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About the Author: Raj Bhattacharya | Darjeeling-Tourism.com
Hello, I am Raj Bhattacharya, the founder and editor of this website. You might wonder who is behind these hundreds of pages about Darjeeling and Sikkim, and what keeps him going. Let me share my story with you.
My connection with Darjeeling started back in my school days. Living in Calcutta, I spent years saving my bus fares and lunch allowances to fund my very first independent trip. Along with a couple of friends, I caught a train to New Jalpaiguri and a bus up to Darjeeling. We stayed in a large room at the Jubilee Sanatorium just below the Darjeeling station.
That trip was magical. It was my first time experiencing the hills on my own. Everything was a first: the iconic toy train ride, staying in a hotel without my parents, and walking along the scenic Mall Road on a misty morning. I fell in love with the rolling tea gardens and made local friends who would stay in my life forever.
However, life quickly became serious. My father was a highly successful engineer, and I naturally followed in his footsteps. I earned my engineering degree in Computer Science from IIT Kharagpur, completed a Professional Certification in eSCM from Carnegie Mellon University (USA), and entered the fast-paced corporate world.
I climbed the ladder to become a Senior Management Executive at IBM, where I worked for over 10 years. While my career was successful, it came with immense global travel and crushing stress. Whenever the pressure threatened to overwhelm me, I found myself returning to Darjeeling. The hills offered a deep solace that the corporate world could not.
The turning point came when my wife asked me if I ever noticed how our son was growing up. That question haunted me and made me realize I was losing my work-life balance. In 2008, I started spending my weekends writing about my travels, pouring my passion for Darjeeling into what would eventually become this website.
As my passion grew, I made the terrifying but thrilling decision to quit my secure corporate job and become a full-time travel writer. Supported by my family, I pulled the plug on the corporate world and have never looked back.
Today, my mission is to build a comprehensive information warehouse for North Bengal and Sikkim. Whether you are planning an unforgettable vacation or just want to learn about the history, culture, flora, and fauna of this gem, you will find it here. To stay close to the hills I love, I have moved back to Kolkata, where I continue to connect with my friends in Darjeeling.
I have also poured my expertise into comprehensive
eBooks on Darjeeling and Sikkim - deep-dive resources designed to help travelers plan the perfect trip. I am deeply grateful to the thousands of readers who have purchased it and supported my work.
So, what keeps me going today? It is my enduring passion for travel writing and, most importantly, the
messages I receive from readers like you. Knowing that my website has helped you experience the magic of Darjeeling is the most fulfilling reward I could ask for.
This effort was even recognized in 2017 when I was interviewed by a joint initiative of 'Incredible India' (Ministry of Tourism) and a prominent Australian research firm promoting Darjeeling.
I am always updating Darjeeling-Tourism.com with new discoveries. If you have a
story to share, I would love to hear it.
Cheers!
About the Author
By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj is the founder of Darjeeling-Tourism.com and a full-time travel writer. With decades of firsthand experience in the Himalayas, he has authored hundreds of regional guides on North Bengal and Sikkim, as well as comprehensive Ebooks on Darjeeling and Sikkim.
His travel expertise was featured in a 2017 interview by a joint initiative of 'Incredible India' (Ministry of Tourism) and an Australian Research Firm. Raj regularly visits the hills to ensure his advice remains accurate and helpful to his readers.
Learn more about Raj Bhattacharya
