4 h

About this activity

Darjeeling has been a very popular hill station since the British established it as a rest and recreation centre for its troops in the mid-1800s. Situated at an altitude of 2100m Darjeeling is surrounded by tea plantations from all sides.
We start the tour with a visit to one of Darjeeling’s most revered site - the Mahakal Dara that sits atop the Observatory Hill. This truly unique and spiritual place of worship is flocked daily by Buddhists, Hindus as well as indigenous Nature worshippers.
Afterwards we make our way down towards the Gymkhana Club, established in 1909 established as a recreational and social centre. The St. Andrew’s Church stands nearby, established in 1843 and rebuilt once again in 1873.
We then walk through Chowrasta - Darjeeling’s main boulevard - descend down towards Bhotia Busty where we see the Bhotia Busty Gompa. The gompa houses a fine gold-accented mural and the original copy of the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
Using the Love Road, built during the British Raj and still is a lovely walking trail to spot Himalayan avifauna, we go down to see the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre, established as an oasis in 1959 for thousands of fleeing Tibetans. It is now a self sustained commune preserving their indigenous culture and heritage in a home away from home.
After lunch at a local restaurant (included) we make our way to the Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park (closed on Thursdays), home of animals indigenous to the only the Himalayas. This zoo is the only one in the entire world who have successfully bred the elusive snow leopard in captivity and also, to release captive bred, the very endangered red panda.
We then go towards Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (closed on Thursdays) in the near vicinity which houses an amazing Himalayan Museum. We then walk up towards Chowrasta where we visit the Bengal Natural History Museum. This museum contains a comprehensive collection of Himalayan fauna. The museum houses more than 4,300 specimens of bird species, reptiles and other animals of the Eastern Himalayas. Continue to see the Gundree Bazaar, the main town square where locals come to buy and sell everyday groceries, clothing etc.

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Included