Getting to Darjeeling

Bopper · Jun 6th, 2004, 07:43

Wondering if anyone has gone from Bagdogra airport to Darjeeling. I would imagine there are pre-paid taxis at the airport, but I'll bet they are expensive. Anyone know of other (cheaper) options for getting to Darjeeling from Bagdogra?

Bopper

SHIMLA · Jun 6th, 2004, 08:09

Bagdogra is just 10 kms. from Darjeeling. Apart from Taxis, there are buses, which will be far cheaper.

vistet · Jun 6th, 2004, 13:26

Oops.. I´m sure you meant Siliguri, Shimla.
I shared a taxi with two French girls from Siliguri to Darjeeling. Remember them vividly ; have no recollection whatsoever what we paid for the taxi
/jeep.

Cheapest option is the toy train New Jalgaipuri (8 klicks south Siliguri) -Darjeeling. Requires or develops a Buddha nature ; remember being overtaken by an elderly gentleman in lungi at a level section - on a bicycle.

Jun 6th, 2004, 13:41

what! and miss the sights at kurse-yong and kalimpong?

A jonga from siliguri lets you stop on the way like a train never will.(they rip you off though).

SHIMLA · Jun 6th, 2004, 17:44

Quote:

Originally posted by vistet
Oops.. I´m sure you meant Siliguri, Shimla.

No, I meant Bagdogra! Bopper clearly asked about transportation from Bagdogra airport to Darjeeling and I replied accordingly.

Siliguri is not 10 kms. from Darjeeling!!

Jun 6th, 2004, 22:53

siliguri is 12 KM from bagdogra. darjeeling is 95 km on the other side(so about a hundred KM from bagdogra IIRC).

I can't believe I'm talking in KM.

IainC · Jun 6th, 2004, 23:03

There are no pre-paid taxis at Bagdogra. There are a lot of jeeps and taxis, who will assume that as you can afford to fly, then you can afford Rs1000 to Darjeeling. Haggling can get this down to Rs600-700. Sharing makes it cheaper. You could just get a taxi to Darjeeling Moor, which is actually just between Siliguri and Bagdogra, where you can get a bus or shared jeep (Rs100) to Darjeeling.

Jun 6th, 2004, 23:06

or from siliguri(or even from newjalpaiguri...)

cyberhippie · Jun 6th, 2004, 23:41

Wow IainC, the prices you talk about are a bit extreme not that I'm not doubting your info, your pretty well travelled in this region I believe!
But 600 rupees for 12 KMs even in the mountains is quite a lot, are there really no buses?
Ah well I live and learn.
The other answer, if cost is an issue, is to jump in a shared jeep join the 16 other weary travellers as the jeep pants its way up the steep inclines!
For a trip of only 12 KMs it's not a bad option, I once did it through the tea gardens on my way back from Legship in Sikkim. to Darjeeling, my back side was black and blue great fun though!

Jun 6th, 2004, 23:42

I now feel like the aflak duck.

It's not 12 KM dude!!! it's about a hundred KM to darjeeling from bagdogra airport.link

cyberhippie · Jun 7th, 2004, 00:25

"I must learn to read what's in front of me"

Right so as the airport is on the far side of Siliguri the transport options for getting to Darjeeling improve dramatically!
First IainC's idea of 600-1000 for a taxi is now a much better prospect (sorry Iain!) if you want speed things up then this is certainly worth looking at!
Otherwise get to Siliguri and from there you can choose from state buses, the "toy Train", or a glut of taxis and private buses

I seem to remember our taxi took the main road which followed the "toy line" most of the way upto Darjeeling with a few "major exceptions" of course!
Some of the better views and interesting loops and switchbacks that this line takes you won't see by taxi or bus.
If indeed the line is running just now, it had some pretty serious set backs last year???

Anyway have a night in Siliguri get up early for the trip, whether by bus, train or taxi it's breathtaking at times!!

shanshas · Jun 7th, 2004, 01:05

As albaruni says, Siliguri is 10 to 12 km from Bagdogra airport and New Jalpaiguri is another 10 to 12 km from Siliguri. Siliguri and NJP are medium sized town in North Bengal at the foothills of the Himalayas. Though the location sounds great, both these town have nothing to offer by way of interest or sceneic beauty to the traveller.

Darjelling is about 100 km from Bagdogra airport. It is possible to get taxis from Bagdogra airport to Darjeeling. The prices vary enormously depending on the season (Rs. 500 to Rs. 1500 for a full taxi).

Your options are:
1. Try to get a shared taxi. You can ask the taxi drivers or other people who appear to be tourists on the flight itself
2. take the toy train to Darjeeling. But I think the train leaves in the morning and since you will be flying in, you would get in at mid afternoon so you would have to spend a night in Siliguri.
3. There are a number of buses operating between Siliguri / NJP and Darjeeling. So you will have to take a (shared) taxi to Siliguri bus stand and take the next available bus. This should vbe the cheapest option.
4. Take a shared taxi from Siliguri. Once agin you wil have to ask around for the main taxi stand. The prices here would be cheaper than at Bagdodra airport.

Feel free to pm me if there is more information you require

Jun 7th, 2004, 01:17

there's a forty-fifty KM ride between siliguri and darjeeling that (in the beginning anyway) goes along the river(ganges IIRC) which is worth stopping off at various points, sply if the weather is good. (this was one of the reasons why the darjeeling trip was so memorable for me..)

vistet · Jun 7th, 2004, 01:27

Quote:

Originally posted by shanshas
2. take the toy train to Darjeeling. But I think the train leaves in the morning and since you will be flying in, you would get in at mid afternoon so you would have to spend a night in Siliguri.

This also applied (2002) if you arrived by train : the Rajdhani Express arrived, on schedule , one hour after the toy train had left.

Eiither way , it was a great road experience.

steven_ber · Jun 7th, 2004, 05:05

The following is from a person (me) who still hasn't travelled this route.

The hill railway was the making of Darjeeling, it may be slow, but it is reputed to be the most scenic rail journey in the world.

Many people will happily pay $20 to see the Taj Mahal, but $3 to travel a scenic journey of 8 hours seems too much, yet both are World Heritage Sites.

You could probably parachute to the top of Mt. Everest, but that would never give you an idea of how difficult it was at one time to reach the peak.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is now a private run company who are is serious danger of running out of money and going out of business, In the future some tourists will say that they had the pleasure of travelling on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, others will say that they saved an hour or so and took the jeep.

Jun 6th, 2004, 07:43	#1
Bopper Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 7	Getting to Darjeeling Wondering if anyone has gone from Bagdogra airport to Darjeeling. I would imagine there are pre-paid taxis at the airport, but I'll bet they are expensive. Anyone know of other (cheaper) options for getting to Darjeeling from Bagdogra? Bopper

Jun 6th, 2004, 08:09	#2
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,126	Bagdogra is just 10 kms. from Darjeeling. Apart from Taxis, there are buses, which will be far cheaper. __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

Jun 7th, 2004, 00:25	#11
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	*Ah bo@@@x** "I must learn to read what's in front of me" Right so as the airport is on the far side of Siliguri the transport options for getting to Darjeeling improve dramatically! First IainC's idea of 600-1000 for a taxi is now a much better prospect (sorry Iain!) if you want speed things up then this is certainly worth looking at! Otherwise get to Siliguri and from there you can choose from state buses, the "toy Train", or a glut of taxis and private buses I seem to remember our taxi took the main road which followed the "toy line" most of the way upto Darjeeling with a few "major exceptions" of course! Some of the better views and interesting loops and switchbacks that this line takes you won't see by taxi or bus. If indeed the line is running just now, it had some pretty serious set backs last year??? Anyway have a night in Siliguri get up early for the trip, whether by bus, train or taxi it's breathtaking at times!!

Jun 7th, 2004, 05:05	#15
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,555	The following is from a person (me) who still hasn't travelled this route. The hill railway was the making of Darjeeling, it may be slow, but it is reputed to be the most scenic rail journey in the world. Many people will happily pay $20 to see the Taj Mahal, but $3 to travel a scenic journey of 8 hours seems too much, yet both are World Heritage Sites. You could probably parachute to the top of Mt. Everest, but that would never give you an idea of how difficult it was at one time to reach the peak. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is now a private run company who are is serious danger of running out of money and going out of business, In the future some tourists will say that they had the pleasure of travelling on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, others will say that they saved an hour or so and took the jeep. Attached Thumbnails __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information. RAC & Waitlists explained.

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Jun 6th, 2004, 13:26	#3
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 2,256	Oops.. I´m sure you meant Siliguri, Shimla. I shared a taxi with two French girls from Siliguri to Darjeeling. Remember them vividly ; have no recollection whatsoever what we paid for the taxi /jeep. Cheapest option is the toy train New Jalgaipuri (8 klicks south Siliguri) -Darjeeling. Requires or develops a Buddha nature ; remember being overtaken by an elderly gentleman in lungi at a level section - on a bicycle.

Jun 6th, 2004, 13:41	#4
albaruni Posts: n/a	what! and miss the sights at kurse-yong and kalimpong? A jonga from siliguri lets you stop on the way like a train never will.(they rip you off though).

Jun 6th, 2004, 22:53	#6
albaruni Posts: n/a	siliguri is 12 KM from bagdogra. darjeeling is 95 km on the other side(so about a hundred KM from bagdogra IIRC). I can't believe I'm talking in KM.

Jun 6th, 2004, 23:03	#7
IainC Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London Posts: 194	There are no pre-paid taxis at Bagdogra. There are a lot of jeeps and taxis, who will assume that as you can afford to fly, then you can afford Rs1000 to Darjeeling. Haggling can get this down to Rs600-700. Sharing makes it cheaper. You could just get a taxi to Darjeeling Moor, which is actually just between Siliguri and Bagdogra, where you can get a bus or shared jeep (Rs100) to Darjeeling.

Jun 6th, 2004, 23:06	#8
albaruni Posts: n/a	or from siliguri(or even from newjalpaiguri...)

Jun 6th, 2004, 23:41	#9
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Wow IainC, the prices you talk about are a bit extreme not that I'm not doubting your info, your pretty well travelled in this region I believe! But 600 rupees for 12 KMs even in the mountains is quite a lot, are there really no buses? Ah well I live and learn. The other answer, if cost is an issue, is to jump in a shared jeep join the 16 other weary travellers as the jeep pants its way up the steep inclines! For a trip of only 12 KMs it's not a bad option, I once did it through the tea gardens on my way back from Legship in Sikkim. to Darjeeling, my back side was black and blue great fun though!

Jun 6th, 2004, 23:42	#10
albaruni Posts: n/a	I now feel like the aflak duck. It's not 12 KM dude!!! it's about a hundred KM to darjeeling from bagdogra airport.link

Jun 7th, 2004, 01:05	#12
shanshas Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Calcutta, India Posts: 51	As albaruni says, Siliguri is 10 to 12 km from Bagdogra airport and New Jalpaiguri is another 10 to 12 km from Siliguri. Siliguri and NJP are medium sized town in North Bengal at the foothills of the Himalayas. Though the location sounds great, both these town have nothing to offer by way of interest or sceneic beauty to the traveller. Darjelling is about 100 km from Bagdogra airport. It is possible to get taxis from Bagdogra airport to Darjeeling. The prices vary enormously depending on the season (Rs. 500 to Rs. 1500 for a full taxi). Your options are: 1. Try to get a shared taxi. You can ask the taxi drivers or other people who appear to be tourists on the flight itself 2. take the toy train to Darjeeling. But I think the train leaves in the morning and since you will be flying in, you would get in at mid afternoon so you would have to spend a night in Siliguri. 3. There are a number of buses operating between Siliguri / NJP and Darjeeling. So you will have to take a (shared) taxi to Siliguri bus stand and take the next available bus. This should vbe the cheapest option. 4. Take a shared taxi from Siliguri. Once agin you wil have to ask around for the main taxi stand. The prices here would be cheaper than at Bagdodra airport. Feel free to pm me if there is more information you require

Jun 7th, 2004, 01:17	#13
albaruni Posts: n/a	there's a forty-fifty KM ride between siliguri and darjeeling that (in the beginning anyway) goes along the river(ganges IIRC) which is worth stopping off at various points, sply if the weather is good. (this was one of the reasons why the darjeeling trip was so memorable for me..)

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