Planning a Darjeeling trip from scratch

nisa

Calling everyone for help!

I'm from Singapore, and I'm thinking of planning a trip to India, for the first time. Not a very outskirts person, since I've been couped up on the small island all my life. So it's time for me to plan a little small adventure, and it seems like I'm not getting much started at the moment.

Currently, I'm planning to go somewhere in end Dec or early Jan.

Was thinking of getting to Darjeeling, and don't want to go by tours. Then I came to this site, and saw that there are just too many beautiful places that you guys have been talking about (contemplated on Gangtok for some time). But I guess, I should start with a small one and just focus on Darjeeling.

THEN, I realised that in Siliguri itself, there are so many places like Kalimpong, Mirik and those that in the other itinerary threads.

So.... being totally ignorant, making an idiot's guide for me, can someone give me a huge load of pointers: like Darjeeling is a small town? Then what are places like Mirik and Lava? Are they part of Darjeeling? And from where can I get to the Tiger Hill? And how do I travel around? From one place to another, there are train stops all around? Do I go up straight by the toy train to Darjeeling? Then are there stops at these other locations?

Any more suggestions of how I should go about a trip? I need all the tips I can get please... Thanks

julesa

darjeeling in beautiful. there is heaps to do and see around it. it's a hill station so walking is challenging and you can spend all day wondering the steep lanes and roads, through tea estates and monasteries.

well worth spending time there. i didn't make it to sikkim but apparently that is also well worth considering.

tiger hill is a short taxi ride from darjeeling town centre.

siliguri is at the bottom of the hill, you are better off taking a jeep (2-3 hours from memory) ride to darjeeling. the train ride takes a lot longer i understand it - if you've got the patience, go for it.

patrickday

darjeeling reachable from njp railway station share jeep ...darjeeling for myself is similar to gangtok and if i had limited time would do darjeeling, yes darjeeling is worth a visit

nisa

thanks....

and how about those Mirik, Ghum, Kalimpong places? Are they far from Darjeeling? How do I get there? Are those places part of Darjeeling, i.e. I just stay in a hotel in Darjeeling, and travel in the day to those places?

patrickday

yes stay in darjeeling go by jeep to these places, ghumm you can actually walk....

jyotirmoy

Remember that Darjeeling will be quite cold in winter and you are used to tropical weather. Carry sufficient woolens, choose a hotel which provides heating.
The best way to do this trip would be Fly Singapore to Kolkata. Take a train to New Jalpaiguri. From here take a shared jeep/cab.
You can go to Ghum by the toy train from Darjeeling, visit the Monastery and return by the train, a nice day's outing.

nisa

Thanks for the tip, I'm just afraid that mornings will be too too cold.... But I guess I'll have to try to find out. Will the air be very thin?

Hmm i'm kinda confused. I thought the toy train will bring you from NJP to Darjeeling?

How big is Darjeeling? I intend to stay there for a few days... Thought of flying to Kolkata, take an internal flight to Bagdogra, stay at Siliguri for a night, travel up to Darjeeling by train (that's why I thought the toy train comes in), then stay in Darjeeling for 3 nights or so, or like what others are doing, stay in Mirik or elsewhere for a night.

Will 4 days up there be good? Will there be train stops along the Toy Train?

fsg

Agree with jyotirmoy's sentiments.

It is cold damp and miserable in December/January, but with some lovely glimpses of the sun and mountains.

Personally I would not choose Darj dist to vist at that time of the year, especially for a first time visitor.
Look for somewhere a bit warmer, or go prepared with warm clothing and lots of it

jyotirmoy

Yes the toy train runs from NJP to Darjeeling. The train journey though scenic takes a long time. Many travelers use it for one way travel. You can get a taste of it by travelling from Darjeeling to Ghum & back.
Flying Kolkata to Bagdogra is convinient.
I can not figure out why you want to spend one night in Siliguri.
Darjeeling is a fairly big town.

jyotirmoy

fsg winter can be very sunny & clear in Darjeeling too and chances of viewing Kanchenjungha is quite high. Some times it can be foggy and bone chilling. Summer is often cloudy & wet in Darjeeling

nisa

Good idea... Maybe I'll take the Toy Train for a station or so just to experience it. There isn't much to do in Siliguri to stay for a night?

Can I explore into the tea fields on my own, or do I need a guide? Any regulations I need to know?

nisa

Also, does anyone have a map of Darjeeling hill? I only found one very rough guide. Need one with the exact road names. I've been seeing alot of road names like Ghandi road, Chowrastha, etc. And I don't know exactly where the hotels are visually. So if anyone has a very descriptive map, please send me the image. Thanks so much

fsg

Do a search, there are plenty out there,,,,,,,,,,,,,, however they are all on one plane and do NOT show the relief of the town, some bits can be VERY steep. Just like Simla.

What do you mean by Darjeeling hill?