By air
Bagdogra airport is about 70 km away, roughly 3 hours by road.
West Bengal · East India
Darjeeling travel guide
Tea gardens on steep slopes, a century-old toy train, and sunrise over Kanchenjunga. A classic hill town that pairs well with Sikkim.
Photo: Aashh Subba / Unsplash
Quick facts
- Best time
- October to December and March to May
- How long
- 3–4 days
- Daily budget
- ₹1,800–3,000 backpacking
- Getting in
- Bagdogra (IXB) airport or New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station
- Altitude
- About 2,050 m
Costs are typical per-person ranges in Indian rupees, reviewed September 2026. Check current prices and conditions before you book.
Darjeeling sits on a ridge at about 2,050 m, surrounded by tea estates and facing the Kanchenjunga range. The old hill station's Mall and Chowrasta are still the heart of town, busy with walkers, momo stalls, and bookshops.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, still runs its little steam and diesel trains through the streets, and on clear mornings you can see Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill.
When to go
Best time to visit Darjeeling
- Oct–DecBest
The clearest mountain views of the year, cold mornings, and crisp days.
- Mar–MayBest
Pleasant weather and spring tea flush; views can be hazier than in autumn.
- Jun–SepAvoid
Monsoon cloud, heavy rain, and landslides on the roads up from the plains.
- Jan–FebMixed
Cold, sometimes near freezing, but often clear.
Getting there
How to reach Darjeeling
By train
New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is the main railhead. The toy train runs all the way up, but it's slow; most people take a shared jeep and ride the train only for a short joy ride.
By road
Shared jeeps and taxis run from Siliguri and NJP to Darjeeling, and on to Gangtok and Kalimpong.
Budget
Darjeeling trip cost per day
| Per day | Backpacker | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (guesthouse or homestay) | ₹800–1,500 | ₹2,500–5,000 |
| Food | ₹400–700 | ₹800–1,300 |
| Local transport (shared jeep, taxi) | ₹300–600 | ₹1,500–3,000 |
| Toy train, entry and extras | ₹300–800 | ₹1,000–2,000 |
Toy train joy rides cost much more than the shared jeep fare but are the way to experience the railway. Tiger Hill sunrise trips are usually shared jeeps booked through your guesthouse.
Itinerary
4-day Darjeeling itinerary
- 1
Day 1: Arrive and the Mall
The drive up from Bagdogra or NJP, then an evening walk around Chowrasta and the Mall.
- 2
Day 2: Tiger Hill and Batasia Loop
A pre-dawn trip to Tiger Hill for sunrise over Kanchenjunga, Ghum Monastery, and a toy train joy ride around the Batasia Loop.
- 3
Day 3: Tea and mountaineering
A tour and tasting at Happy Valley Tea Estate, then the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the zoo, known for red pandas.
- 4
Day 4: Peace Pagoda and onward
A morning walk to the Japanese Peace Pagoda, then on to Gangtok or back down to the plains.
Don't miss
Top things to do in Darjeeling
Tiger Hill sunrise
Kanchenjunga turning pink at dawn; on very clear days, Everest is visible too.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
A UNESCO-listed mountain railway opened in 1881, with a spiral loop at Batasia.
Tea estates
Tours and tastings of one of the world's most famous teas.
Sandakphu trek
A multi-day trek along the Singalila Ridge with views of four of the world's five highest peaks.
Before you go
Practical tips
- Tiger Hill crowds
- Sunrise trips leave around 4 am, and the viewpoint is packed in peak season. Clouds can hide the view, so keep a second morning free.
- Layers
- Mornings are cold even in spring and autumn; bring a warm jacket.
- Combine with Sikkim
- Gangtok and Pelling are a few hours away by shared jeep, so Darjeeling fits well at the start or end of a Sikkim trip.
Questions
Darjeeling FAQs
When can I see Kanchenjunga from Darjeeling?
Most reliably from October to December, early in the morning. From June to September the peaks are usually hidden by cloud.
Is the toy train worth it?
A short joy ride from Darjeeling around the Batasia Loop and Ghum gives you the experience without the slow full journey from NJP.
Can I combine Darjeeling and Sikkim?
Yes. Shared jeeps link Darjeeling with Gangtok in a few hours, so a 7–10 day trip can cover both.
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