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This is the first time I'm going to Darjeeling. I have a thought of planning our 5 days tour.
1st day: We'll reach our hotel by 12pm. Then after freshening up will go to mall and visit the mahakal temple.
2nd day: One day trip to Pelling (if this is possible?)
3rd day: 3 point tour in the morning,toy train and then 7 point tour in afternoon
4th day: Lepchajagat and lamahatta
5th day: Start early for Mirik, then drop in NJP by 6:30pm
Do I need to make any changes? Or is this plan possible to be executed. We're staying from 11th May to 15th May.
Pritama Dutta (April 2022)
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Hello, a day trip to Pelling from Darjeeling is not quite practical... one-way drive will take over 3 hours (via Jamuney/Jorethang)... you won't have much time left for local sightseeing at Pelling. Instead, you can consider visiting Char Dham at Namchi...about 2 hours 15 minutes one-way via Jamuney/Jorethang. The rest of the plan is doable.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) April 2022
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Hi, thank you for the information.
I have two more queries:
1. How much time do we need to visit Lepchajagat and Lamahatta, I mean is it possible to include any other attractions on that day?
2 . From where can I book or check the toy train timings?
Pritama Dutta (April 2022)
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From Darjeeling up to Ghum, the route is common, and from there Lepchajagat and Lamahatta are in two different directions. There is nothing much to see at Lapchajagat on a day trip other than forests of pine, oaks and rhododendrons, and the view of Kanchenjunga. You can go further ahead by 5kms to Jorpokhri... it's a scenic place with a nice pond and great views.
For toy train, go through the following link to know how to book: How to book Darjeeling toy train.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) April 2022
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Hi Raj, planning to visit Sandakhfu in Sept 3rd week. Is it a good time. 2-night stay, first in Tumling and then second in Sandakhfu. We have two plans, please suggest which will be easy and safe. 1) we want to start early morning from Tumling and the same day we want to go straight to Falut and spend some time before coming back to the hotel in Sandakhfu or 2) from Tumling straight to Sandakhfu and stay and next morning after breakfast we will go to Falut and after spending some time there return back to Manebhanjan and stay. Actually we want to stay 2 nights in Tumling/Sandakhfu, 1 night in Manebhanjan and 1 night in Darjeeling.
Kumaresh (April 2022)
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Hi, in the hills of Darjeeling, often the monsoon extends till the end of September, so expect rains. You can do either of the two plans, but note that there is only a single and basic GTA lodge at Phalut and no other accommodation, while Sandakphu has several hotels and better amenities (although water scarcity exists). Manebhanjan is a congested and noisy little township full of vehicles... there is no need to plan an overnight stay there unless you have your own reasons to do so.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) April 2022
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Hello Raj.
This is Kishore from Chennai. I'm planning for a workation for one week in Darjeeling. Thanks a ton to your contribution on your website which helped me a lot in planning my itinerary. Let me share my itinerary and pls advise if any changes are required.
My work schedule is hectic till 12 or 12:30PM. After that I'm more flexible to roam around. So keeping that in mind, I have planned the itinerary in such a way that I can visit places post lunch. My place of stay for the entire week is Smriya Homestay(near Happy Valley Tea Estate)
I'm so fond of travelling in trains and these heritage trains fascinates me a lot. So my mode of travel to and from Darjeeling is through the DHR. I also love riding motorbikes. So planning to hire them whenever necessary instead of travelling in a cab or taxi.
June 19th 2022(Sunday)?
- NJP to DJ on board the Toy train. Will be reaching DJ around 6PM(ETA).
- After reaching, leisure around Nehru road for dinner and retire for the day.
June 20th 2022(Monday)?
- 3 Point tour, sans Batasia loop(if that is possible). I had already visited the Batasia loop the
previous day while coming by train. So I can remove that from the 3 Point tour.
- Reach back to the stay for Breakfast.
- After lunch(12:30PM), visit the Happy Valley Tea Garden (45mins to 1hr).
- Walk down to Mall Road. Have contacted a couple of operators for two-wheeler rental. So,
hire a 2-wheeler and visit the Japanese Temple, Peace Pagoda and Tenzing Rock. If
possible will add Ropeway as well.
- Back to Mall road for some leisure.
June 21st 2022(Tuesday)
- Hike the Observatory Hill for Sunrise.
- Visit the Mahakal Temple after sunrise.
- Reach back to stay for breakfast.
- After lunch(1PM), walk down(as it is near to my place of stay) to Himalayan Zoo. Visit all
the 3 places.(Approx 1.5Hrs)
- On the way back(3 to 3:30PM), visit the Shrubbery Nightingale Park.
- No activity planned post 4PM
June 22nd 2022(Wednesday)
- Hire 2-Wheeler and start early to Lepchajagat for Sunrise from their view points.
- Reach back to stay for Breakfast and Lunch.?
- Post lunch, hire a 2-wheeler and visit Rock Garden and Gangamaya Park.
- No activity after Gangamaya park.
June 23rd 2022(Thursday)
- Planning to visit Mirik in half a day. Hire a 2-wheeler, Start around 12PM (Want your comment on travelling in a 2-wheeler to Mirik)
- Visit Simana Viewpoint, Pashupati Market.
- Reach Mirik by 2.30PM.
- Have lunch, leisure around the lake and Dhupi forest.
- Start from Mirik by 4PM.
June 24th 2022(Friday)
- Planning to take a day-off work.
- Day trip to Kalimpong in a 2-wheeler (Want your comment on travelling in a 2-wheeler to Kalimpong)?
June 25th 2022(Saturday)
- Checkout. leave to NJP on board DHR.
Let me know if I have missed any important must visit places, If so I will plan to add them as well in my itinerary. Also please comment on travelling in motor bikes throughout my trip.
Kishore Ram (May 2022)
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Hi, your plan is overall okay. You can organize the 3-point tour through your homestay and tell them that you want to skip Batasia loop... unlikely there will be any difference in cost because the vehicle will pass by Batasia anyway. If it's raining badly (after all you are visiting in the monsoon season), there is no point going for the sunrise. You may not be able to do the ropeway in the second half if you are covering the other attractions.
If you are comfortable driving a 2-wheeler in the mountains, you can take a bike to Mirik and Kalimpong... avoid driving in the dark. It gets dark by 5:30pm. For Kalimpong, take the Peshok road from Jorebungalow and make a stopover at Lamahatta (there is a nice roadside eco-park) and also at Lover's Meet Viewpoint further down to get a view of the confluence of the rivers Teesta and Rangeet... great sight... it's known as Triveni. You can see my photo from the viewpoint (the 2nd one) in this article.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) May 2022
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Hi Raj,
Thank you so much for such a wonderful and informative website on Darjeeling. Your website has been absolutely essential in planning my first ever trip to Darjeeling. I have also purchased your ebook. It's quite invaluable as well! I shall always remain indebted to you.
I will be visiting Darjeeling with my parents, in the middle of November 2022. We will be travelling via train for both the up and down journeys (Darjeeling Mail, Sealdah to NJP). While travelling from NJP to Darjeeling, we have planned to go via Hill Cart road through Kurseong. We are planning to spend a few hours at Kurseong too. After that we have 4 full days in Darjeeling. On the 5th day we will transfer to a homestay in Sittong. Then we have reserved a full day at Sittong itself.
The problem arises during the return from Sittong to NJP. Standard check out time is around 12 noon. If we travel directly back to NJP, then I think we will reach quite early (since the train is in the evening). I was wondering if you can suggest something to do or some place to visit while returning from Sittong, so that we can utilize the extra time.
Are there any sightseeing spots to visit while returning from Sittong? Or even some place to just laze around, enjoy the scenic beauty, have some food, etc? Should we return via the Eastern route (Sevoke Road, Coronation Bridge, etc.)? I will be grateful if you can give me some suggestions. I really don't want to waste a lot of time on the last day, just waiting at the NJP station! Thanks,
Chiranjeeb (August 2022)
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Hi Chiranjeeb,
Here is my suggestion. On the day you arrive at NJP, don't spend time at Kurseong, rather head straight to Darjeeling and enjoy your time there. While returning from Sittong on the last day, come down via Bagora then Dilaram to get on to Hill Cart Road and then come down towards Kurseong... this is the best route to take at present to get down to the plains. In fact, while visiting Sittong from Darjeeling, you will need to take a left turn at Dilaram towards Bagora to approach Sittong. The other road from Sittong towards Birik Dara that leads to Sevoke Road (NH-10) is currently in horrible condition and should be avoided.
In order to get to Kurseong, there is an alternative route from Bagora... ask the driver to take the road towards Chimney village instead of Dilaram (it goes through a forest)... at Chimney village, visit the Chimney Heritage Park, further down, the road leads to Dowhill where you can see Dowhill Deer Park (now Eco Park), Forest Museum, Dowhill Girls School, etc before coming down to Kurseong.
In Kurseong, make a stopover at Kureong Tourist Lodge (on Hill Cart Road) and have your lunch there. After lunch, you can relax in the lobby for a while... it's a nice spacious lobby with windows opening out to the views of Kanchenjunga.
You can then plan to do local sightseeing at Kurseong which you planned on your forward journey... visit Hanuman Tok, Eagles Crag, Netaji Subhash Museum, Tea Gardens, and several other attractions which you will find on my website... you can easily spend 3-4 hours.
If you plan to go down Hill Cart Road to reach NJP, then keep an additional buffer of 2 hours to reach the station because at times there are massive traffic snarls at Darjeeling More, stalling vehicles for a long time.
Good luck!
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) August 2022
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Hello Raj! Hope my text finds you well. I am planning to visit Darjeeling this October from Bangladesh with two of my friends. We will reach Darjeeling on 5th and will leave for Bangladesh on 9th. Therefore, shall have 4 days in hand. we are planning to stay two nights at Darjeeling and two nights at some other place between Kurseong or Kalimping.
Please, help us to decide which would be a better pick between these two. We prefer scenic beauty and quiet environment. Which will be a better pick as per our preference? Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks in advance.
Mushfeqa Toree (September 2022)
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Hello, both Kurseong and Kalimpong are busy towns, Kalimpong more so (it's a district centre) unless you stay on the outskirts of the two. In Kurseong you can get great tea garden views... there are many scenic tea gardens here which Kalimpong lacks. But the view of Kanchenjunga is better in Kalimpong. In Kurseong, you can visit the hilltop viewpoint called Hanuman Tok located among lush tea gardens and several other sightseeing points. You can also make a day trip to Dowhill Forest Museum, Chimney Heritage Park located in Chimney Village and also to the villages of Sittong and see orange orchards, tea gardens, waterfalls, etc. While Kalimpong also has several local sightseeing points, they are more crowded with tourists compared to Kurseong.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) September 2022
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Hello,
I am planning One and half day trip to Darjeeling. I will reach in the late afternoon on 1st October, 2022 from Siliguri and have to leave by 12p.m. on 3rd October for Siliguri.
Day1:1st October,2022- Planning to visit Peace Pagoda, Observatory and Mahakal temple and end the day with Chaurasta.
Day 2: 2nd October,2022- Take the first Joy Ride at 8a.m. and cover the round trip by 10a.m. Visit Zoo, Rock garden, Ghoom monastery, Ropeway, Lamahata Eco Park, Happy valley Tea State
P.S. Can all this be covered on Day 2 or is it too much??
Day 3: 3rd October,2022- Leave for Tiger Hill or Kalimpong Point (whichever you suggest) at 4a.m. so that I am back in the city by 10a.m.
Please suggest if any changes are required and also if any specific order I need to follow for Day 2. Looking forward to your suggestions. Thankyou:)
Nilanjanee (September 2022)
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Hello, Day-2 plan is not practical. You need to drop Lamahatta. Between, Rock Garden and Ropeway, you should prioritise because if one of them takes extra time (which is likely due to the rush time), you may not be able to do the other due to lack of time. You can visit Tiger Hill on Day-3 and from there proceed to Siliguri, assuming you have a reserved car.
On Day-2, the sequence of visits can be Joy Ride - Ropeway - Zoo - Happy Valley Tea Estate - Ghoom Monastery - Rock Garden & Ganga Maya Park. If you want to save some extra time, ask the car to report at the Ghum station when you take the Joy Ride and get off at Ghum instead of doing the reverse journey... you will save about 1 hour. Then visit Ghoom Monastery - Rock Garden & Ganga Maya Park, Ropeway and depending on the time left... Zoo - Happy Valley Tea Estate. You will need to closely keep track of your time.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) September 2022
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Hello Raj,
I want your suggestion on my itinerary. I have been following your website and suggestions for years and it is great to have someone like you who knows the terrain so well.
I am visiting the hills again with my family. My parents are around 60 years old. We are also having one kid who is 5 years old.
My trip itinerary as of now is as below :
day 1 - Reach NJP at 1 30 PM. Travel to Kurseong and night stay there. Hotel is booked.
day 2 - Next morning check out from the hotel and do sightseeing at Kurseong. After lunch from Margaret's Deck . leave for another destination and do sightseeing there. I would want you to suggest what that destination can be?
day 3 - after doing some sightseeing reach Morgan house Kalimpong (room booked).
day 4 - sightseeing of east and west Kalimpong.
day 5 - return to NJP. Train at 3 pm.
Where can we stay at day 2? we have already been to Takdah last year. Can we stay at Lepchajagat on day 2 and then move towards Kalimpong after doing some sightseeing in Lepchajagat e.g Mirik Lake, Gopaldhara tea estate on day 3 morning? Which destination would you suggest for day 2 stay and day 3 morning sightseeing before going towards Kalimpong?
I have considered Chatakpur for stay on day 2 but the road is not good and hence thinking of avoiding that as my parents are around 60 years. where can we stay for a day between Kurseong and Kalimpong and leave for Kalimpong the next day?
I would want to avoid Darjeeling and Takdah as we have already been there last year. Please suggest.
Amartya Mukherjee (February 2023)
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On Day-2, after lunch, you won't have much time left to get to another destination and again do sightseeing there. Margaret's Deck is not a great place for lunch, it's a tea lounge, but it does sell some snacks. You should ideally complete your local sightseeing in Kurseong (there are enough to be seen), have lunch in-between, and then move to a place such as Lepcha Jagat, and on the way, have tea at Margaret's Deck, if you like.
The next morning, you can visit the Jorpokhri Lake (about 6kms away), and then the Simana Viewpoint before returning all the way and moving to Kalimpong... Gopaldhara Tea Estate and Mirik Lake are quite far away and can take a lot of time, but doable if you want to rush it with elderly persons.
Instead of visiting Gopaldahra/Mirik, on the way to Kalimpong, you can stop at Lamahatta on Peshok Road and spend some time at the roadside Eco Garden. In fact, instead of staying at Lepcha Jagat, you can consider staying overnight at a homestay in Lamahatta (which is about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Margaret's Deck). Next morning, stroll around the Eco Garden, and then as you proceed towards Kalimpong, on the way and about 10kms away, stop at the Lover's Meet Viewpoint to watch the wonderful sight of Triveni... the confluence of River Teesta and Rangeet.
Good luck!
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) February 2023
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Hey there, hope you are having a good time. Your blogs helped very much in planning my tour to Darjeeling. We are planning to get there on 20th April with 2 senior citizens. We'd be starting early morning from Siliguri and on the way to Darjeeling, is planning to visit Mirik,Lepchajagat,Lamahatta and Tinchuley. Would that be possible to cover up these places on our way to Darjeeling? And also we are planning to book hotels upon arrival in Darjeeling, is that a good idea to do so?. Hope this reaches you and thanks in advance.
Tanusri (April 2023)
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Hi, you can visit Mirik and Lepchajagat on the way to Darjeeling if you take the Mirik route, but Lamahataa and Tinchuley are on different routes and won't be practical to include. This is a high season, and you won't likely get any good hotels if you land up and try to book one. Tourists book hotels months in advance.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) April 2023
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