Getting to Darjeeling

SHIMLA · Jun 7th, 2004, 09:13

Sorry, vistet; and thanks albaruni! You're both right, I was the one who got confused!!

Bopper · Jun 7th, 2004, 11:52

Thanks everybody for the great information. Shanshas, thanks for all of your options. I think finding some people on the flight who are also going to Darjeeling and then sharing a taxi/jeep is the best option.

Someone told me that there is was a pre-paid taxi booth in Bagdogra airport, but I guess that information is not correct. If it turns out that there is one, I'll post it here. I leave on Tuesday for India and will be in Darjeeling on Thursday!

Bopper

Bryan · Jun 7th, 2004, 17:19

The train is a great way to travel and it really is tiny. Even smaller than you coudl ever imagine for a fully operating train

However the full 8 hour journey I think is only appealing to rail freaks ...At times you can walk faster and it is double the time the bus takes to ge there

A great way to sample it is to take a section of it ...It really is not to be missed

And if you're lucky on the road up you'll see one of those supremley Indian sites ...
A broken down Tata dumper truck which had broken down half way up being PUSHED UPHILL by around 20 Indians
it moved about a 1/4 of an inch eachtime and then large logs where stuck behind the wheels ..I don't know how long they'd been at it or how long it took them after I saw them but it seemed incredible to me

The picture I took never done the scene justice

Check out the road signs on the way up as well ...Some are incredibly funny

Bryan

Bopper · Jun 11th, 2004, 11:42

Well, for whatever it's worth, Bagdogra airport does have a pre-paid taxi booth. The airport is quite small, so you can't miss it. The cost of a taxi from the airport to Darjeeling is Rs. 790. It's a spectacular drive and the advantage of having your own taxi is that you can stop for a look at the views (also for water and bathroom breaks!). It takes roughly 3 hours for the drive.

Bopper

lightning · Jul 21st, 2004, 23:07

Hi all,

for the record;
today have just taken a shared jeep from Siliguri to Darjeeling for 72Rs per person. took nealy 4 hours, there were 4 across the front and back seats and 4 in the facing seats in the 'boot' Was Ok if a bit lurchy at times.

you can offer to buy out other seats if you want more room.
the prices are fixed (apparently by govt. subsidy or regulation)

prepaid taxis wanted 600Rs per person

Samsara · Jul 22nd, 2004, 13:45

I saw a great travel documentary last Sunday - Trekking in Darjeeling. They took a shared jeep to Darjeeling and stayed in the olde world Raj charm of the expensive Windermere hotel.

They travelled first class overnight sleeper from Calcutta. That looked good actually. And also it looked like the sleepers were the same as those used at least 30 years back! (They looked like the sleeper cars I used to take with my family in North-East India when I was a kid).

Then they went for a three day guided trek west of Darjeeling to try and get a view of Kanchanjunga but there was thick fog when they got there. But the trek was fascinating. Remote Hindu temples, Remote Buddhist monasteries with only one monk, tribes which still practised animism with their own shaman, great scenery etc.

I'ld love to take the toy train.

rockyS · Oct 8th, 2004, 02:50

bagdogra airport to darjeeling is approx 100 km , a taxi from the airport would cost u abt Rs 1200- 1500/- as of today(considering the hike in petrol prices) ,and i feel it is the best way to go considering time max 3 hrs , u can stop on the way and have a good look at all the beautiful sceneries on the way and take some nice pictures.

Jun 7th, 2004, 09:13	#16
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,126	Sorry, vistet; and thanks albaruni! You're both right, I was the one who got confused!! __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

Jun 7th, 2004, 17:19	#18
Bryan Mega Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 638	The train is a great way to travel and it really is tiny. Even smaller than you coudl ever imagine for a fully operating train However the full 8 hour journey I think is only appealing to rail freaks ...At times you can walk faster and it is double the time the bus takes to ge there A great way to sample it is to take a section of it ...It really is not to be missed And if you're lucky on the road up you'll see one of those supremley Indian sites ... A broken down Tata dumper truck which had broken down half way up being PUSHED UPHILL by around 20 Indians it moved about a 1/4 of an inch eachtime and then large logs where stuck behind the wheels ..I don't know how long they'd been at it or how long it took them after I saw them but it seemed incredible to me The picture I took never done the scene justice Check out the road signs on the way up as well ...Some are incredibly funny Bryan __________________ Then let us pray that come it may (As come it will for a' that), That Sense and Worth o'er a' the earth, Shall bear the gree an a' that. For a' that, an a' that, It's coming yet for a' that, That man to man, the world, o'er Shall brithers be for a' that. - Burns

Jul 21st, 2004, 23:07	#20
lightning wanderer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Karnataka Posts: 103	Siliguri to Darjeeling jeep Hi all, for the record; today have just taken a shared jeep from Siliguri to Darjeeling for 72Rs per person. took nealy 4 hours, there were 4 across the front and back seats and 4 in the facing seats in the 'boot' Was Ok if a bit lurchy at times. you can offer to buy out other seats if you want more room. the prices are fixed (apparently by govt. subsidy or regulation) prepaid taxis wanted 600Rs per person

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
help?-delhi to darjeeling	cobra	Domestic India Flights	14	Aug 2nd, 2005 03:59
Darjeeling	teeratiti	Darjeeling	2	May 25th, 2005 05:36
darjeeling	rockyS	India Travel Partners	1	Oct 13th, 2004 20:18
From Darjeeling to Kathmandu	neilor	India Travel Partners	3	Apr 14th, 2004 20:33
Shimla or Darjeeling ?	tracyprier	Other Areas	4	Apr 20th, 2002 22:23

Jun 7th, 2004, 11:52	#17
Bopper Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 7	Thanks everybody for the great information. Shanshas, thanks for all of your options. I think finding some people on the flight who are also going to Darjeeling and then sharing a taxi/jeep is the best option. Someone told me that there is was a pre-paid taxi booth in Bagdogra airport, but I guess that information is not correct. If it turns out that there is one, I'll post it here. I leave on Tuesday for India and will be in Darjeeling on Thursday! Bopper

Jun 11th, 2004, 11:42	#19
Bopper Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 7	Well, for whatever it's worth, Bagdogra airport does have a pre-paid taxi booth. The airport is quite small, so you can't miss it. The cost of a taxi from the airport to Darjeeling is Rs. 790. It's a spectacular drive and the advantage of having your own taxi is that you can stop for a look at the views (also for water and bathroom breaks!). It takes roughly 3 hours for the drive. Bopper

Jul 22nd, 2004, 13:45	#21
Samsara Sentient Being Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 507	I saw a great travel documentary last Sunday - Trekking in Darjeeling. They took a shared jeep to Darjeeling and stayed in the olde world Raj charm of the expensive Windermere hotel. They travelled first class overnight sleeper from Calcutta. That looked good actually. And also it looked like the sleepers were the same as those used at least 30 years back! (They looked like the sleeper cars I used to take with my family in North-East India when I was a kid). Then they went for a three day guided trek west of Darjeeling to try and get a view of Kanchanjunga but there was thick fog when they got there. But the trek was fascinating. Remote Hindu temples, Remote Buddhist monasteries with only one monk, tribes which still practised animism with their own shaman, great scenery etc. I'ld love to take the toy train.

Oct 8th, 2004, 02:50	#22
rockyS LIVE LIFE KINGSIZE Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: CAL Posts: 264	bagdogra airport to darjeeling is approx 100 km , a taxi from the airport would cost u abt Rs 1200- 1500/- as of today(considering the hike in petrol prices) ,and i feel it is the best way to go considering time max 3 hrs , u can stop on the way and have a good look at all the beautiful sceneries on the way and take some nice pictures.