seeking Darjeeling info and advice

hi everyone.

i've been to various places to india but never to Darjeeling. i'd like to go there in the very near future. (within the next 20-30 days)

so such of those, who are in the know of the place, and the attractions thereof, would you please share your expert opinions with me?

which are the better places (towns) to see and which are the must see places? is sikkim an advisable add-on? are 7-8 days enough for the whole trip? one night's journey should take me to NJP. what are some of the better plans of action, after that ?

i am really not the trekking-camping type... just the "see", "feel", "submerge" and "experience" sort ... so thats the kind of info i am seeking.

all suggestions and tips are welcome. hotel recos. and reliable travel agency names too.

thank you.

Please log on to this :- http://darjeelingnews.net/ (Hope many of your questions will be answered )

There are lots to see around Darjeeling. Lava , Lolegaon , Rishabh are current favourites to the tourists. http://www.wbtourism.com/lava_lolegaon.htm

Sikkim is allways an advisable add-on if you have sufficient time.

thanks ddutta.
i will look at those sites.

but cant someone give me some first hand advice ?

are 7 days enough for D + sikkim ??

Hi Bengal Tiger,

So far my personal experience goes, Sikkim is a nice place and I’ll try to arrange my Darjeeling / Sikkim tour like this:

Day 01:
Bagdogra(flight) / NJP(train) to Gantok hundreds of hotels are there.

Day 02:
Gantok Local tour (must see = Institute of Tibetology, Orchid Exhibition, Rumtek Monastery, Tashi view Point, Enchey Monastery, Ganesh Top, Hanuman Top etc.)
Arrange for a travel agent to visit “Nathu la”, “Baba Mandir” and “Tsomgo lake”.

Day 03:
“Nathu la”, “Baba Mandir” and “Tsomgo lake”.


Day 04:
Gantok – Peling. (Hotel Pandim is the best hotel at Peling for viewing and other facilities). After lunch go for a 20 min trek to Sangakcholing Monastry.
(do not forget that u r not visiting Yumthang, u r going to miss a lot in Sikkim).

Day 04:
Pelling local tour . Pemyangsy Monastery, Kanchendongha Falls, Rimbi falls, Chhange Falls, Khechiperi Lake, Sinsore Bridge among the common list but, if possible, try to visit Yuksam – earlier capital of Sikkim and come back to Peling.

Day 05:
Peling to Darjeeling. Take a share jeep to Jorthang and another share jeep for Darjeeling. I prefer to stay at ‘Darjeeling tourist lodge’ (a Govt. of West Bengal hotel, phone no. 0354 2254411 / 2254413) for an exotic view of Kanchendzongha from over-crowded Darjeeling and the best quality of tea. If you’ve no booking at Darjeeling, I’ll suggest you to stay there for the first night and find another hotel of your choice.

Day 06 & 07:
Darjeeling Local tour
Must see – sunrise from tiger hill, Darjeeling zoo, Ghoom Monastry, joy ride on Toy train, etc. (there are package tours called some - seven point or like that.). Another monastery is there in Darjeeling - Bhutiya Basti which is neglected but I found it very beautiful. Walkable distance, to be there u have to ask local people, but just for ur refrnc. a step like path beside the Tibetan Refugee Centre which leads to that monastery.

Day 08:
Darjeeling to Shiliguri-NJP / Bagdogra

Hope you will enjoy the tour.

Thanks ,
Somnath

thanks a million somnath. just the kind of info i was hoping for

i liked the itenary too... but will have to cut it short by one day somewhere. otherwise its perfect. you are suggesting gantok first then sikkim and finally darjeeling arnt you?

just 2 questions....is the hotel pandim a moderately priced hotel ? and are there travel agancies that offer darjeeling "local sght seeing tour" packages?

thanks again !!

Now we can here that Bengal Tiger is roaring!!! Ha Ha….
OK, I am glad to here that you like this. Yes you are right; I’ll prefer Sikkim first and then Darjeeling as Shiliguri (the entry / exit point) to Gantok (Capital of Sikkim) is around 5hrs journey and Shiliguri to Darjeeling 3.5 hrs. And at the beginning of a tour when the energy level is high, it is better (in my opinion) to take the longer journey .


Qstn No. 1 - is the hotel Pandim a moderately priced hotel?

As compared to other places, Pelling is a bit costly. But rest assured, hotel Mt. Pandim(Tel. No.: (03592) 50756.) is not beyond the standard. One of my friends is in Sikkim tour now; he will be staying in the said hotel. Let him back I’ll be able to give you the exact room rent. Before that please have a look:
http://www.t2sikkim.com/hotel-bookin...l=MT.%20PANDIM

Qstn No. 1 - Are there travel agencies that offer Darjeeling "local sight seeing tour" packages?
Yes there are sooooo many. But I use to take a walk around the jeep / bus stand and try to ‘catch’ a driver who actually drives the car for those travel agencies or other tour operators. They are the providers of authentic info (it saves a lot of money too ). Or you can have a chat with the manager of the hotel where you are going to stay. As you are the customer of that hotel and their goodwill is related, they will give you the best possible suggestion. If you are alone no need to book any agency go to the jeep stand early morning, they will find out you .
You didn’t tell us from where you are going to start / end your journey. Anyway, happy hunting.

Somnath

Downloaded from the net http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.ne...kim/Sikkim.htm

Pelling ( Area Code: 03593 )

phew!!! thanks

Hi All

Is it ok to do that itinerary in reverse order (the 7 day one?). Someone said I should spend 7 days doing Darjeeling and will be travelling by toy train, but I thought this just meant 7 days in Darjeeling itself and using it as a base. I didnt realise about stopping along the way.

one other question - Can i just turn up and nfind accomodation when i get there, how easy is this?

Yes reverse order is not at all a problem. I think your friend denotes 7 days in Darjeeling keeping the surrounding areas in mind. You are trying to say you will be based at Darjeeling and go for a day’s tour and retune back to Darjeeling once again at night. No, that is not possible. Accommodation is not a great problem either at Darjeeling or Gantok or Pelling. Yes sometime it is crowded and the option ends for budget accommodation at a good location. Plz let us know about the timing then IMers can help you.

Thanks,
Somnath

if one is constrained with time then the fixture prescribed by Somnath is perfect....as always

but if one can able to oarrange two more days, just visit north sikkim, totally motorable. go to lachung-lachen-yumthang and chopta valley- gurdongmar lake in a 3days package from gangtok.

there are very few places where one is able to go so deep into the himalayas.
and still be on cars. dont miss the opportunity. we missed it due to lack of knowledge in a family tour when I was 14.. and still havn't have chance to compensate it.....

one can look into the sikkim forum

the toy train is usually fun but ... take care!!!!!

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...ow/1204903.cms

Does the toy train run all year?

Yes, it does - other than in exceptional circumstances.

Gee Somnath Da...you made a good plan...

I am planning to visit Darj and Sikkim in October but have only three days...what do you reckon?

My musts are a the best view of Kanchenjunga, the train to Darj, and at least one of these lakes (Tsomgo/gurudongmar ).