Kurseong Tourist Places & Local Tours
Many of you may not be familiar with Kurseong and tend to think that this might be another small roadside village on the way to Darjeeling. Well many years back it was actually a small hamlet, but over time, it has grown into a bustling township. Today it's a subdivision of Darjeeling district. Spread of Kurseong is far larger than what it may apparently appear to the general tourists.
And the spread is beyond the township to lovely tea gardens along the mountain slopes, forests with many different flora & fauna, quaint villages and so on. And there are many viewpoints, beautiful tea gardens, temples & churches, museums, as well as famous historic schools that were setup during the British colonial days.
Below are the best places to visit in Kurseong as well as the top things to do:
Hanuman Tok
This is a combination of a small temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman along with a huge 40-feet statue of Lord Hanuman and a magnificent viewpoint offering a panoramic view of Kurseong... and this is set amidst sprawling tea gardens and perched at a high altitude of Kurseong hills. This is arguably one of the top attractions in Kurseong and it not only attracts the worshippers, but numerous tourists and photographers as well.
As you come down Hill Cart Road from Kurseong Railway Station, in about 1.5 kms you will get on to a road branching out to the left, and soon thereafter the road becomes extremely steep and winding. There are several hairpin bends and zigzags along the way and one literally has to drive on first gear to negotiate the steep gradient and the turns. The scenic road winds its way through beautiful tea gardens. Hanuman Tok is located about 3.5kms from Kurseong railway station. You can also approach the place from Giddapahar area.
Kurseong Town far below and tea gardens all around
Once you reach there on a clear day, the scenic views are just heavenly from here. The small Hanuman Temple here was built in 2019. During the day time, tourists and devotees keep coming to the temple to offer their prayers. There is usually a priest who is stationed there during the day time to help with the prayers.
The gigantic statue of Hanuman was built later standing next to the temple and it was officially opened to the public in 2021 by GTA (Gorkha Territorial Administration) on the auspicious day of Hanuman Jayanti. The statue stands on a granite platform which is itself 3-feet tall and has a steel railing around it. The statue faces the Kurseong town below to its west as if guarding the town and bestowing his blessings to its people.
Next to the temple and the statue are the erected big letters "I LOVE KURSEONG" which has become an extremely popular selfie point for tourists. Look around, below you will see the entire township of Kurseong that lay on the slope of the mountains while the clouds pass by. This is the place from where you get the best view of Kurseong town. On a clear day, you get magnificent views of Kanchenjunga and that of the sunset.
And you are actually soaking in the view while standing amidst vast and sprawling tea garden called Gauri Shankar Tea Garden in Naya Basty area which is part of the famous Castleton Group. There are not many places in the hills today where you can be right in the middle of a picturesque tea garden, but Hanuman Tok gives you that great opportunity. The view of the tea gardens all around is simply awesome. If you come during the tea plucking season, you can also sea local women plucking tea at the gardens around you.
The road comes up through the tea gardens and at Hanuman Tok takes a sharp turn and continues further up. If you continue along this road, you will reach Dowhill which I have described in the sections below.
Eagle's Crag
This is a lovely view point with a wonderful flowering garden on top of a hill. You can actually take the narrow lane next to Kurseong station and walk up to Eagle's Crag. It will take about 25 minutes of walk. The viewpoint and the parkland are located at the end of the road which is the highest point on this mountain. A concrete stairway leads up to the garden above. There is a ticket counter on top of the stairway to the right.
Stairway at the entry of Eagle's Crag
There are large models of Dinosaurs placed on the garden. The garden is full of hedges and flowering plantations. There is also a Watchtower on one side of the garden. There is a spiral stairway and you can climb up to the observation deck of the watchtower. The views of the mountains on the and also that of the lower plains from here is awesome. You need a clear day though to get great views. This place is also locally known as Suicide Point because of a suicide case that took place here years back.
Watchtower at Eagle's Crag Kurseong
There is a concrete altar here and a Khukri (traditional Nepali knife) placed on it. It serves as a monument which was constructed by the erstwhile DGHC (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council) in memory of the Gorkhas who lost their lives in 1988 agitation in the hills.
A large water reservoir here supplies water to Kurseong town. Eagle's Crag has always been a favorite place for the local young couples. Being on top of a hill and a bit isolated, this place offers a nice romantic ambience. Eagle's Crag is open on all days from morning till sunset. There is an entry fee of Rs. 10/- per person.
Margaret's Deck
This is a wonderful Tea Lounge located 8.5kms ahead of Kurseong market (20-minute driving distance away) on Hill Cart Road (NH-110) that leads to Darjeeling. So this is not only a place to visit for those staying at Kurseong, the Tea Lounge can be a great pit stop for those heading towards Darjeeling.
Margaret's Deck, Kurseong (on Hill Cart Road)
(Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki, cc by-sa 4.0)
The entry is right on the Hill Cart Road. The tea lounge is owned and operated by Goodricke and is part of the Goodricke Tea Pot chain of tea lounges. The tea lounge overlooks the beautiful Margaret's Hope tea garden which also belongs to Goodricke.
While there is inside seating, you should try to get a table on the roof-covered alfresco deck at the end... this is where everybody wants to be seated and it's not easy to get a table here particularly during the high season. From here you get sweeping views of the Margaret's Hope tea garden on the slopes of the mountains, the beautiful valley and the misty nature all around. Sipping a cup of tea while experiencing the views from the deck is a heavenly experience.
The view deck
(Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki, cc by-sa 4.0)
Having said that, the inside seating is quite nice as well. The interior is air-conditioned and wood finished. There is an elaborate tea menu which you can enjoy, and all the tea leaves used here belong to the various gardens of Goodricke including the Margaret's Hope where it's located as well as Castleton which too is located in Kurseong. You can savor first, second and other flushes of Darjeeling tea.
(Photo: Margaret's Deck Management)
The prices may seem to be slightly on the higher side... a small (single) pot of Badamtam Estate's first flush Darjeeling tea is Rs. 300, Castleton Olong tea is Rs. 280, while Castleton Muscatel is Rs. 525. There are also large (double) pots. You can also buy packets of tea from the counter.
(Photo: Margaret's Deck Management)
There are also nice snack items to complement the tea, such as English scones, chicken sausage rolls, chicken & mushroom quiche, wallnut cakes, smoked chicken sausages etc. Compared to the prices, the portions may appear to be little small, the but the food quality and service is excellent.
For complete information including menu and experience, go through
Margaret's Deck.
Dow Hill, Kurseong
Kurseong is spread across several hills. Dow Hill is one of them. A large section of the hill is covered with dense forest and the locals will vouch on the fact that there are leopards in the forest. While no lives have been lost, the leopards seem to be targeting the sheeps and goats.
While going past Kurseong Railway Station along Hill Cart Road (NH-110) towards Darjeeling, shortly after the railway station a sharp right turn to a narrow and steep uphill road leads to Dowhill. The hill is famous for its many attractions including forest school, forest museum, excellent views, historic schools, parklands etc. Some of the top attractions of Dow hill are described below.
Dow Hill School (for Girls)
This is a heritage boarding school on Dow Hill with a lovely colonial architecture. It came up during the British era when Governor Sir Ashley Eden had set up this school in 1879 for children of government officers. Initially it was a small school for boys only. Later the boys section was shifted to Victoria School and it became a girls school.
However, boys continue to study at this school up to Class III after which they need to move to Victoria School for studying in higher classes. Apart from its attractive architecture, the school is also located in a scenic setting with wonderful view of the Himalayan range and surrounded by lush forests and vegetation. The school runs under the state government and offers a good standard of education.
Victoria Boys School, Dow Hill
The road continues through the forest and goes past the main entry gate of Victoria Boys School. The boys school in Dow Hill was also set up during the British colonial time. Very well known for its high standard of education and run under the state government, the school has both boarding and day students. Currently there are about 350 students in the school out of which about 200 are boarders.
One of the great features of the school is its large play fields for the students. The play field at the lower level is the largest in Kurseong. There is a chapel in Victoria School premises just next to the entrance... it's known as St. Angeles Church. It has been lying closed for many years, a clear indication of the fact that there are hardly any Christian students or staff left in the school who require services of the church.
Note that Victoria School no longer allows visitors to go inside the main gate and enter the school premises. This decision was taken after a few unruly drunken young men entered the school premises and made a racket while continuing to drink sitting near the school church.
Forest School & Rangers College
Soon after the Victoria School and after a turning you can see the West Bengal Forest School (Dowhill). Candidates after finishing their course here get qualified to become Beat Officers in forests, sanctuaries or national parks administered under the Forest Department. This school was established in 1907.
Candidates studying in the forest school stay in a hostel located next to the school building.
Main hostel of the Forest School (Dowhill)
As a general information, each forest is divided into Ranges each of which has a Forest Range Officer (FRO). Each range in a forest is divided into Beats, each of which is overseen by a Beat Officer.
There is a separate college in Kurseong for Rangers... it's known as Eastern Forest Rangers College which is located 4kms from Kurseong town towards Darjeeling... from the Hill Cart Road (NH-110), you will need to take a right into a 1km long approach road on St. Mary's Hill. The college is located at the premises of St. Mary's Hill Church overlooking the Kanchenjunga massif. Although not in Dowhill, you can easily visit this college while in Kurseong... you will be awestruck by the imposing British colonial Main Building.
The Eastern Forest Rangers College in Kurseong was established in 1974 and is the only institute under Government of India which is exclusively a Rangers' College. Candidates from all over the country come here to become Forest Range Officers (FROs). The entire campus spreads across an area of about 32 acres.
There are 121 rooms in the institute in total including the office, conference hall, gymnasium, class rooms, parlor, officers' lounge, library, museum, auditorium, laboratories, hostel, toilets, dining hall and kitchen. The intake capacity of the Eastern Forest Rangers College is 50 per year at present.
Dowhill Forest Museum
Next to the West Bengal Forest Training School in Dowhill is the Forest Museum. Formally known as West Bengal Forest School Museum, it's a large two-storeyed museum in Dow Hill that stores many exhibits of flora and fauna of the region. It has been recently renovated and restored. If you want to know about the plantations as well as animal life of Dowhil and Kurseong as a whole, there is no better place to go.
There is a stairway from the road that leads up to the museum building. Alternatively, you can go further along the road and take the main entry to the museum campus. There is a nice lawn in front which is fringed by tall trees and dense forests. A paved pathway through the lawn leads to the museum building.
So, what can you see inside? As you enter the building and take the ground floor corridor to the right, the first sight is that of large collection of cut outs of various types of tree trunks that are all labeled and preserved. You can immediately get an idea about the vegetation in the area.
In the rooms of the ground floor, there are numerous collections and samples from the forests that are kept in glass cases as well as on tables. There are also many wooden artifacts and exhibits here.
There is a stairway that leads to the rooms upstairs where you can see many large life-like models of animals such as tigers, leopards and lot more that have been found in the forests of the region. There are also a number of preserved animal heads (such as buffalo heads, heads of different kinds of deers, etc) and animal skins (such as that of tigers and leopards) that are hung up on the walls.
The museum is open daily, but they do not maintain fixed open hours (usually open during the day time). There is no entry fee, but after having visited the museum you will be asked to make an entry into a register with your name and other details. There is no public facility including any washrooms in the museum.
Photography and videography inside the museum is prohibited, but doesn't seem to be strictly implemented although there are a number of CCTV cameras installed in the exhibition rooms and corridors inside.
Dow Hill Water Reservoir
There is a large reservoir in Dowhill where rain water is stored. It is located very close to Dowhill Forest School and the Museum (easy walk of 160 meters) and is also known as Durpin Water Reservoir. It acts as a water source to many areas of Kurseong sub-division. The reservoir has a capacity of 27 Million Liter and was inaugurated in November 2002 by the erstwhile Executive Councilor of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.
The setting here is picturesque. The reservoir is surrounded by lush pine and coniferous trees. There is also a picnic area here at an elevated level offering a nice view of the water and surrounding forests.
Note that the entrance to the reservoir is through an unassuming iron gate. It's difficult to make out that you are actually approaching such a large water body.
Dow Hill Forest Rest House
Close to the Forest Museum in Dow Hill is the Forest Rest House. You can book this rest house through the forest department in Kurseong and stay amidst the nature and surrounded by dense Dhupi forest ... all you can hear is the chirping of the birds.
There is a lovely garden at the rest house with flowering plantations, pine trees etc.
Dowhill Eco Park
Dowhill Eco Park is located on top of Dow Hill and about 4.3kms away from Kurseong Railway Station or the main market area. It's in fact located only 750 meters ahead of Dowhill Forest Museum.
The fenced park is nice and usually a quiet place. There are hedge, pines and other different kinds of plantations. There is a gazebo in the park where you can sit and relax. There is also a small children playground with swings and slides. The park is maintained by the Kurseong Forest Division.
Earlier this park was known as Deer Park since you could see deers here. However with deforestation, such sights are now rare and hence the change in name. In the adjacent forest area you can still see some deers. But venturing into the forest is not allowed, you can only try to cite the deers from within the fenced area.
The park is open from 10am to 4pm. Closed on Thursdays. An entry fee of Rs. 10 needs to be paid to enter the park. There is no ticket counter at the entry. A lady in the small roadside tea stall located right opposite the entry gate collects the entry fee. Smoking or drinking inside the park is prohibited.
Nirvana Tea Lounge
Shortly after Dowhill Eco Park, the road bifurcates. The one to the left comes down back near Dow Hill School (for Girls) and then goes further down to meet with Hill Cart Road (NH-110). The road straight ahead continues and in 1km gets to Nirvana Retreat. While the retreat is a privately run upscale lodge, right across the road and at the corner is the impressive Nirvana Tea Lounge which belongs to Nirvana Retreat.
This is a pretty glass covered tea lounge and has a lovely lawn in front with beautiful view of the nature and the Himalayan range. They have both outdoor and indoor seating.
It's a perfect place to relax and try out high quality Darjeeling tea including First Flush or Second Flush Darjeeling black, green, white or oolong tea... they mostly offer tea from Singell Tea Garden and sometimes from Castleton. They also offer tea with many floral combinations and herbs such as Jasmine tea, Tulsi Green tea, Passion fruit tea, and various others which have unique aroma and flavors.
You can also get vanilla tea, lemon tea, coffee, rose oolong tea, masala tea (black), chocolate tea, etc. The Tea Lounge also offers snacks such as fish fry, potato crispy fry, drums of heaven, etc.
Being part of Nirvana Retreat, this is an upscale tea lounge which is manned by smart and well trained staff. Dorje, a friendly young Nepali man is in charge of the tea lounge and will explain the health benefits of the tea with various herbs and floral combinations. However, a cup of tea here is not cheap by any means... for example I tried Singell 2nd Flush at a price of Rs. 95/- a cup... but it was excellent.
They also sell loose tea here in packets. I paid Rs. 375 for a 100gms packet of Singell Second Flush Darjeeling tea. You can sample any tea of your choice before buying... they have tiny glasses for sampling tea. The Tea Lounge has a great washroom facility at the backside, just ask the staff at the counter.
Chimney Heritage Park
The road from Nirvana Retreat/ Tea Lounge continues and in 3.5 kms you will come to Chimney Heritage Park whose central feature is an old red Chimney that was made with brick and mortar. The chimney was once part of a British bungalow built during the colonial days. The bungalow has been fully worn down by weather elements but the chimney continues to exist to tell many stories of the past.
The chimney has been restored and a wonderful park has been created around it with many flowering plantations including different types of Orchids, Rhododendrons and lot more. There are paved pathways in the park to stroll around, gazebos and sitting benches to soak in the views including that of the Himalayan range.
The surrounding village has acquired its name from this chimney and is known as
Chimney Village. It is believed that the famous naturalist JD Hooker on his way from Kurseong to Darjeeling on horse-back journey, stayed in the erstwhile bungalow here overnight in April 1848. The British soldiers also used this bungalow for rests and to avoid exposure to cold weather at nights while the chimney served like a fireplace.
On the opposite side of the garden there is a walkway through the forest and you can reach out to a wonderful viewpoint. On a clear day, you can get great views of Kanchenjung as well as the Siliguri plains.
Chimney Heritage Park is open from 10am to 4pm daily (closed on Thursdays). There is an entry fee of Rs. 10/- per person. Across the road, you will find a small eatery selling momos, chowmein, fried rice, cold drinks, tea, coffee etc.
Chimney Strawberries Garden & Park (IOF)
Only 600 meters ahead of Chimney Heritage Park (2-3 minute drive) and located on upper Chimney on Baghora Road, you can find this relatively new organic farm. The farm is spread over an area of 5500 sq. ft. It is owned and managed by Mr. Alok Pradhan, a local of Kurseong. There is a nominal entry fee. Other than strawberries, you can also see blackberries, passion fruits and other vegetables, all produced organically.
This is a nice place for photography, watching organic berries shelf harvesting, enjoying the natural environment around, gathering knowledge on organic farming, and of course relishing fresh strawberries juice. There is a place to relax as well as a dry picnic spot in the compound.
While the farm products are sold in the local market, you can also buy some of these from the farm itself... such as fresh organic strawberries, juice, pickles, jams, dry milk churpi and even Darjeeling tea.
Bagora Air Force Viewpoint
The road continues from Chimney Heritage Park, passes by the Chimney Village, and then through a dense forest, and then gets to a 'T' junction where you need to take left (the road on the right shortly reaches a dead end), and finally comes to a junction of several roads at the Bagora Village (about 3.5kms from Chimney).
Turn right, the road bifurcates here, keep to your right and stay on the road that goes up towards the Air Force station. In another 1 km, the viewpoint will be on your left... it's a small circular concrete platform with a roof cover. There are benches within and outside this structure where you can sit and enjoy the views.
On a clear day you get magnificent view of Kanchenjunga snow peaks from here. Look below and you can see the river Teesta meandering through the valley... an awesome sight. Some argue that this is one of the best viewpoints in the whole of Darjeeling district for watching Kanchenjunga range.
You will need to turn back from here because shortly ahead when you take an uphill right turn, you will reach the entry to the Indian Air Force Station and they do not allow the public to enter the Air Force station.
Bagora Pine Forest - Watch The Video
While returning, from the Bagora market area take the road towards the settlement Dilaram on Hill Cart Road. The road goes through dense forest of pine, dhupi and oaks. Before reaching Dilaram, there is a spot on the left where a forest trail leads to a dense pine forest. Walk down the trail and get into the pine forest... this is a forest which has some of the oldest pine trees of the region.
Views of the tall pine trees here is magnificent... the trunks of the trees have created a series of rows making the forest look so mystic. Look up and you will be awed by the sight of tree-tops having formed lovely canopies. It's a great photo opportunity.
You will soon reach Dilaram where you need to take a left turn on Hill Cart Road to get back to Kurseong town which is 10kms away from Dilaram (will take 25 minutes). This completes a full circuit through Dowhill.
Giddapahar Viewpoint
Another hill in Kurseong is Giddapahar. This viewpoint is located 3.5 kilometers from Kurseong town along Hill Cart Road (NH-110) towards Siliguri and takes about 10 minutes by car. The viewpoint is accessible by stairway that goes up from the roadside. You will need to enter through a gate and then climb the stairs.
The view of the mountains, the snow peaks (including Kanchenjunga) and the valley is simply awesome. However it should be a clear day to get good views. You can also see the Castleton Tea Gardens from here.
If you look down towards the Hill Cart Road below, you can see the road winding down with the toy train track running alongside. Giddapahar viewpoint is open daily during the day time and there is no entry fee. You can park the car by the road side.
Hill Cart Road and the Toy Train Track
Giddapahar Seti Mata Temple
This is a Hindu temple of goddess Durga. The idol is an ancient carved stone. The temple can be accessed by a stairway from the Hill Cart Road and is located at a slightly higher level from the road. It's considered very sacred and quite popular with the locals.
Seti Mata Temple
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Museum
This museum is located in Giddapahar area. It was originally a private house purchased in 1922 by Sarat Chandra Bose, the writer and veteran freedom fighter. Later between 1933 to 1935 Sarat Chandra and subsequently Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose were kept here by the British under house captivity.
With lush greenery and gardens all around, the atmosphere is tranquil and serene. It has been now converted into a museum. You can see many original furniture used by Netaji including bed, chairs, tables etc. This is where Subhash Chandra Bose wrote his speech which he delivered as the president of Haripura Congress in 1938. The museum also stores many articles, letters and artifacts that reflect the story of the leader.
The museum is also known as Netaji Institute for Asian Studies where research and studies are conducted on Himalayan languages, society and culture. The museum is open daily. There is no admission fee. You will be required to take off your shoes before entering the museum. No photography is allowed inside.
Ambootia Tea Estate
This is a sprawling tea estate with lovely gardens on the mountain slopes that produce black, green, white Darjeeling teas. It's located about 10kms below the Kurseong town and takes about 35 minutes to reach by car. This is usually not a part of standard sightseeing tour. You will need to pay extra to the driver to get there, but it's worth the money.
The estate spans across an area of 350 hectares and employs over 900 workers. It has been operating since the British time of 1850s. You can get wonderful view of Kurseong township from the tea garden.
Ambootia Shiv Temple
Further down from the tea estate and along steep dirt road through the forested area you will reach the famous and one of the most revered temples. It takes another 20 minutes or so. It feels like a long bumpy ride on a treacherous road. This is a Hindu temple of Lord Shiva.
The idol (i.e. the Shiv Linga) is an old dead trunk of a tree. While the temple has many devotees who are mostly garden workers families, the driver mentioned that this temple is a wish fulfilling temple and one who offers prayers, gets blessings of Lord Shiva that helps solve one's problems in life.
Another strange phenomenon... the priest of the temple mentioned to me that although the idol is a dead trunk, it keeps growing with time. And he himself has seen it becoming taller since his childhood. Locals firmly believe that too. So that makes the temple very special where the god (i.e. Lord Shiva) is sitting live.
Ambootia Temple - Priest and the Idol of Lord Shiva
Makaibari Tea Estate
This is one of the most famous tea estates in Darjeeling district. It's located 3kms from Kurseong town and on Makaibari road. This is one of the oldest tea estates in the district producing some of the finest tea varieties and also one of the first to set up a tea processing factory. The former owner Rajah Banerji was also the first in the area to introduce organic farming.
With his support, the tea garden workers and their families have extended their homes and now offer homestays to tourists. This is an excellent opportunity to experience tea garden life and the local village culture of Kurseong. You can visit the factory, villages and also the tea gardens around.
Castleton Tea Factory & Estate
This tea estate is owned by the Goodricke Group and is one of the most well known ones that produces fine black, green and white Darjeeling tea from authentic Chinese bushes. The estate was set up by Dr. Charles Graham in 1885. It spans over an area of about 170 hectares. The factory gate is near Kurseong town and on Pankhabari Road. You can visit the factory and observe tea processing.
While you can get a panoramic view of the Castleton Tea Gardens from Giddapahar Viewpoint as discussed in an earlier section, you can also ask for permission from the sentry at the gate or the manager at the factory, walk past the factory along the pathway, and get nice view of the tea gardens.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum
This is one of the three DHR museums of Darjeeling district which is located in Kurseong station premises. You will need to first visit the station office and buy the entry ticket. A staff will then come with the keys and open the museum room next to the platform. It's all yours then. What do you see in the DHR museum in Kurseong?
The museum houses many treasures, historical artifacts and exhibits of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, how the toy train was created to overcome the steep mountain gradients, pictures of the loops & engines, and parts of the original rails as well as machinery and accessories used to set up the tracks. For more information about the museum, visit
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum
Ride the Toy Train
You can visit Darjeeling by taking a toy train ride from Kurseong station. There is a daily train between Kurseong and Darjeeling that leaves in the afternoon. It takes 2 hours 45 minutes to reach Darjeeling.
You can take the train one way and use a taxi while returning if you want to get back on the same day. It only takes little over an hour by taxi between Darjeeling and Kurseong. For Toy Train schedule, train numbers etc, check
Toy Train Service and refer to the section under 'Passenger Toy Train Services'.
Trekking in Kurseong area
There are some lovely trekking trails in Kurseong areas through forests and lush vegetation on the slope of the mountains. You can explore the nature, its flora and fauna and also several almost unnamed villages and their people & culture. For more information visit
Trekking in Kurseong area
How to take a local sightseeing tour in Kurseong
There are plenty of local taxis available at the stand near the railway station and all of them will be willing to take you around for local sightseeing tours. There are half day (4 hours) and full day (8 hours) local sightseeing tours depending on what you want to cover. Your hotel can also arrange for a vehicle.
(Fare updated: March 2022)
If you want to visit some of the nearby places that are within 3-4kms radius from the taxi stand, a half day sightseeing fare on a private small taxi would cost around Rs. 2,500, while a full day sightseeing in Kurseong will cost around Rs. 4,000. Talk to a couple of local drivers before you finalize one ... the rates vary and some can and do ask for too much.
Recently, a private tour operator has also started operating shared taxi for local tours in Kurseong that operates on a per person rate. This is a great option for budget travelers. They cover sites such as a tea garden, Woodcut Sepoydhura, Bagora Pine Trail, Chimney Heritage Park, Chimney Viewpoint, Dowhill, Naya Basti Monastery, Rock Garden and Subhash Chandra Bose Museum. The cost is Rs. 700 - 800 per person. Tour starts at 10am and ends at 5pm. Pickup and drop at Kurseong Railway Station. There will be 6 - 7 persons in the car which is usually a Tata Sumo or a similar vehicle. Contact: 096477 81955.
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Visitors' Reviews/Comments
Rupshali (June 2022)
Hi. We are planning to visit Darjeeling during October. Since we have less days we decided to visit Kurseong for a few hours on our way back to NJP. Is it possible? What are the points that are recommended to visit in case of Kurseong in such a small time?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) June 2022
In a few hours, you can visit the following sites in Kurseong...Eagles Crag (a nice manicured hilltop garden with a watchtower for views), Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Museum on Giddapahar, and Hanuman Tok... a hilltop large statue of Lord Hanuman with a small temple nestled in sprawling Castleton Tea Garden fringed with pines... on a clear day, you get a wonderful view of entire Kurseong town and the mountains around.
Neha (September 2021)
Hi, we are planning to spend couple of hours in Kurseong on our way to Darjeeling from NJP. Any suggestions?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) September 2021
Hi, you can visit Eagle's Crag (a viewpoint and a garden on a hilltop), and on your way to Darjeeling (around 8kms from Kurseong market area) you can visit Margaret's Deck... a nice Tea Lounge (it has an open deck overlooking the tea gardens and has great views)... you can spend some time at the tea lounge having some fine tea and snacks, and enjoy the views.
Amartya Mukherjee (September 2021)
Hi Raj, Can you tell me whether I can get shared cab from Kurseong to Darjeeling? What is the cost of shared cab per person from Kurseong to Darjeeling one way and from where to get it ? Can you also tell me the cost of sightseeing in Kurseong?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) September 2021
Yes, you can get a shared cab for Darjeeling at the taxi stand near Kurseong station. Shared taxis also come up from Siliguri near the Kurseong station area and pick up passengers for Darjeeling if there are seats available. The shared taxi fare from Kurseong to Darjeeling would be around Rs. 130-150 per person.
The cost of sightseeing in Kurseong will depend on what you want to see and the duration. You need to approach a taxi driver at the stand and work out a half-day/full-day (4hours/ 8hours) tour plan and the cost. If you leave it to the taxi driver to take you around... he will likely choose some sites within a 2-3kms radius and charge you Rs. 1,500/2,500 for a half/full-day tour in a small taxi.
Namrata (September 2021)
Hi, We are in Darjeeling from 22 to 25 sept.. is Tiger hill worth going for a sunrise view in this season? Also is it possible to do from Kurseong, as we have booked hotels in Kurseong.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) September 2021
Hi, you have to be lucky to see the sunrise on a clear sky from Tiger Hill around that time. From Kurseong, it's not quite practical because it will take around 1 hour 20 minutes to reach Tiger Hill and you need to start around 3 am.
Amartya Mukherjee (September 2021)
Are there local taxis available to go to Margarets deck from Kurseong and then come back to Kurseong again? What might be the approximate cost for such a journey?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) September 2021
Yes, you can get a taxi from the stand near the Kurseong station area to get to Margaret's Deck and return. The fare will depend on how long you want to be there... for a 30-45 minutes halt, they can charge Rs. 600-700 although it's only 15 minutes away. Better to take a shared taxi from the stand (will charge Rs. 30-40 per person one-way).
On your return, you can get a shared cab coming down from Darjeeling/Ghum... but you should return by 3 pm, or else you may not get a shared taxi.
Asish Sengupta (August 2018)
Hello, We are going to Kurseong on 18th aug. On 19th we will be going to Sandakphu Phalut.
1.can we come back to Darjeeling on the same day?
2.Keeping in mind that this is monsoon season,apart from cloudy view,are there any risks to visit Sandakphu Phalut?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) August 2018
Day trip to Sandakphu & Phalut from Kurseong is not practical. Plus the last stretch of the journey from Bikheybhanjan up to Sandakphu can be quite risky during monsoon... vehicles can and do easily skid.
Sumana Nag (March 2018)
Hello Sir, I'm planning to go to Mirik from Kurseong on a day's visit. I will book a private cab. Do you think it'll be possible to go to Mirik and come back in a day? If yes, can you give me an idea of the cab fare and the distance and time please?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2018
Hi, yes it's quite possible. You need to come down to the plains by Rohini Road (now Subash Ghising Marg), go via Simulbari tea gardens and go up the Mirik road. Will take about 2 hours (50kms) one way. Return fare should be around Rs. 2,500 with some time to spend at the lake.
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