Darjeeling - Need help with Travel Plans

deepsea

I need to be in Darjeeling by 2nd December to meet up with my group (from there we trek to Sandakphu). Can anyone help me fine tune my travel plans from Kolkata to Darjeeling?

• Reach Kolkata by flight on Nov 30 from Bangalore.
• Catch Kanchankanya Exp at Sealdah and reach NJP by 7.15. (Is this the best option to catch the toy train?)
• Catch Toy Train at 9 AM and reach Darjeeling at 15.55 on Dec 1.
• Finish trek and reach Darjeeling on Dec 8. (If we leave Darjeeling after lunch, what is the shortest way to reach Kolkata?)

Also, what is the weather going to be like in this period? Will there be snow?

Any help will be great.

Bhaswaran

Hi,

you can return by the same route, Darjeeling to NJP by car or toy train, car will take only 3 hrs. then take a train to Kolkata. overnight bus service is also there. Alternatively, take the flight from Bagdogra (Siliguri) to kolkata, this will be quicker.

weather naturally will be clear during this period if otherwise there are no snowfall related cloud formation. In clear skies, you can get a glimpse of the Everest range in Nepal (160 km away) as well as the majestic Kanchenjunga range in Sikkim (36 Km) from Sandakfu (12,000 feet, the highest mountain of West Bengal).

You can encounter snow during this period. But it depends. Last year there was less snowfall in this range.

Remember, taking local guides is a must as per the rules of DGHC. Although, practically there is no need. the roads are well laid out. so, do not bother about getting with the guides always, do take your time to enjoy the scenics.

wish you happy journey.

Bhaswaran

deepsea

Thanks alot, Bhaswaran. We are looking forward to seeing Kanchenjunga and hopefully Mt. Everest.

Is the two hour gap between our train from Kolkata and the Toy Train enough? I have heard that trains in this region can get delayed. Is there anything you can advice? Also, if we leave Darjeeling on 9th after lunch and go to NJP by road, is it good to catch the Kanchankanya Express so that we reach Kolkata on 10th morning (and reach at a decent time for a cab to the airport)?

What is the best way to travel from Kolkata airport to Sealdah station and vice versa?

Thanks

Bhaswaran

Hi,

your concern is worthy. trains may get delayed at times. in fact, i missed the toy train one time i went to darjeeling. the next time, i went to siliguri a day earlier, stayed at hotel overnight, and caught the chugging beauty next morning. you can do that but will cost a day extra, alternaTIvely, you can move to bagdogra (siliguri airport) by flight on the same day you reach kolkata, stay at hotel near bus stand/siliguri junction station, and catch toy train next morning.

when coming down, kanchankanya express starts from NJP at 20:15 and reaches sealdah at 8:15 next morning. so, even if you start from darjeeling after lunch, even at 2 pm, you will reach njp at time. tell the cab driver to take the Pankhabari road instead of the popular Hill Cart road while coming down. this road as sharp hair pin bends but is a shortcut. it will save time.

a taxi takes normally 30-40 minutes from sealdah to airport and vice versa. go via beleghata, kakurgachi, ultadanga, and VIP road. tell the taxi driver to go through this way.

do not hesitate to ask if any further questions.

happy journey

Bhaswaran

deepsea

Thanks a tonne, Bhaswaran. This is great information...

Since we are going a day earlier than planned and may even stay an extra day, where would be a suitable place to stay in Darjeeling or could you suggest some good places to visit within a day's timeframe?

Also, is there any place in Darjeeling we can leave some of our things (like a locker facility), while we go on our trek to Sandakphu?

Appreciate all your help and patience.

somnath

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89618521@N00/139560494/ - Darjeeling Tourist Lodge (West Bengal Tourism) is my favorite place. The best view of Kanchenjungha and the best tea is available here.

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Bhaswaran

Hi,

If one extra day, why not spend the entire day at Sandakphu itself. Otherwise, you can stay at Jorepokhri or Lepchajagat en-route from darjeeling-maneybhanjan (from where you start your trek). this will fall on the roadside and are beautiful places, but needs to be pre-booked. Jorepokhri has DGHC hut, so contact DGHC office at kolkata or darjeeling as soon as possible, and Lepchajagat has WB forest development corporation bungalow, which is booked by WBFDC office at Kolkata, also book this is advance.

You can also take the steam joy ride if you stay at darjeeling (one of my favorites), please note that the toy train from siliguri to darjeeling does not run on steam nowadays. only the Kerseong-Darjeeling pass and joy ride special runs on steam.

you can also visit the nearby tea gardens on the Darjeeling-ghoom-gangtok road. apart from the ghoom-mirik (maneybhanjan) road, this is also very beautiful. it is very picturesque.

you can take the cable car at darjeeling over the tea gardens.

there are many options. if you have more time, (3 days), i would have refererd you to Varsey, with only 4 km trek in sikkim.

Remember, i visit places with a photographic angle in mind, some may not have very good fooding & lodging, but they are picturesque indeed.

I have trekked to Sandakfu, and i liked Tonglu more, which falls on the way.

keep contact and nice to have a new friend.

Bhaswaran

Bhaswaran

you can keep your other luggages at the hotel where you stay, i think a good hotel is reliable indeed.

deepsea

Thanks alot, Somnath. Is this the one you are referring to?

http://www.wbtourism.com/darjeeling/where_to_stay.htm
Tourist Lodge
Bhanu Sarani
Fax: 0354-2254412
W-mail:dortl@dte.vsnl.net.in 2254411
2254412

deepsea

Bhaswaran, you are just amazing with the information you are providing. Thanks again since a lot of this is something I wouldnt have even thought of.

The reason I wasnt sure if a hotel would accept our luggage is cause we will not be staying there for the full extent of the trek. They need to be willing to keep our things while we go on the trek (8 days scheduled). This means the time we spend in the hotel may not be more than a day or so.

Thanks again

Bhaswaran

i think this does not matter much, the no. of days you are spending in that hotel. i think just a polite request to the hotel manager from your side will do. many trekkers keep their luggage like this.

generally, people in the hills are good. although, darjeeling also got a little commercial/professional these days, it still retains that old charm somewhere, and so i have there 7 times and still wants to visit again, at least every year.

keep contact

Bhaswaran

somnath

Good staying options from Bhswaran. But if this is your first visit to Darjeeling I would recommend to explore the town and enjoy some local attractions (Bhaswaran has already mentioned ). Tourist lodge is a Govt. Hotel and very reliable place in Darjeeling. Regarding luggage you can talk to Gopal jee who is a very helpful person (administrative staff and 2nd man after Mr. Pradhan).

Happy traveling.

deepsea

Thanks a lot, Somnath and Bhaswaran. Really appreciate all the help and ideas. Will keep you posted with updates on how this works out.

In the meantime, any ideas on what one can do in and around Sealdah station? We will be flying into Kolkata in the morning but are planning to take some time out in seeing something of the city and catching only the evening train. Also not sure how easy it is to move around Kolkata.

challengechappers

[quote=Bhaswaran]Hi,

I have trekked to Sandakfu, and i liked Tonglu more, which falls on the way.

that's interesting, anyone else agree ? to many people overnight here or do they straight onto sandakphu? great info on this forum !

Bhaswaran

HI,

I will stay in Tonglu for a few days once to go back to the Sandakfu trail again, it is one of my favorite dwelling.

You can book a car and spend time at Victoria Memorial and adjoining parks, in the Maidan, and Indian Museum, St. Pauls Cathedral, which are all in adjoining areas, as there are a lot of open spaces and tree-shadows are there, I am recommending you this place so you can take some rest also. You can sit or lay down in Maidan or Victoria, no problem.

also can go to zoo, nicco park (but these amusement parks might be common to you). there are other places of interest also, and will take a whole day moving fast in a taxi, that may exhaust you. SO, go to the victoria memorial in a taxi, and leave it. there are plenty of taxi available in kolkata and will be no problem returning to Sealdah in the evening.

alos, if you want to catch the toy train, book the ticket in advance (train no. 1D) and take the first class. that is comfortable. it may take around Rs.250-300. Seperate veg lunch is provided in the toy train for Rs.30-40.

happy journey,

Bhaswaran