Day 1:
Mode of Transport: For hassle-free commute and make most of your time, hire a cab for the day’s sightseeing.
Sunrise and Morning Expedition
05:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Tiger Hill should be the first place to visit in Darjeeling.
The place is famous for captivating views of the majestic Kanchenjunga Peak. Viewing the early morning rays of the Sun kissing the top the Himalayan range is a sight to behold for a long time. 10 km from the centre of Darjeeling town, you must book a cab a day before to get here.
Time duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
After the mesmerizing view of the Himalayan peaks, you head towards Rock Garden.
The Rock Garden is a paradise for nature lovers. The garden sits in the lap of lush green valley and perfectly curated for tourists to have a wonderful time. A variety of flowers and the mountain stream, in addition to the waterfalls and wooden pathways, attract tourists in large numbers. The park opens at 09:00 AM.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Not very far from the garden, Peace Pagoda will be your next stop.
The shrine was built under Japanese guidance with the sole purpose of spreading unity. The architecture is very unique and easily captures your attention. Inside the premise, you find different avatars of the Buddha. The energy and ambiance inside is absolutely magical.
Time duration: 30 – 45 mins
After this, you will most likely be too tired to explore further. So, it is better to get some rest.
Have lunch at your hotel and head out for sightseeing within the town.
Darjeeling Town Sightseeing
03:00 PM – 07:00 PM
Llyod Botanical Garden is 1 km from the Clock Tower.
The garden is known for preserving the local vegetation. The spectacular collection of plants, ferns, flowers and more is something that every visitor cherishes. If you have a knack for plants and gardening, you must visit this place. The garden closes by 05:00 PM.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
Explore the heart of Darjeeling on foot. Chowk Bazaar, Hongkong Mall are the place to shop for local artefacts and souvenirs.
You can look to have evening snacks at the Kunga Restaurant. Their speciality is Tibetan cuisines.
Your first day ends with this.
Also read: Best Area To Book your Hotel in Darjeeling
Day 2:
Mode of Transport: For hassle-free commute and make most of your time, hire a cab for the day’s sightseeing.
Ropeway and Mountaineers’ Legacy
09:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Your first attraction of the day will be the Ropeway ride.
The Ropeway ride offers some the best view of the valley. There is a huge demand among the tourists, so you have to wait for 45 – 50 minutes for your turn. To avoid the rush be there as early as possible. The counter opens at 10:00 AM.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
After this, you next destination will be Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was built to keep the legacy of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hilary, first persons to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. This institute is a dream destination for mountaineers and enthusiastic climbers.
There are three attractions that you can cover one after the other. First one being the mountaineering institute, then the Bengal Natural History Museum and finally the Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park.
Time duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
You can look have lunch at nearby eateries.
Tea Garden and Temple
02:00 PM – 07:00 PM
Darjeeling is famous for tea farming and today you visit one at Happy Valley Tea Estate.
This tea garden is one of the oldest in Darjeeling and has been in existence for more than 150 years. Taking a walk through the garden is a unique experience in itself. You get to know about the processes involved in tea making.
Time duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
After this, spend some time at the Mahakal Temple.
The temple is famous situated on top of a hill and is famous for panoramic views. The Observatory Hill is where you would love to enjoy the sunset. The temple is considered as the abode of Lord Shiva and Shakti. Tourists and localities pay a visit to seek divine blessings.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
In the evening, we recommend to try some delicacies at Keventer’s and Glenary’s Bakery.
Also read: Kalimpong Travel Plan
Day 3:
Darjeeling Toy Train
08:00 AM – 11:00 AM
The Darjeeling Mountain Railways runs a special train for tourists for a short distance from Darjeeling station to Ghum station and back to Darjeeling with a halt at the famous Batasia Loop. Entire journey takes close to 2 hours. This is a prime attraction in Darjeeling. So, make sure to reserve your seat as early as possible.
Time duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
Kalimpong Tour
12:00 PM – 07:00 PM
Mode of Transport: For hassle-free commute and make most of your time, hire a cab for a round trip.
Kalimpong takes 1.5 hours from Darjeeling and all the tourist spots can be covered within a span of 3 – 4 hours. Some of the prime tourist attractions to explore are:
1. Triveni Spot: This is the spot of confluence of two rivers – The Teesta and Ranjeet. The scenic view is truly captivating and stays in your memory for a long time.
Time duration: 30 – 45 mins
2. Pine View Nursey: This place has a huge collection of cactus species, something you don’t get to see elsewhere. You get to know how beautiful and colourful a plant like cactus can be. Folks having a knack for gardening will love to be here.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
3. Deolo Hills: This is the highest point in Kalimpomg. Some of the prominent places here are the Bhutan House and the Deolo Park.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
This will bring an end to your Darjeeling trip.
