How safe is Darjeeling?

East of the Sun

Hi! New to IndiaMike but seems like a very useful sight for all things Indian!

I'm planning to do some voluntary work in Darjeeling and Kalimpong for 4-6 months from Jan 09. I've visited India many times before but this will be my first time to the Darjeeling region. I'm just curious to know how safe it is for a young woman coming in on her own?

Any other tips are very welcome!

Thanks!

machadinha

There shouldn't normally be much of anything unsafe about it (and being familiar with India already, you should be pretty much set to go, it won't be much different than anywhere else there. Well, if anything, those hills folks tend to leave you alone a little more You'll find a whole jumble of various people living there though, it's really an interesting area), however, the region has over the past decade or two seen its local tensions, which flared up again earlier this year. So you might want to read up on this a little. I'm not aware this is currently an issue btw, but it's probably good to know a little about.

See for instance http://www.indiamike.com/india/west-...trikes-t51082/ on those events this year, and then you can just search on on this site or elsewhere on it.

For some of the backgrounds, try also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorkhaland .

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dutts

If you are with your family, I must say thay that, you should NOT go. You shall not be able to bare their pain when you are in a typical distress. Unless Government (not locals) declares or you come to know form a number of tourists that it is safe now, no question of going there.

Wonderonomic

What does this mean???? Totally ununderstandable!!!

The lady has been in India bevor. I think she will be fine.

Jajabar

Friends - just went thru' your discussions. Wud like to add my experiences when me & my hubby went to Darjeeling & Kurseong in October this year. Kurseong is very quiet & peaceful. People out there are very helpful. The local people in this area are simply mad with us (the Bengali's). They hate to talk in our language though they are still part of the state of West Bengal where the language of communication is mainly Bengali. So we had to talk to them in Hindi / English. But the policemen in Kurseong showed us the diredtions to some local sights/destinations in Bengali only in a very friendly manner. When we reached Darjeeling, a group of 3 members from the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council greeted us with a Khada (a narrow piece of white silk used to honour someone) & a packet of Tea. They added with, "Please go down to the plains & tell the others to come uphill since there is no dispute & fight whatsoever in the hills anymore & that you will be safe here." I narrated the situation which we faced in Darjeeling in October this year. Darjeeling is my most favourite holiday destination. So, inspite of repeated oppositions from our relatives & friends we decided to go to Darjeeling only for our second honeymoon after five years of married life. And I must say that after coming back both of us consider the desicion to be a really wise one b'coz after so long we found a Darjeeling free from crowds. Now I leave it up to you to decied what you should do.

dutts

Have you gone through the Kolkata based newspapers in April, May this year?
Tourists were forced out of Hotels (form majority) at 10pm in rains and cold. People had to pay Rs.8000 for comming down by a car to Siliguri/NJP (info: the rate is Rs.750-1000 in season), a plate of chowmin was charged Rs. 500 (normal rate: Rs.30-40).......so on and so forth.
Government had to arrange special trains to rescue tourists.

I jusy want to mention I live very close to Darjeeling wrt your place.I have been 9 times to Darjeeling. I have nothing against nobody.I just shared my pain (and of many others also) here.

Pls note, train tickets for Darjeeling (NJP Station) from Kolkata generally becomes unavailable after the 1st day of openning of booking(90 days before journey) for Puja holidays (October). This year they were available till last week of September.

machadinha

Yes, but reports here since, like your fellow Kolkatan member Jajabar's above, have indicated things have quieted down again, at least for the time being.

Of course, it's always good for people to get themselves a little informed about a given area's backgrounds, then make up their minds.

dutts

Right, i am not denying stray incidents like that. But, DGHC members are not those who created (...ing) troubles.
What I would say to foreigners is, be well informed about the very present situation, be very sure, before going there....
If you come to Siliguri, you will get real information.
It is of no meaning, to get in to a miserable situation on a pleasure trip.

somnath

As per my personal experience from my last visit (after this Darjeeling problem) I can say sudden strike / bandh may affect normal daily life but definitely not something that serious to drop the idea to visit the place.
It is recommended…… and good suggestion to be updated regarding the latest situation.

Jajabar, lovely profile pic !!!!

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machadinha

btw For local news, try also http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/india.htm .

Just keep in mind the papers by nature may be a little more fixated on the danger and troublesome side of things, going by them you might want to give my town of Amsterdam (and no doubt OP's city of London) a miss. Criminals, drugs, robbery and murder and local tensions everywhere, you know!

But, and as reiterated throughout this thread now, it's good to keep an eye, of course.

btw Nice to see Somnath in here, hi Somnath His post-trip briefing from last August: Safety in North Bengal/Sikkim .

mantru

Hi Darjeeling is a safe place,there are occasions where the normal life will be affected due to strikes but not a major problem where your life is threatned.......if you are planning to stay for 4-6 months..you'll make friends and you'll be safe...

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arkadeep

Hi,

Is there any update on the proposed strike by GJMM from 27th-29th ?

AshleyThomas

Hi just wanted to let you know that I am travelling in Darjeeling by myself and it seems absolutely fine! I've been in Kolkata by myself and am surviving that well, but Darjeeling feels like a dream compared to that. Darjeeling is a good place, I think you'll like being here for so long.

Men here do not stare, comment or grope, which is a real relief. At the moment there are a lot of Indian tourists here, and some of this happens from them, but it's clear who is local and who isn't.

It gets dark quite early and there isn't a lot of lighting outside which means that I've been getting back to my hotel (Aliment Hotel - highly recommended)fairly early so I can't really comment on staying out after dark...

Hope this helps.

njoi

Hi we are in Darjeeling and we were told at the train station that there is a Bandh today and tommorow which means no train services. Lots of drumming and rallies last night until 3am this morning but the atmosphere is good and there seems to be no problem for visitors other than minor inconveniences. Most of the taxis and shops are still open so still able to get about.

palerider

I was in Darjeeling in July. There was a bandh then. They have decided to keep the bandh in place until the government gives them Autonomy, apparently.
The tourist office was closed almost permanently, but all the shops defied the bandh, because they need money for food etc. But it's not unsafe, there's no hassles. No-one yelled at me or threw me out of my hotel, or anything. I was earbashed a few times about the local troubles, bur apart from that , there was nothing but politeness, and friendliness toward tourists.
The toy railway wasn't running, which pissed me off, but apart from that there was no trouble. The hotel manager said it was a normal off season time for the hotel.
A lot of Indian tourists as well as foreigners.
In some ways, it was a lot more pleasant than Siliguri or places down the mountain.
No-one tried to hassle me to buy stuff, no touts, I could walk around in the cool mountain air and just be left alone. I sat in the street stalls eating with not a soul hassling me. It was delightful.

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