| Darjeeling - Post your Darjeeling questions, or comments about Darjeeling here. Information on Darjeeling attractions, Darjeeling hotels, and Darjeeling accomodations. |
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#1 |
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Posts: n/a
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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. |
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#2 |
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Maha Guru Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: kolkata
Posts: 803
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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. |
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#3 |
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Posts: n/a
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thanks ddutta.
i will look at those sites. but cant someone give me some first hand advice ? are 7 days enough for D + sikkim ?? |
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#4 |
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Maha Guru Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Calcutta
Posts: 2,545
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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 |
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#5 |
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Posts: n/a
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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 !! ![]() |
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#6 |
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Maha Guru Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Calcutta
Posts: 2,545
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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 |
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#7 | |
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Maha Guru Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: kolkata
Posts: 803
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Quote:
Pelling ( Area Code: 03593 ) Where to Stay and Eat Kabur Hotel (50685), in Upper Pelling, has rooms with bath for Rs 600/750 and dorm beds for Rs 60. It has a restaurant. View Point (50638) has basic rooms with common bath for Rs 300 and rooms with bath for Rs 500. Garuda Hotel (50614), near where the bus stops, is a popular place with travelers that has clean rooms with common bath (bucket hot water) for Rs 150/200, a double with bath for Rs 450 and a deluxe double with hot water for Rs 550. It has a good, cheap restaurant. It is a helpful, well-managed place where you can safely leave your things while trekking. It has a trekking log worth looking at. Recommended. Mt Pandim Hotel (50756), 2km from Pelling, in a peaceful location near the road leading to Pemayangtse Gompa, has rooms with bath for Rs 600/700 and a deluxe room with a view of Kanchenjunga for Rs 800/900 with an added 10% service charge. It has a restaurant. It could be better maintained. Sikkim Tourist Centre (50855) has rooms with bath and hot water for Rs 850 and Rs 900 with a view, which includes meals. Can be reserved at a Sikkim tourist office. |
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#8 |
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Posts: n/a
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phew!!! thanks
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#9 |
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Senior Member
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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? |
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#10 | |
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Maha Guru Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Calcutta
Posts: 2,545
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Quote:
Thanks, Somnath |
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#11 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: KOLKATA, INDIA
Posts: 324
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north sikkim
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 ![]()
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Njoy babu visit : http://www.webmania.co.za/travelmania/babu/index.shtml "The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget." |
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#12 | |
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Maha Guru Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: nasik, maharastra
Posts: 1,261
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Quote:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...ow/1204903.cms
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mooning over a moon journey |
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#13 |
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Maha Guru Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 707
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Does the toy train run all year?
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#14 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: England
Posts: 459
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Quote:
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#15 |
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Bulk Carrier
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Chennai
Posts: 1,846
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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 ).
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...and I took the road less travelled. |
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