden and Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park are the most unique places for nature lovers to explore.
If you want a day trip to Rock Garden and Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park with comfort, Utkarsh Travels car rental in Darjeeling should always be your first choice. We provide the best car hire services in Darjeeling along with experienced local drivers who are well-versed with the routes of Darjeeling.
1. Get a glimpse of Rock Garden:
Less than an hour’s drive from Darjeeling is the Rock Garden. Created by cutting rocks in a creative and intricate manner, it is a sight to behold. The terraced seating arrangements enhance the beauty of this garden. You will see a waterfall coming from the top over the rocks below. There are beautiful bridges set up over the natural stream of water here. The park is surrounded by hills, and you see trees and shrubs all around. Boating also takes place at this location, which is a major attraction in Darjeeling during the peak season.
Highlights:
Distance from Darjeeling main town: 10km
Best time to visit: 8 am to 6 pm
Recommended hours: 2hrs
Entry fee: Local Tourist Adult- INR 10 and Foreign Tourist Adult- INR 50
Allowed: Camera, Video & Footwear
2. Explore Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park:
Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park is a splendid enclosure in Darjeeling housing a wide variety of animals. It is a huge centre of attraction for animal lovers and nature enthusiasts. This zoo is well known for its breeding centre for snow leopards and red pandas. In addition to these rarer species, the zoo is also enriched with Asiatic Black Bear, Barking Deer, Eastern Pangolin, Pheasant, Himalayan Wolf, Lady Amherst, Leopard Cat, Macaw, Red Jungle Fowl, Royal Bengal Tiger, Sambar Deer, Temminck’s Tragopan, Yak, and many more. This zoo has been awarded the prestigious honor of “The Earth Heroes” in the year 2014, as it takes the great step to repopulate the endangered species.
Highlights:
Distance from Darjeeling main town: 3.3km
Opening Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Except Thursday)
Recommended hours: 2.5hrs
Entry Fee: INR 60/person
FAQs:
Q. Is any food-stall available nearby Rock Garden?
A. Yes, you will get lots of food-stall that are lined up, offering snacks and meals to satiate your taste buds.
Q. What are the most popular festivals of Darjeeling?
A. Maghe Sankranti, Losar, Cho Nao Chopa are the most popular festivals of Darjeeling.
Q. What is the best time to trek in Darjeeling area?
A. April to May is the best time to trek in Darjeeling area.