JANUARY 2016
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January 2016
Volume 1
Issue I
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NEED A “VOICE” FOR YOUR “EXPERTISE” FOR YOUR “RISE” WE CAN BE THE VOICE REACHING YOUR TARGET...
An All New Travel & Tour Magazine from Siliguri. To Reach Out to Everyone that Matters in this Sector. CONTACT US FOR OUR ATTRATIVE AD RATES
Head Office :
Inspiria Knowledge Campus Himachal Vihar, Phase-II, Matigara, Siliguri - 734010, West Bengal, India.
Contact Us :
contact@isnpiria.edu.in 0353-2571111, +91-8900755550
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Peroidicity: Quarterly Number of pages: 100 pages Print: Digital: Golssy: Colour
EDITOR’S NOTE Extraordinary but untravelled.
“
Explorea… a venture to accustom the unexplored and unidentified places in North Bengal and North-east India.
The whole idea behind this launch is to swim against the flow and bring the unidentified places across North Bengal and North-East India.to the forefront. The motive is to break-through the common trend of visiting common places and encourage travellers to explore the hidden beauty of the region. An initiative to develop tourism for little known and unmapped places in and across this region. An astonishing result is seen on a comparative study done by our team on the places most visited and paces unreached. Unexplored places are found to be equally beautiful but yet facing identity crisis. Our team is inspired and forced to take the lead to work on their recognition and importance. Thus, ‘Explorea’ is an initiative to make the unexplored at par with the explored. This will definitely boost the tourism and will benefit the local natives of the region. It is important to bring these place to the limelight to justify their existence. Hope this launch and initiative will be help in the exposer of the places unexplored.
Atul Gupta Editor-in–chief
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CONTENTS • Cover story
page 14
DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY
• Places most visited
page 20
1. CHOWRASTA • • •
St Andrews Church Gorkha rang Manch Mall Road
2. BATASIA LOOP • •
Yiga Choeling Monastry Druk Sngag Choeling Monastry
3. TIGER HILL • Sinchel Lake • Mata Mandir
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• Places yet unexplored
page 36 2. DHOTRE
1. TEESTA VALLEY
• Places most-visited vs unexplored
page 42
VS
• Tea Garden
page 46
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• Diversity- Flora & fauna
page 52
1. FLORA • PLANTS • FLOWERS 2. FAUNA • ANIMALS • BIRDS
• Place of interest
page 56
1. MIRIK LAKE
2. KALIMPONG - DEOLO
3. KURSEONG - EC
4. SONADA - GROTO
5 .LAMAHATTA
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• Beautiful Landscapes
page 62
• Sports and adventure
page 76
ROPE WAY
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EXPLORING...
DARJEELING “The Himalayan Paradise”
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COVER STORY
Darjeeling- The Beautiful Himalayan heaven
DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY Darjeeling is synonymous with three things – the majestic sight of the snow-capped Kanchenjunga, The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway popularly known as the toy train and its famous tea gardens. Who can think of visiting this enchanting hill station and not take a ride in the historic toy train? Few people reflect on the fact that the toy train has been around long before motor cars came to existence and was the only means of transport to Darjeeling. Today, of course, C explorea.in
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it functions for sight seeing and joy rides and also for its immense heritage value. Indeed, the toy trains feature in exquisitely framed photos on the walls of drawing rooms and hotel lobbies as well in Bollywood popular films. After a massive landslide disrupted its service for nearly five years, the toy train is back in its track again from the 2nd of this month (December 2015). Today, of course, it functions for sight seeing and joy rides and also for its immense heritage value. Indeed, the toy trains feature in exquisitely framed photos on the walls of drawing rooms and hotel lobbies as well in Bollywood popular films. After a massive landslide disrupted its service for nearly five years, the toy train is back in its track again from the 2nd of this month (December 2015).
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) remains as one of the most outstanding feats in hill train transport. Inaugurated in 1881, it is an example of an ingenious technological solution to fulfill the challenge of establishing a rail service in the mountainous terrain of the Darjeeling hills. It is still fully operational and retains most of its original features intact. The DHR is a result of the initiative taken by Franklin Prestage, the agent of Eastern Bengal Railway (EBR), a private company who in 1858 received the contract for construction and management of railway lines along the Hooghly River towards the Eastern and Northern part of Bengal, including a track to Darjeeling. However, the company directors did not wish to construct the line to Darjeeling for two reasons. One, they thought it would not be profitable and two, the daunting task of constructing a rail track up the formidable terrain of the Darjeeling hills. However, Franklin Prestage took up this challenge in his individual capacity. He decided on a two feet rail gauge and formed the Darjeeling Steam Tramway Co., re-named as the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Co. on September 15, 1881.
Gillanders Arbuthnot and Co. supervised the financial, legal and purchasing interests of DHR and of other small railways from its Calcutta office. A manager and engineer were posted at Kurseong and a mechanical superintendent was at Tindharia. The DHR began services in 1880, beginning first with a Siliguri to Kurseong route. Services from Sonada to Ghoom on April 5, 1881, Ghoom (Jorebunglow) to Darjeeling on July 4, 1881, and Kurseong to Sonada began on August 1, 1881. The highlight of the DHR is the Ghoom Station which until recently was the highest rail station in the world and the highest altitude with railway tracks. Other unique features of Because of the steep climb up to Darjeel13 C explorea.in
Today the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This status was accorded in response to a proposal by National Rail Museum (India), the focus of India’s Rail heritage, on 29th June 1998 for inscribing the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) as a World HERITAGE Site. UNESCO’S World Heritage Committee inscribed DHR as a World Heritage Site on 2nd December 1999.
ing, loops and z-reverses are used to ease the climb. Of the five loops originally constructed on the route, only three exist now at Chunbhatti, Tindharia and Batasia on the outskirts of Darjeeling. The loops at Agony Pont (Tindharia) and Batasia offer majestic views and have been the favourite locations of film producers of Mumbai and Kolkata over the years. The Z-reverses are the fascinating aspects of the DHR route. In these reverses, the train halts and reverses on a track going up halts again and moves forward on another uphill track. In this manner, steep climbs are made possible for the toy train. The DHR today is inadvertently linked with the social and economic life of the people of the Darjeeling hills. Small hamlets have grown up surrounding each station from Rongtong to Sonada. The railway has been a source of direct and indirect livelihood to the local people. Besides, it has been and continues to be a chief source of national and international tourist attraction. It brings in memories of old and adds tremendous heritage value. 14 C explorea.in
The DHR has been extensively and regularly featured in national and international media. According to Wikipedia, the BBC made a series of three documentaries dealing with Indian Hill Railways, shown in February 2010. The first film covers the Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway, the second the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and the third the Kalka-Shimla Railway. The films were directed by Tarun Bhartiya, Hugo Smith and Nick Mattingly and produced by Gerry Troyna. The series won the UK Royal Television Society Award in June 2010. Wes Anderson’s film The Darjeeling Limited also showcases three brothers riding the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
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PLACES MOST VISITED Beauty that spreads like a wild fire through the travellers & explorers
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1.Chowrasta & Mall “Chowrasta� is the most popular and loved place in Darjeeling. Even the locals are found strolling around the Chowrasta, enjoying the fresh air with family and friends. At Kaventers people enjoy the fun of licking delicious ice-cream bars in the chilling breeze or sipping tea/coffee which tastes like never before in the presence of the pleasant breeze, realizing that heaven is no different. It is a mid-point for four different famed destinations like Singamari, St. Andrews Church, Gorkha Rangamanch and Shrubbery Nightingale Park. Mal road is the connecting point for all the above four places and is the second heaven for crazy shopaholic people- i.e. from hand- made to best designer woollen apparels and antique pieces are available. Foodies have the option of exploring diversified cuisine.
Pony rides offer another great experience around the Mall road. Darjeeling - is amongst the place that is familiar to one and all worldwide. It is a shining jewel in the north-east region of India. It is very well-known all over the world for the tea and as a tourist spot. The Chowrasta is one of the most important tourist destinations in the hill town of Darjeeling. It is heaven for crazy shopaholic people who come here during vacations for leisure trips. It is the heart of the hill station with the other places around it looking like the nerves extending from the heart. People throng to the area for shopping and have a great time with friends and family. It has a number of food stalls, bookstores and shops selling different kinds of artefacts on the side of the road.
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Other then shopping people can go for a joy ride on ponies here. The young boys of the area offer pony rides to people of all age groups in return for a certain sum of money. Nehru Road is the place where people come to sunbathe and watch the scenery around. A small open space auditorium is here which is used by local bands to perform and enthrall the people and crowd that come to witness it. The Chowrasta and the Mall are located at the top of Nehru Road where people come to sunbathe. The place got the name “Chowrasta� because Chow means four while Rasta means road. This was done because four roads converge and meet at this place. To get the feel of Darjeeling, one needs to visit this place. The area gives a feel of the Victorian age in Darjeeling.
Chowrasta, an ideal spot for the joggers and morning walk.
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ST ANDREWS CHURCH St. Andrews church which stands as a landmark of British tradition is named after the saints of Scotland.
St. Andrew’s Church is one of the most beautiful architectural attractions in Darjeeling. Located in the most attractive spots in the town, the Mall road or Chowrasta it was constructed by the British, during the 18th century. It is one of the oldest and pristine churches in Darjeeling Hills. The foundation stone of this church was laid down on St. Andrew’s Day on November 30th, 1843. It is one of the ‘Gems’ which adds upon the beauty of the place. St. Andrews church which stands as a landmark of British tradition is named after the saints of Scotland, it is an Anglican church. It is one of the engineering marvels which depict the excellent architectural skills of the British. Being one of the most beautiful edifices, it has been admired and praised by the tourists as well as the locals.
The first divine service was held in October 1844. In September 1867, the spire of the building had collapsed as it was struck by a lightening and so all the services were suspended as the shock had rendered the building unsafe and it took several years to reconstruct the damaged building and hence the regular services started off only after 1877. The clock tower with its bell which chimed every hour was built in the year 1883, which was heard all over the town of Darjeeling. The church is able to accommodate the congregation of about 200 persons. 19 C explorea.in
GORKHA RANG MANCH Open-auditorium of the local people for various programmes.
Gorkha Rangamancha is an open auditorium which is used by the local people for various programmes such as drama, musical performances, cultural activities, seminar conferences and also political stunts. It has been beautifully designed and strategically located to enable everyone visiting Darjeeling to take a glimpse of the place and take photographs for memories.
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MAHAKAL MANDIR The Mahakal Mandir holds religious significance both for Hindus and Buddhist living in Darjeeling.
The Mahakal Mandir holds a religious significance both for Hindus and Buddhist living in Darjeeling. The temple is a unique amalgamation of the two most important religions of the region. Legend has it that the place where the temple stands today was once home to a Buddhist Monastery. Besides the main temple, there are other smaller temples dedicated to Gods like Kali, Durga, Ganesh, Hanuman etc. There is also a cave which is considered to be sacred and worshipped by the people. The sound of the Hindu temple bells amidst the fluttering Buddhist flags give a serene and divine atmosphere. The Observatory Hill where the temple stands today is considered to be the very place from where civilization in Darjeeling started. Initially, this was the only place inhabited by people before the population began to spread and took the form of present Darjeeling.
The myth also has it that the place was initially home to a Buddhist monastery and was under the rule of the kingdom of Sikkim. It is believed that the town Darjeeling got its name from the word “ Dorje-Ling� or the Land of the Thunderbolt, a name given by the monks of the monastery. The present day temple is built in the Hindu architecture. It is round in shape with the Shiva-linga placed at the center. Along with the shiva-linga, there are also idols of Buddha. The statue of Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva adorns the entrance of the temple. The main entrance is lined by the Hindu bells and the Buddhist prayer flags. Among all the important festival celebrated here, Siva Ratri is the most important, during this festival people are seen in huge number to offer prayers at Mahakal Temple. Other than Shiv Ratri, many other pujas like Saraswathi Puja, Ganesh Puja, Hanuman Puja, Durga Matha Puja, Buddha Jyanti etc are celebrated with grandeur. The tranquil atmosphere here provides a very spiritual experience.The sound of the Hindu temple bells amidst the fluttering Buddhist flags give a serene and divine atmosphere. 21 C explorea.in
2. Batasia Loop The landscape of hill town and the snow covered eastern Himalayan, Mt. Kanchanjunga is best viewed on the way to Darjeeling via. Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR). The railway track loops around beautifully structured ‘War memorial’ and a garden with beautiful flowers beside railway -line. The grand spectackle of the Kanchanjunga cannot be better viewed from else -where.
The unique feature about this loop is the 360 degree turn the Toy-train takes.
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Batasia loop was made by the British while laying down the railway whereas the beautification and the ‘war memorial is structured around it recently, by the tourism department. While taking a trip to Darjeeling in “The Toy Train” – Batasia Loop is the most beautiful sightseeing in the entire journey. The most specific and unique feature about this loop is the 360 degree turn the Toytrain takes. Many Bollywood and Tollywood movies shoot in this location. The Toy- train is most popularly used in the old Bollywood movies and even in recent Bollywood movies. Batasia loop is mostly used in the Tollywood films. Batasia loop is one of the most visited place on the way to Darjeeling. It is located on Hill Cart Road, N.H.-55(National Highway) which connect Siliguri. The Toy- train is most popularly used in the old Bollywood movies and even in recent Bollywood movies. Batasia loop is mostly used in the Tollywood films.
BATASIA LOOP
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YIGA CHOELING MONASTERY This statue is one of the biggest and oldest statues of Buddha in Darjeeling area.
Yiga Choeling Monastery of Ghoom, built in the year 1850, is one of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Darjeeling. The monastery belongs to the Gelukpa or the Yellow Hat sect and is famous for its 15 feet high special statue of the Maitreya Buddha which is known as ‘The Maitreya Buddha or the Gyalwa Shampa’ which means the Buddha of the future or the Coming Buddha. The external structure of the building was established in 1850 by the famous Mongolian astrologer and monk Sokpo Sherab Gyatso. Since 1850 to 1905 he had administered as the head of the monastery. This statue is one of the biggest and oldest statues of Buddha in Darjeeling area. It was made with clay, which was brought from Tibet. In front of the Buddha’s statue, there are two huge oil lamps that keep burning all the time and all through the year. This 15-foot statue of the Buddha was constructed during the tenure of the second head of the monastery Lama Domo Geshe Rinpoche (1910 – 1952). Inside the Yiga Choeling Monastery, there are images of many Buddha deities and lamas such as the Chenrezig (Avalokitesvara), Buddha of compassion, and Tsongkhapa who was the founder of the Gelupka sect to which the Monastery belongs. There is a large collection of Buddha’s manuscripts inside that includes a 108-volume Kangyur – The Tibetan Buddhist Gospel. There are also bells and a huge drum inside. C explorea.in
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DRUK SANGAG CHOELING MONASTRY The structure is built in the traditional Tibetan style. The building offers a splendid view when one look at it from a distant.
This is one of the largest monasteries located at a place called Dali which is 5 kms away from Darjeeling. It was built during the time of Kyabje Thuksey Rimpoche in 1971.
He was considered a well-known Religious teacher during his time. The monastery belongs to the Kargyupa Sect. it also serves as the headquarters and residence for Drukchen Rinpoche the XII, who is the supreme leader of the kragyuga sect. The structure is built in the traditional Tibetan style. The building offers a splendid view when one looks at it from a distant. The colors used in the walls are bright and bold which depicts the life and teachings of Lord Buddha.
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Currently, there are around 200 monks and disciples from the nearby Himalayan region who live and study in the monastery. A small library containing Buddhist scripture and other literary works on the philosophy of life is present inside.The perfect time to visit the monastery is during early mornings or at the evening when the prayer session is going on. The prayer timings are from 5 am to 6 am and 5 pm to 6.30pm. In 1993, his holiness the Dalai Lama had inaugurated the recent complex of the monastery when he had come for his religious teachings on Buddhism in the region. C explorea.in
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TIGER HILL, DARJEELING 27 C explorea.in
3. Tiger hill Darjeeling is known for its tea and tourism along with the cynic beauty of the area. Tiger Hill is the highest point of Ghoom which is the highest railway station in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tiger Hill is located in Darjeeling, West Bengal. It is about 11kms from Darjeeling town and can be reached either by jeep or foot.
The Golden hour at Tiger Hill during Sunrise
During the sunrise, the first rays of the sun shed light on the twin peaks of the Kanchenjunga painting it pink and then in a beautiful orange colour. From Tiger Hill, Mount Everest is just visible in between the two peaks standing by its side. The distance in a straight line from Tiger Hill to Everest is 107 miles. While on Tiger Hill one can visit Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary which offers great picnic spots and has two artificial lakes which serve as reservoirs for water supply to the town of Darjeeling. In the hills, one simply has to wake up to the stunning sunrises. The first glimpse of the golden horizon makes one’s day.
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TIGER HILL
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The sun plays its true colours behind the mountains and the horizon turns crimson as the sun comes out of the mountains like a perfect yolk. It is relishing to see the sun become stronger as it goes into the sky. Kanchenjunga Hill which stands on the North changes its colour from blue to white to pink to gold.
The mountains look so close that they deceive people. It looks as if the sun is doing its chores for the first time. Tiger Hill is a destination in itself offering not just great views during the sunrise but it’s also a place where one can soak themselves in the Himalayan serenity anytime of the day.
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The lake is a water reservoir for the entire Darjeeling town it is situated in the middle of the Sinchel Wildlife sanctuary. The whole of the area of Tiger hill falls under Sinchel Wildlife Sanctuary
Mata Mandir is the most respected and worshipped place for all the Nepali/Gorkha Hindus all over the globe, actually Mata Mandir is well known as Sinchel Mata Mandir or Sinchel Mandir please correct it. 31
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PLACES YET UNEXPLORED The Heavenly beauty unseen & unreached
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Places of heavenly essence that enchants with its charming vista. Experience the real feeling of wow moments with every breath taken.
TEEATA VALLEY, DURPIN DARA 33 C explorea.in
TEESTA VALLEY DARJEELING 34 C explorea.in
1. Teesta valley Darjeeling known as the queen of hills and a worldwide recognized tourist destination has many corners which are yet unexplored. There remains a number of beautiful tourist destinations which are unreached or rarely visited in Darjeeling.’ Teesta Valley Durpin Dara’ is amongst one of them. It is situated about 25 km away from the township of Darjeeling, and it is an excellent view point.
The river ‘Teesta’ flows through this valley and so the valley is named after the river. It is one of the oldest tea gardens in Darjeeling, established in the year 1841. The tea estates have received gold medals for the production of world’s finest tea.
The serpentine river Teesta flowing from the Himalayas.
Tea gardens around the place are worth visiting, it is one of the most beautiful tea gardens in Darjeeling and attracts visitors by its magnificent scenery in and around it. In between these beautiful green tea gardens, there is a famous Durpin Dara (local lingo) or viewpoint. Views from this place are totally mesmerising, one could easily be fascinated by the panoramic sight of the hills, mountains, forests and enchanting river Teesta in its serpentine form. It stretches from Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and the township of Siliguri can be viewed easily. In order to enhance tourism, some local people have come out with the idea of developing eco-friendly homestay so that the tourists could stay back to relish the beauty of nature.
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2. Dhotre A place for experiencing the real feel of eco-tourism. It is a natural eco-tourism spot. In fact, eco-tourism is the only source of income for the people at Dhotrey. Being a village in the limits of forest region, everything available is natural and the source is nature and not man-made. The food they serve is grown by them and after sunset, there are no means of artificial lighting. It’s the natural moonlight that lights up the place.
Dhotrey is a small village with limited habitats. It is a forest village with 68 small huts within the buffer zone of ‘SINGALILA NATIONAL PARK’. Years back, wooden logs were collected by the Forest Department with a 5km long ropeway. The village was set up during that time. The ropeway was demolished in the mid80s and the village economy suffered. In the mid-90s, an effort was made to develop an eco-tourism/ a village tourism center. It took over five years, for an individual to motivate the villagers to develop tourism. On 9th February 2008, a fire had destroyed 33 huts. Now, the village has been rebuilt with the help of the Forest Department and many volunteers, and with the help of the people in Darjeeling.
Snow fall at Dhotre during winter.
The Buddhist Monastery in that area has been renovated by Rumtek authorities of Sikkim. At present, any nature lover can stay at Dhotrey, in village huts or at the trekker’s hut. Momo and roti are the usual dishes served. Electricity supply is out of reach as it is within the National Park limits. A stroll in the evening in the nearby forest is a great experience where the clouds play hide and seek with us. Dhotrey is a beautiful place in itself.
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VIEW FROM DHOTRE, 37 C explorea.in
PLACES MOST VISITED
Human beings desire to explore the world, even the universe. The strange thing is that the quest of exploring does not quench the thirst for more and more, no matter what. Nature is so rich and diverse around us that innumerable places remain to be discovered and explored.
Darjeeling is a world famous place and a tourist interest destination. Thousands of people visit Darjeeling, every month. They feel they know all about “Darjeeling�. Is it really true that they have explored Darjeeling?
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V/
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PLACES YET UNEXPLORED
The normal trend is to ask a tourist guide for the best itinerary and pay a visit, and they think the place is explored. It’s not true. They are the most popular and most visited place or already explored places and not the unexplored ones.
“Explorea”- will take you through the unexplored places in and around Darjeeling. It’s the jewel of the hills inNorth Bengal and North-East India. Darjeeling is famous worldwide for its natural beauty and its heavenly essence. Let’s compare the explored beauty of Darjeeling with the unexplored beauty in the 39 C explorea.in
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TEA GARDEN, DARJEELING
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TEA GARDEN
Know how the world famous brew ‘Darjeeling Tea’ reach us Tea Gardens These ‘Darjeeling Tea Estates’ are stunning vistas on the journey to various parts of Darjeeling.
Tea gardens are one of the special features of the hills and Darjeeling tea is world famous for its excellent and unique quality. The hill sides are spread with green tea bushes that stretch from one end to the other, adding a unique charm to the scenic landscape. Tea was first introduced in Darjeeling in the mid -19th century by the British, and these sprawling tea estates are still reminiscent of their culture. A trip to a typical tea estate is all about misty mornings, tea leaves blasking under the sun, endless walks discovering various types of tea bushes and of course, sipping your favourite brew. 42 C explorea.in
SOME OF THE RENOWNED TEA ESTATES IN DARJEELING ARE: 1.Glenburn Tea Estate: Step into the idyllic world of Glenburn, a tea estate established by Scottish tea planters in 1860.It sprawls over 1600 acres of verdant forests, scenic hills, tea picker villages and two river valleys.
3.Happy Valley Tea Estate: Wandering through tea gardens settled on the gentle hill slopes of Darjeeling is the perfect way to start your day at the Happy Valley Tea Estate. With plantations as old as 150 years and picture-perfect stretches of lush green tea bushes beckoning you, this tea estate will floor you with its old-world charm. Stop by the gardens during the process of plucking, processing and packaging and you’ll be privy to one of a fascinating tea garden experiences.
2.Makaibari Tea Estate: Makaibari Tea Estate, the producer of Darjeeling’s costliest tea, was established in 1859- making it one of the oldest family-owned tea gardens in Darjeeling. The tea garden is situated on the outskirts a Kurseong along the Balason valley.
4.Chamong Tea Estate: Nestled in the misty hills of Darjeeling, Chamong Tea Estate stretches over 900 acres of lush green land that houses a tea plantation, a tea factory and a village for the tea pickers. Most of the land is forested, with an abundance of flora and fauna. The incredible splendour of the green hills, the verdant tea bushes and the quiet daily life makes this area popular amongst visitors.
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5. Goomtee Tea Estate: Lesser known than its famous neighbours Makaibari and Glenburn, visitors at Goomtee get to stay in a 100-year-old heritage bungalow at a height of about 4000 feet, with sweeping views of the valleys and mountains. C explorea.in
Darjeeling tea has its significance worldwide, and one of its unique aspects is the fact its entire manufacturing procedure is manual except the actual processing. Tea leaves are plucked, dried and rolled by men in a systematic and clean manner.
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Tea is the main source of income for the region Darjeeling. Tea manufactured here is exported worldwide and has huge demand.
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LLYOD BOTANIC GARDEN 47 C explorea.in
DIVERS
1.Flora Unique diversity that is rich and preserved flowering plants
Bird Of Paradise
Paphiopedulum Villosum
Abies Densa , F-Coniferie
Pleone Praecox
Sobralia Amesiania
Eria convallarioides
Rhododendron maddeni
Calanthe biloba
Phaius tankervilleae
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SITY 2.Fauna Diveristy of animals and birds found and preserved
Blus whistling thrush
Barking Deer
Chestnut bellied rockthrush
Verditer flycatcher
Common hawk cuckoo
Himalayan Black Bear
Himalayan Palm Civet
Green Backed Tit
Little pied flycatcher
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GREATER YELOWNAPE
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PLACE OF INTEREST Captivating places which takes you to a different world
EC, KURSEONG Kurseong is a hill station in the town of Darjeeling which is in the state of West Bengal. In the Lepcha language, it means the land of the white orchids. The weather in the town of Kurseong is always pleasant. The town is amongst the green canopy of myriad tea gardens. A well-kept secret from where one can view an amazing sunset in all the desired calmness & silence. A fascinating aspect about the Eagle’s Craig situated just a kilometre distance from Kurseong is that not many people know of it and hence there are few tourists around.
The lookout point offers stunning panaromic view of the sunset and the lush green slopes around the small town of Kurseong.
Once one makes their way up the spiral staircase to the steel-caged observatory – the viewpoint, they are definitely in for a visual treat. The lookout point offers a stunning panoramic view of the sunset and the lush green slopes around the small town of Kurseong. One can also see the river Balason snaking its way through the valley. The Eagle’s Craig has an observatory close to it which is known as ‘Netaji Kothi’. It is called so because at one point of time it used to be the abode of Netaji Subash 52 C explorea.in
MIRIK LAKE Mirik is one of the most famous tourist spots in Darjeeling which is famous for its beauty and obscurity. When we are on the way to Mirik the scenery is breathtaking and it seems we are going amongst the white fluffy clouds. Alongthe way there is greenery on one side with the tea gardens, mountains and pine trees. The road trip from Darjeeling to Mirik makes a person fall short of words. The Mirik Lake or Sumendu Lake is the favourite tourist spot in the region. Boating and Pony Riding is available. There is a flip side to it, careless tourists often spoil the area making it dirty. It is a quiet place where one can stay for the whole day and not get bored.
The person is sent totally into a different space due to the natural surroundings which are breathtaking. The area around the lake has pine trees on one side and a garden on the other side. Both the sides are linked by a foot bridge which is called the rainbow bridge. The place where the present lake stands used to be a marshland with a very thick growth of plants while what is the garden now was a polo ground used by the British.
A trip to Darjeeling needs to have a visit to the Mirik lake else it would be like going to Agra and not seeing the Taj Mahal.
Mirik has very recently been added to the tourist location of Darjeeling. Earlier Mirik town used to be a meadow which was surrounded by hills. In 1970, the West Bengal Tourism Department made a small dam which blocked the water from flowing out thus, creating the lake in the process. Now the lake has become one of the biggest tourist attractions of Mirik. There is a temple named Singha Devi Mandir on the west of the lake. The two points near the lake namely Rameetya Dara and Deosi Dara have the best view of the snowcapped Himalayan range and the valley. The sunrise and the sunset are the best from this particular area. Places of interest: Mirik lake, Kawla Dara, Doesi Dara, RaiDhap, Tea estates, Orange orchards, Cardamom grove and Devi-sthan. 53 C explorea.in
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DEOLO, KALIMPONG Dello or the Deolo hill is one of the definitely-must-visit places in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Only 6 kilometers away from Kalimpong and at a height of 1914 metres, it definitely is one of those places suitable for a getaway with loved ones from the busy schedules of life. Be it a horseback ride or a simple casual stroll in the evening that is what it takes to cover Dello. The Govt. Guest House (DGHC) compound is a landmark. Although Dello is suitable as a picnic spot but a night-stay at the local hotels is a must if one is interested in experiencing the Kanchanjunga range bathed in the early morning sunrise which is a visual treat indeed.
For those with a nose-for-thrill Deolo offers an exciting opportunity for paragliding, overlooking the hills and the Teesta valley. Although a one-night stint, but it is highly recommended one. It is duly advised for the ones visiting this little piece of heaven to carry their medicines & baby-food if required for the nearest market is at a 3-4 kilometers walking distance. The nearest market is the ‘14th Mile Market’. It is recommended for visitors to definitely try out a sip of the most famous Darjeeling tea, refresher against the chilly weather. It is a must visit for any tourist visiting the hills of North Bengal and North-East India.
Deolo is suitable as a picnic spot but a night-stay at the local hotels is a must if one is interested to experience the Kanchanjunga range.
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SONADA GROTO, DARJEELING Sonada is a small but beautiful hamlet on the way to Darjeeling between Kurseong and Ghoom. It is at a distance of 17 kilometers from Darjeeling town and 16 kilometers from Kurseong. It lies on the National Highway 55, connecting Darjeeling with Siliguri.
Gorato Nalichor Intek Cider’s is a pilgrim centre here, there is a statue reflecting the life of Lord Jesus Christ including the beautiful statue of Mother Mary indebted to the families for their contribution and generous donation of the land.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway(DHR), a UNESCO world heritage site profoundly known as toy train passes through the town as there is a DHR (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway) station located here. Sonada has a beautiful monastery known as the Samdrup Darjay Choling Monastery, here is the international seat of the Shangpa Kagyu Lineage, founded by his eminence Dorje Chang Kabje Kalu Rinpoche, who was born in Tibet but in 1993 was enthroned in this Monastery.
Chorten of Sherpa Monastery can be seen just near the National Highway.
While travelling on the way from Sonada to Darjeeling a beautiful view of the Sherpa Monastery can be seen just near the National Highway 55, Hill Cart Road, Sonada. It is a must visit place for people who love cynic beauty. 56 C explorea.in
LAMAHATTA DARJEELING Darjeeling is a place which is blessed by mother nature in abundance. It is known all over the world for its quality tea and significant beauty. It is a place which is frequented by tourists for spending their vacations with family and friends. There are a number of tourist destinations all over Darjeeling and Lamhatta is one of them. It is still an upcoming eco-tourism destination located at an altitude of 1700 meters and around 23 kilometers from Darjeeling. Lamhatta has been identified as a paradise for honeymooners. From treks to viewing the landscape of the magnificent Kanchenjunga Hills, the Balason River from a central watchtower, this place offers it all.
Trek through the ‘zig-zag’ walkways between the pine trees, makes this place is predominantly popular.
If one is looking for a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, all that concrete, noise and smoke, the picturesque mountain village of Lamhatta is the perfect spot. The locally situated twin ponds ‘Jore Pokhari’ are a must see. Garden benches are a major attraction of the village. For those looking for aestheticism amongst
nature, conceptualised natural rock points await them. It may be observed that the twin ponds may seem to resemble the ‘for couples’ ambience as the place is predominantly popular as a ‘Honeymoon Point. ’ The inhabitants of the place work closely with the private and government authorities to promote this place. 57 C explorea.in
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LAMAHATTA DARJEELING
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MIRIK LAKE 61 C explorea.in
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PEACE PAGODA
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TIGER HILL
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SINCHEL LAKE 67 C explorea.in
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TEESTA VALLEY 69 C explorea.in
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BATASIA LOOP 71 C explorea.in
Darjeeling is an adventurous place for lovers of sports and adveture - it serves with thrilling experiences in river rafting, rock climbing and ropeway.
It is situated at 27 ° 3’40” N 88 °15’15”E at an elevation of 7000 legs above sea level. This initiative was taken by the forest development department of Darjeeling in 1968. The cable car takes the gliders to an elevation of aprox. 7000 feet in Singamari, North Point.
ROPEWAY, DARJEELING A sizzling experience over the valleys, mountain peaks, tea gardens and waterfall in 45 minutes of ride. A ride filled with adventure at an elevation of seven thousand feet. It’s amongst Asia’s greatest ‘Traveller Ropeway’. India got it’s first ropeway in the hills of Darjeeling know as “Darjeeling Rangit Place Traveller Wire Car” generally called ‘The Darjeeling ropeway’.
This is one of the best places to visit and is sure to provide one a relaxation time while the wonder car glides in the air. 72
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It is now operated under a joint venture of the West Bengal Development Corporation & Conveyor and Ropeway Services. Smooth glide over the valleys, mountain peaks, waterfalls, tea gardens and beautiful landscape of Darjeeling in a cable car. The best experiences one could have on a vacation to this hill station. This is one of the best places to visit and is sure to provide one a relaxation time while the wonder car glides in the air, through beautiful Darjeeling. So the next time you are planning a vacation to a hill Station, does indulge in experiencing a taste of Darjeeling tea & tourism.
The present ropeway has been extensively modernized and visitors can now safely travel over the clouds to witness the aerial view of the lush green tea gardens below. The best time to discover this wonderful experience is March to May and September to November. Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway operates from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. in summer. In winter, it operates only till 4 p.m. The Ropeway generally remains closed on the 15th of every month to carry out maintenance work. It was started by the forest development department of Darjeeling in 1968 the cable car ride takes one to an elevation of about 7000 feet in Singamari, North Point.It is now managed as a joint venture of the West Bengal Development Corporation & Conveyor and Ropeway Services. Having to smoothly glid over the valleys, mountains, peaks, waterfalls, tea gardens and beautiful landscape of Darjeeling in a cable car, this is one of the best experiences you could have on your vacation to this hill station.This is one of the best places to visit and is sure to provide one a relaxation time while the wonder car glides in the air, through the beautiful Darjeeling.So the next time you are planning for a vacation to a hill Station, do indulge in experiencing a taste of Darjeeling tea & tourism. 73 C explorea.in
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