7. Darjeeling-Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway:
The
Darjeeling Ropeway connects Darjeeling with Bijanbari, down
in the little Rangeet Valley. A monocable type, with one
rope acting both as tractor and carrier, the ropeway travels
at a speed of 6.5 km an hour. The 4,620 ft span is the biggest
and a record for India. From an elevation of 7,000 ft in
Darjeeling's North Point, a bicable passenger ropeway, carrying
6 pax. at a time, in a boxed car, decends to 800 ft. at
Singla. This thrilling ride is accompanied with the views
of the beautiful tea gardens, which fall far below the cables,
and it is a good experience. This bicable passenger-carrying
ropeway is the largest of its kind in Asia.
8.
Love Road or Lover's Road:
This road has always been hidden from the eyes of the tourists
and is one of the most beautiful roads especially meant
for the lovers. Why do lovers go to Love Road to spend some
time? Well, it's very simple, the view from this particular
road is just mind-blowing and there is less amount of houses,
just nature. It's worth a visit. To reach this Love Road,
one can descend from Mall Road or reach via Singamari.
9.
Lloyd's Botanical Garden:
About 15 minutes walk from Chowrastha and just below the
Motor Stand is the forty-acre Lloyd Botanical Garden. Over
the years plants native to Sikkim Himalayas and exotica
from other parts, have been introduced. On its charming
laid out terraces grow the alpine plants, arum lilies, geraniums,
spectacular azaleas, tree-ferns and conifers, collected
from Europe have come the hawthorn, blackberry, broom, horse,
chestnut, ash, birch, lilac etc. from China and Japan, cryptomerias;
plums, cherries, magnolias and maples weeping willows and
deodars; from Africa, the Cape, Bulbon plants and the cypress;
from America, magnolia grandiflora and jurriferus bermudiana
from Australia and New Zealand, silver and black wattle,
the silver oak, the blue gum and eucalyptus. The Cactii
and Sacculents section is housed in a separate conservatory
with 150 species on display. The varied collection of orchids
has developed 50 rare varieties, the Orchidarium housing
2,500 plants. Inside the conservatory, begonias in bloom
weave an attractive mosaic of multi-coloured splendour.
10.
Tibetan Refugees Self-Help Centre:
"Our way may be hard and long one, but I believe that
the truth and faith must ultimately prevail". -- His
Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre was started on October
1, 1959. At that time, following the dramatic escape of
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, thousands of Tibetans leaving
hearth and home, fled into the neighbouring countries to
live as free human beings. "It is no exaggeration,
in fact, to say that without self-help there can be no rehabilitation,
be it economic, social, psychological, cultural or spiritual.
Therefore, a ten-member committee was formed in Darjeeling
to organize a rehabilitation centre to be known as "Tibetan
Refugees Self-Help Center". More
info...
11.
Tiger Hill:
The trip to the summit of the hill is through Ghoom, the
highest railway station on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
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. More
info...
13.
Tenzing and Gombu Rock:
Tenzing and Gombu rock also commonly known as " monkey
rock" was named after late Tenzing Sherpa and Nawang
Gombu respectively. It is a challenging masterpiece of nature's
oddity for the rock climbers. It is where Tenzing Sherpa
climbed the Tenzing rock in the presence of Late Prime minister
Jawaharlal Nerhu without a belay.
14. Rock Garden and Ganga Maya Park:
Rock
garden as the name suggests, is a garden fully made out
of rock. It is a marvel of present day architecture. Situated
at a distance of about 12 kilometers, (approx.) away from
Darjeeling town and winding its way through the narrow and
enthralling hilly terrain, it is a place worth a visit.
Ganga Maya park situated 2 kilometers away from rock garden
has a small lake at its helm, with boating facilities where
one can enjoy the serene cool atmosphere of the place.
15.
Batasia loop:
The world famous heritage toy train (DHR) winds its way
through one out of the three loops en route to Siliguri
from Darjeeling at Batasia, which is very near to Ghoom
railway station. Ghoom railway station is the highest railway
station to be reached by a steam locomotive. This loop is
perfect masterpiece of railway engineering. At the center
of the loop a war memorial stands which reminds us of the
Gorkha martyrs, who laid their lives protecting the sovereignty
of our motherland. More
info on the DHR...
16.
Happy valley tea garden:
Apart from tourism, Tea is the biggest industrial activity,
offering the largest employment in the hills. The turnover
of the Darjeeling tea industry is nearly 7.5 million USD,
which is more than the money generated by tourism in the
Darjeeling hills. Happy Valley Tea Garden located approximately
1 km from Darjeeling town offers the tourists an opportunity
to experience the manufacturing process of the Darjeeling
Tea.
