Top 20 Best Places to Visit in Darjeeling in 2024

Darjeeling receives around 4.5 lakh visitors each year. The town was created by the British in the mid-nineteenth century, and it quickly became recognized for its extensive tea farms, which produce the best tea in the country. Darjeeling is famous for its world-class aromatic tea and the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site which is Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The town has natural resources and rich cultural history, and it is a popular tourist destination due to its refreshing climate all year. Apart from extensive tea gardens on the hillsides and its historic toy trains, Darjeeling has a lot more to offer. To eliminate the confusion of places to explore the favorite city, this article is prepared with top places to visit in Darjeeling to make you choose on your next Summer trip with family or friends or Honeymoon trip with your love one.

Some of the sites are easily accessible by foot, while others need the use of a vehicle. It's preferable to take a local sightseeing tour to view the majority of these sights methodically in a short amount of time. The majority of Darjeeling's roadways have severe grades. Some of Darjeeling's tourist attractions are only accessible by foot. A vehicle can only take you up to a certain point, after which you must walk. Darjeeling is also a popular hill station to visit in India with friends. Let’s start knowing about the top 20 best places to visit in Darjeeling.

1. Tiger Hill
2. Japanese Peace Pagoda
3. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
4. Batasia Loop
5. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station
6. Rock Garden Darjeeling and Gangamaya Park
7. St. Andrew’s Church Darjeeling
8. Happy Valley Tea Estate Darjeeling
9. Darjeeling Observatory Hill
10. Tinchuley
11. Shrubbery Nightingale Park Darjeeling
12. Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway
13. Ghum Monastery
14. Dali Monastery
15. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
16. Lloyd’s Botanical Garden
17. Senchal Lake & Wildlife Sanctuary
18. Makaibari Tea Estate
19. Lamahatta
20. Coronation Bridge

Apart from these top 20 places you can check out all other place of interest in Darjeeling worth visiting using govt. official Darjeeling tourism information directory source.

Also read about Best Places to Visit in Winter in India.

The location of Tiger Hill is at the highest point and one of the best places to visit in Darjeeling. It is famous for its spectacular views of Kanchenjunga and the eastern Himalayan range covered with snow. Even Mount Everest is visible from here on a clear day.

Specialty of Tiger Hill: From the Tiger Hill lookout tower, enjoy a magnificent sunrise, and use a telescope to spot several peaks.
Things to do in Tiger Hill: Photography and Hiking
Entry Fee: None
Timings: From Sunrise to Sunset
Best time to visit Tiger Hill: March to September

It's a beautiful spot that embodies calm and tranquility. The Japanese Peace Pagoda, located atop Jalapahar Hill, is a traditional Japanese style where you can experience spiritual peace by joining the prayers amidst humming and chants. The view from the apex is breathtaking. From here, you can see the Kanchenjunga and the snow peak range.

Specialty of Japanese Peace Pagoda: The Japanese Peace Pagoda is known for its panoramic views of Darjeeling, including Kanchenjunga.
Things to do in Japanese Peace Pagoda: Sightseeing
Entry Fee: Free
Timings: From 4:30 am to 7 pm
Best time to visit Japanese Peace Pagoda: March to September

The zoo has an average elevation of 7,000 feet is India's largest high-altitude zoo founded in 1958. The zoo is known for its Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, Himalayan Salamander, and Red Panda conservation breeding programs.

Specialty of Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park: Breeding center
Things to do in Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park: Photography and Sightseeing
Entry Fee: INR 20 – INR 50
Timings: 5 am to 9 pm
Best time to visit Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park: March to September

Batasia Loop is 5 kilometers from Darjeeling Town and comes under the top 5 places to visit in Darjeeling. It is a spiral of a railway track where the Toy Train negotiates a severe drop from Ghoom. It's a beautiful observation spot with streams, falls, and manicured gardens. You can even see the Darjeeling landscape, snow peaks of Kanchenjunga.

Specialty of Batasia Loop: Batasia Loop is known for its toy train that meanders through the looping rails.

Things to do in Batasia Loop: Sightseeing
Entry Fee: INR 15
Timings: Whole Day
Best time to visit Batasia Loop: March to September

The toy train, which runs from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling, is another popular tourist attraction in Darjeeling. This lovely station is nestled in the Himalayan foothills. This train station, which is a UNESCO world historic site, has been featured in various documentaries and films.

Specialty of Himalayan Railway Station: Himalayan Railway Station is known for its scenic scenery and toy trains.
Things to do in Himalayan Railway Station: Train ride
Entry Fee: INR 360
Timings: NA
Best time to visit Himalayan Railway Station: March to September

The rock garden is located 10 kms outside of Darjeeling. It consists of tiered gardens at various levels cut into the rocks with waterfalls and attractive seating configurations. It is indeed one of the best tourist places in Darjeeling.

Specialty of Barbotey Rock Garden: Pony riding, photographing in traditional clothing, and Picnics in the rocky terrain are all specialties of Barbotey Rock Garden.
Things to do in Darjeeling Rock Garden: Hiking, Photography
Entry Fee: Free
Timings: 8 am to 5 pm
Best time to visit Barbotey Rock Garden: March to September

Darjeeling's St. Andrew's Church is a historic Anglican church situated on Mall Road. The church was constructed in 1843. It includes brass plaques commemorating many well-known Darjeeling settlers who arrived in the 1800s. The church holds regular Sunday morning services.

Specialty of St. Andrew’s Church: St. Andrew's Church is known for its architectural beauty.
Things to do in St. Andrew’s Church: Prayer
Entry Fee: None
Timings: Sunday 9:00 am (in Summer) and 9:30 am (in Winters)
Best time to visit St. Andrew’s Church: March to September

This is one of Darjeeling's most well-known tea estates, which the British planters founded in 1854 and is barely 3 kilometers from the lower town. A visit to this tea estate is extremely typical in local package tours given by taxi drivers or tour operators due to its vicinity. Many of the tea plants in the estate have been over 100 years old, and the huge stretches of verdant tea plantations on the hillsides are a visual pleasure.

Specialty of Happy Valley Tea Estate: The tea-making process.
Things to do in Happy Valley Tea Estate: Photography and Hiking
Entry Fee: the factory tour is INR 100 per person
Timings: From 8 am to 4 pm
Best time to visit Happy Valley Tea Estate: March to September

Observatory Hill is a hill in Darjeeling, near Chowrasta Square. The Observatory Hill offers views of snow-capped summits, including Mount Kanchenjunga. It is a great site to enjoy a 360-degree view of Darjeeling and the surrounded peaks.

Specialty of Darjeeling Observatory Hill: Exploring holy sites.
Things to do in Darjeeling Observatory Hill: Sightseeing
Entry Fee: None
Timings: From 7 am to 7 pm
Best time to visit Darjeeling Observatory Hill: March to September

A small mountain village in the Darjeeling district called Tinchuley is situated at a height of 5,800 feet. Tinchuley translates to "Three Ovens" (i.e. Tin Chullahs). The town was given this name because of the three high hilltops that surround it and resemble ovens from a distance. The Kalimpong hills can be seen from Tinchuley.

Specialty of Tinchuley: Tinchuley's specialty is the breathtaking scenery.
Things to do in Tinchuley: Photography and Hiking
Entry Fee: None
Timings: From 5 am to 9 pm
Best time to visit Tinchuley: March to September

The Shrubbery Nightingale Park is a lovely public park area in Darjeeling. It's great for unwinding while enjoying the spectacular vistas of Kanchenjunga and the Eastern Himalayas covered with snow. Nepali cultural performances, such as local dances, are held here every evening during the tourist season. The Shrubbery was the name given to this location by the British in the early 1900s.

Specialty of Shrubbery Nightingale Park: Shrubbery Nightingale Park is known for its scenic mountain views.
Things to do in Shrubbery Nightingale Park: Photography and Hiking
Entry Fee: INR 10 for adults
Timings: From 7 am to 8 pm
Best time to visit Shrubbery Nightingale Park: March to September

Take part in a variety of unique natural offers in one convenient location with Darjeeling Ropeway which is also known as the Rangeet Valley Passenger Cable Car. The ropeway offers a breathtaking view of the valley, the magnificent snow peaks, waterfalls, mountains, dense woods, and rich tea gardens.

Specialty of Darjeeling Ropeway: Lofty bird's eye perspective of the hill town.
Things to do in Darjeeling Ropeway: Photography and Hiking
Entry Fee: INR 90 for children and INR 175 for adults.
Timings: The timings from Tue to Saturday are 9:30 am – 4 pm, and for Sunday and Monday, it is 9:30 am – 4:30 pm.
Best time to visit Darjeeling Ropeway: March to September

Ghum Monastery, also known as Yiga Choeling Monastery, is home to the Maitreya Buddha statue which is 15-foot high and enchants the surrounding area with its aura. It was built in 1850 by a Mangolian Monk called Lama Sherpa Gyaltsho and is known for its exquisite Thangka on the walls, drums, and ornate bells.

Specialty of Ghum Monastery: The prayer room, library, and study hall. Outside the monastery, don't miss out on the delicious momo and Thukpa.
Things to do in Ghum Monastery: Sightseeing
Entry Fee: Free
Timings: From 12:00 am to 12:00 pm
Best time to visit Ghum Monastery: March to September

Many Tibetan Buddhists, predominantly Tibetan immigrants, live in Darjeeling. Several monasteries have sprung up in Darjeeling over the years, some of which are historically significant. Dali Monastery is one of the most well-known... as you approach Darjeeling town, you'll see this big towering monastery located on a hill at a greater elevation from the road. The monastery belongs to the Buddhist Kagyupa sect and is located 5 kilometers from the town center.

Specialty of Dali Monastery: Paying a visit to the monastery during a time of prayer.
Things to do in Dali Monastery: Prayer
Entry Fee: None
Timings: From 7 am to 7 pm
Best time to visit Dali Monastery: March to September

The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is considered a pilgrimage for all climbers around the world. It was named after Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary, who ascended Mount Everest together in 1953. It features a well-stocked museum as well as a boarding school for mountaineering students. On the premises, there is also a café and a souvenir shop.

Specialty of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute: Breathtaking views.
Things to do in Himalayan Mountaineering Institute: Photography and Hiking
Entry Fee: None
Timings: From 5 am to 9 pm
Best time to visit Himalayan Mountaineering Institute: March to September

Darjeeling's Botanical Garden is named after William Lloyd, the founder of the Lloyd's Bank during the British India era. He provided this enormous 40-acre parcel of land to Sir Ashley Eden on an open hillside as a gift for the creation of one of Asia's best gardens which was established in 1878. Eden was the Bengal Government's secretary at the time.

Specialty of Lloyd’s Botanical Garden: Lloyd's Botanical Garden is known for its several floral areas that protect rare species.
Things to do in Lloyd’s Botanical Garden: Photography
Entry Fee: INR 20
Timings: From 8 am to 4:30 pm
Best time to visit Lloyd’s Botanical Garden: March to September

If you are searching for a beautiful natural setting with a lake on all sides and mountains on all sides, Senchal Lake & Wildlife Sanctuary is the place to go. Senchal is located at an elevation of approximately 8,160 feet. The sanctuary, on the other hand, is spread out over a range of elevations from 1500 to 2600 meters.

Specialty of Senchal Lake & Wildlife Sanctuary: Explore the area on a bike ride.
Things to do in Senchal Lake & Wildlife Sanctuary: Boating and Hiking
Entry Fee: INR 50
Timings: From 6 am to 6 pm
Best time to visit Senchal Lake & Wildlife Sanctuary: March to September

Makaibari Tea Estate is one of Darjeeling's oldest tea gardens, dating back to 1859. It is situated in the Kurseong sloppy hills, at a height of 1500 meters above sea level. The plantation is underway in 120 hectares of the estate's total of 670 hectares, which spans six ridges.

Lamahatta is a picturesque West Bengal village located 23 kilometers from Darjeeling. Established in 2012, the Lamahatta Eco Park promotes amazing views of peaks and rivers, as well as the Dhupi and pine woods found here.

Specialty of Lamahatta: This charming community, surrounded by pine forest and with a great view of Mt Kanchenjunga, was created as an eco-tourism destination in late 2012.
Things to do in Lamahatta: Enjoy the beautiful garden & the views, nature walks through the maze of Dhupi jungle.
Entry Fee: Free
Timings: 7:30am–5pm
Best time to visit Lamahatta: Throughout the year

Coronation Bridge is in the lovely city of Siliguri, which is a part of both the Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri Districts in the wonderful Indian state of West Bengal. The Bridge was built to connect Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri and provides a spectacular view of the lush foliage. This bridge is a magnificent example of Roman architecture that attracts visitors who wish to marvel at its splendor and catch a panoramic view of the dazzling blue waters of the River Teesta flowing beneath it.

Specialty of Coronation Bridge: It provides panoramic vistas of the lush valley and river below.
Things to do in Coronation Bridge: Visit the bridge to enjoy the spectacular view of mountains and the river below.
Entry Fee: None
Timings: Open 24 hours
Best time to visit Coronation Bridge: October and February

Darjeeling is a place that everyone should visit. When it comes to visiting any hill station, it is one of the most popular destinations. Visiting Darjeeling will feel like visiting heaven, and every aspect of the city will bring you joy. Darjeeling is stunning because of its snowcapped mountains, lovely sunrises, stunning views, adventurous activities, and diverse wildlife. We hope that this post helped decide which one to choose from the top places to visit in Darjeeling.

So, are you ready for the best summer trip in the Bengal's beautiful hills station Darjeeling and looking for the fastest route to reach out ? then Bagdogra Airport is the nearest airport way to Darjeeling and this is very well connected to any airport in the country and abroad. You can check out cheapest flight to Bagdogra for your upcoming trip using Skyscanner or other apps like Goibibo, Yatra etc. 

After reaching to Bagdogra you can book a prepaid or private cab easily for Darjeeling which is approx. 70km away and will take 2 and half hours to reach Darjeeling. The cab journey is also beautiful which will go through forests, tea gardens, hills, waterfalls and animals like elephants or leopard if you're lucky enough.

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Ans. Darjeeling is best visited between March and June while some visitors visit during the winter months.

Ans. Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park, Tiger Hill, and Tea Plantations are the best places to visit in Darjeeling with your family.

Ans. Lamahatta, Kurseong, and Mirik are the best tourist destinations around Darjeeling. These most popular getaways provide an amazing vacation experience.

Ans. Some of the must-see attractions and most picturesque spots in Darjeeling include Nightingale Park, Rock Garden, and Singalila National Park.

Ans. A nice vacation in Darjeeling can be had in three to five days to comfortably see all the best tourist places in Darjeeling.

Ans. Shree Mandir, Pranami Mandir, Shiva Mandir, Japanese Buddhist Temple, and Mahakal Temple are just a few of the popular temples in Darjeeling.