Darjeeling Off The Beaten Path

4 more images

Sunrise at Tiger Hill is the best attraction for Darjeeling, so I put it here in Off the beaten path! It is one of the best Sunrises visible on the Earth! Tiger hill is about 18/19 kms from Darjeeling takes about less than an hour in Jeep. But to witness the breathtaking Sunrise from 9000 Feet, you need to get up at 3.00AM and board in the prefixed Jeep ( They will come to your hotel and fix up, don't worry). The fare would be around Rs.100 /120 or US$1.2 for the five point visit on return. Please be sure that you board on Jeep on time or else you will miss the greatest Sunrise! The Jeep will take to the viewing point by 5.00 or 5.30 just at the beginning of dawn. With in moments you shall find the area around you and the snow capped mountain Kanchendzonga has turned in to Golden Colour! But this precious moment will last only about 15/20 minutes.

Please avoid monsoons to go there and also cloudy days. The best time to visit/ witness in summer or in winter ( February to June then October to January). On return you will be able to see Sinchal Lake, the reservoir supplying water to Darjeeling and Ghoom Monastry!

Have a look at the pictures of Sunrise taken in October 1984 by film camera! Continued to page -2.

Mirik can be visited as a day outing. It takes around 3-4 hours one way journey (by personal cab). Although there is not much to see there apart from a big lake and surrounding park, it is quite peaceful and romantic spending time there watching people on boats and ponies. One side of lake is covered by huge pine trees.
The journey from Darjeeling to Mirik is absolutely fabulous. All along the way you will find green tea gardens. Do remember to take photos there. I took some and they are just great.