Darjeeling Sightseeing

The hilltop above Darjeeling main bazaar from where one can view into the horizon north, east and west. It is also the site of the Buddhist shrine, Dorje Ling. However, with the overwhelming Hindu population in the area, its presiding deity is now Lord Shiva though the original Buddhist shrine sill remains. Devotees throng the hill all the year round.
 

The Mall is Darjeeling's popular commercial street. It is lined with Tibetans selling hand-knitted sweaters and souvenir shops chock-full of Himalayan artifacts and both real and imitation antiques. Photo shops carry turn-of-the-century photos as well as specializing in hand-painted black and white prints with glowing oil colours. The Mall leads to Chaurasta, a square, which doubles as a bandstand, a pony riding arena for children and a haven for lovers.

The only center in India for the captive breeding of Snow Leopards, the Himalayan Zoological Park houses a wide variety of animals and birds some of which are Siberian tigers, Himalayan black bears, Red Pandas and the Llama of the Andes.

Darjeeling's century old Christian graveyard where you can see the tombs of some of the first settlers, administrators as well as missionaries, the founders of British Darjeeling who lived and died here.

The Lloyd Botanical Garden is named after William Lloyd who donated the site in 1878. A fine collection of alpine flora including many species of orchids can be seen there.

Darjeeling's ubiquitous Toy Train with narrow gauge steam engines brought in all the way from England and Scotland was the first form of mechanized transportation to be introduced back in the 19th. Century by the British. Although it has lost its commercial viability mostly due to its slowness, it has in recent years been revived by local authorities solely to remain as a mascot and to provide 'joy rides' to the town's visitors. However, the DHR has acquired a new leash in life having acquired UNESCO's endorsement as a World Heritage icon in 1999, so it is likely to remain in service for quite some time.