This place was underestimated by me when we made the plan to visit this place.Underestimated both in beauty and cold.We took only a handful of winter clothes for it.I was only excited a bit.You have to go through siliguri to darjeeling if you chose railways.I went in April 2010 and the cold was like hell(imagine what it would have been in December.)When you will reach siliguri, perhaps you will see the toy train and your excitement will start from there itself.(even siliguri is a nice place for shopping).Hire a sumo/bolero and head for darj.
It will take 2 hours approx. to reach there.Advance booking of hotel is very necessary otherwise you will have to wander here and there with your luggage(no auto rickshaw, you won’t find them at hill-stations).If you chose a very good hotel, you will get nice food otherwise worst food you have had ever ate.The solution to this is to eat at various restaurants.(they are nice).
Contact the hotelwala for local sight seeing.It will complete in 2 days.Tiger hill is a beautiful place but the sunrise isn’t wonderful enough.Zoo, tea garden, rock garden, batasia loop, various Buddhist temples are places that you must see.(don’t forget to take your camera/camcorder).3rd day should be dedicated to shopping and toy train ride.Shop wisely as there is a lot of chance that you will be cheated.Jackets/sweaters are things to buy wisely.They are damn expensive in darjeeling.(it was for me)There is big bazaar where you can watch movies as well as shop..Toy train is a damn cheap thing which will offer you a ride that you will always cherish.Don’t take the special ticket as it is Rs 400/- per head.I feel there is not a bit of difference in general and special ticket(special one is for foreigners, as they spend a lot of money)Take the trip to ghoom from darj.(20km)(ticket=rs. 2/-, believe it or not).Close the windows of train while it is running sometimes, as coal filled by the person in the engine comes inside the compartment.NOTE-you will have to book tickets in advance or as early as possible in the morning(8 am).I recommend you go to darjeeling for sure if you are planning to go to a hill-station.You can buy musical instruments in siliguri(they are cheap here).I also recommend you to go to gangtok and changu lake of which I can’t describe in this review(it will become too long.Search for them in google.)
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