Darjeeling is internationally famous for its tea industry and the Darjeeling Himalayan
Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tea plantations date back to the mid
19th century as part of a British development of the area. The tea growers of the area
developed distinctive hybrids of black tea and fermenting techniques, with many
blends considered among the world's finest. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
connecting the town with the plains was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999 and
is one of the few steam engines still in service in India.
Darjeeling has several British-style public schools, which attract students from many
parts of India and neighbouring countries. The town, along with neighbouring
Kalimpong was a major centre for the demand of a separate Gorkhaland state in the
1980s, though the separatist movement has gradually decreased over the past
decade due to the setting up of an autonomous hill council. In recent years the
town's fragile ecology is threatened by a rising demand for environmental resources,
stemming from growing tourist traffic and poorly planned urbanisation.
The history of Darjeeling is intertwined with that of Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and
Bengal. Until the early 19th century, the area around Darjeeling was ruled
intermittently by the kingdoms of Nepal and Sikkim, with settlement consisting of a
few villages of Lepcha woodspeople. In 1828, a delegation of British East India
Company officials on their way to Sikkim stayed in Darjeeling and decided that the
region was a suitable site for a sanitarium for British soldiers. The Company
negotiated a lease of the area from the Chogyal of Sikkim in 1835. Arthur Campbell,
a surgeon with the Company and Lieutenant Napier (later Lord Napier of Magdala)
were given the responsibility to found a hill station there.
The British established experimental tea plantations in Darjeeling in 1841. The
success of these experiments led to the development of tea estates all around the
town in the second half of the 19th century. Darjeeling was annexed by the British
Indian Empire a few years after an incident of discord between Sikkim and the
Company in 1849. During this time immigrants, mainly from Nepal, were recruited to
work at construction sites, tea gardens, and on other agriculture-related projects.
Scottish missionaries undertook the construction of schools and welfare centres for
the British residents, laying the foundation for Darjeeling's high reputation as a
centre of education. The opening of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in 1881
hastened the development of the region. In 1898, Darjeeling was rocked by a major
earthquake (known as the "Darjeeling disaster") that caused severe damage to the
town and the native population.
Under British rule, the Darjeeling area was initially a "Non-Regulation District" (a
scheme of administration applicable to economically less advanced districts in the
British Raj) — acts and regulations of the British Raj did not automatically apply to
the district in line with rest of the country. As a consequence of the 1905 Partition of
Bengal, the area came under the jurisdiction of the Rajshahi division and was
placed in the newly created province of East Bengal and Assam. Later in 1919, the
area was declared a "backward tract". Darjeeling's elite residents were the British
ruling class of the time, who visited Darjeeling every summer. An increasing number
of well-to-do Indian residents of Kolkata (then Calcutta), affluent Maharajas of
princely states and land-owning zamindars also began visiting Darjeeling. The town
continued to grow as a tourist destination, becoming known as the "Queen of the
Hills". The town did not see any significant political activity during the freedom
struggle of India owing to its remote location and small population. However, there
was a failed assassination attempt by revolutionaries on Sir John Anderson, the
Governor of Bengal in the 1930s.
PLACE TO VISIT
Tiger Hill - is the summit of Ghoom, the highest railway station on the Darjeeling
Himalayan Railway – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for spectacular
sunrise show over the Himalaya. Leveling out at 8500 feet, Tiger Hill is the highest
hill in the immediate surroundings. It is 11 km from town of Darjeeling and can be
reached either by jeep or by foot through Chowrasta, Alubari (incidentally the oldest
tea plantation in Darjeeling) Jore Bungla and then the incline up to the summit,
which takes about than 2 hours on an easy gait.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park - is the zoological park
in the town of Darjeeling . The zoo is at an average elevation of 2133.5 m. It
specializes in breeding animals adapted to alpine conditions, and has successfully
captive breeding the Snow leopard and Red panda. The zoo is spread over an area
of 44 hectares and attracts 300,000 visitors every year.
Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center - in Darjeeling is a rehabilitation
centre for the Tibetan refugees in the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region. It was
established in 1 October, 1959. The production of Tibetan handicraft is the centre's
main activity.
Ghum Monastery - is the popular name of the Sampten Choling Monastery
located at Ghum at an elevation of 8,000 feet, 8 km from Darjeeling.
The monastery belongs to the Yellow Sect of Buddhists. There is a 15-feet high
statue of "Coming Buddha" (Maitreya Buddha) in the monastery. It contains images
of Buddha’s disciples, Chenrezi and Chongapa.
Bhutia Busty monastery - or Karmaa Dorjee Chyoling monastery is a
Buddhist monastery located in Darjeeling, India. It belongs to the Red Sect of
Buddhist Lamas. Originally a branch of the Nygmapa sect's Phodang Monastery in
Sikkim, it was transferred to Darjeeling in 1879. The original location was on the
Obsevatory Hill
Mag-Dhog Yolmowa Monastery - is a Buddhist monastery in the town of
Darjeeling. The monastery is also known as "Aloobari" monastery after the locality it
is located in. The monastery was built under the supervision of Sri Sangay Lama, a
highly revered religious head of the Yolmowas- a small ethnic group hailing from
north-east of Nepal and later settled in Darjeeling.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - The nearest airport is Bagdogra (near Siliguri, 96 km away from
Darjeeling.)
* 9W-602 Bagdogra-Delhi 14:25 16:40 Everyday
* 9W-617 Calcutta-Bagdogra 11:10 12:10 Mon, Tues, Sat
* 9W-618 Bagdogra-Calcutta 12:40 13:40 Mon, Tues, Sat
* Air Deccan also runs budget flights to and from Bagdogra from Delhi and Calcutta.
By taxi/share jeep - Siliguri is the nearest town. Ample transport is available
to Darjeeling from here. The most popular modes of transport are taxi (usually
shared by three to four passengers), share jeep (ten passengers).
However a Taxi from Siliguri will not take you out for sight seeing once on the hills/or
in the Darjeeling town ship. It is advisable to take a one way taxi from Siliguri into
Darjeeling, and book a Taxi within Darjeeling for sight seeing and your journey back
to Siliguri. Taxi-fares are standard, and are generally affixed on the rear wind shield
of the vehicle.
Share jeeps depart regularly, from several locations around town. They leave when
full, and are a cheap, fast and reasonably comfortable way to get to Darjeeling.
By bus - There is a regular bus service from Silguri to Darjeeling. However, they
are quite slow due to the steep, twisty climb up to Darjeeling. Share jeeps are
almost as cheap, and faster.
By train - New Jalpaiguri (NJP) near Siliguri is the nearest station on the main
inter-city line. Direct trains to NJP run from Delhi (approx 27 hours) several times a
day. From there, the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, known to all as the 'Toy
Train' completes the journey to Darjeeling. This route is very popular with tourists as
it passes through some very picturesque mountain scenery and has been the
subject of many romantic articles. The line has a series of zig zags and loops to gain
height and runs straight up several village main streets! Trains depart NLP at 9 a.m.
and arrive in Darjeeling at 3:30. Now the train is diesel hauled is reasonably reliable
and punctual.
