Darjeeling Things to Do

This Buddhist stupa (Peace Pagoda) was designed by Dr. M. Okha, who also designed the Japanese Temple nearby. Under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii founder of the Nipponzan-Myôhôji Buddhist Order, it took 3 years to construct. The Peace Pagoda is all white and is 94 feet high and 75 feet in diameter. There are sculptures all around the Pagoda that portray the four incarnations of the life of Buddha.

There are 70 Peace Pagodas around the world - built with the intention of uniting people of all races and religions in their search for world peace.

Both the Peace Pagoda and Japanese Temple are very calm places. Spend some time visiting both and enjoying the wonderful views.

See my Darjeeling travelogues for additional photos of the Peace Pagoda.

This was one of my 2 favorite places/experiences in Darjeeling.

Thousands of Tibetan refugees - including the Dalai Lama - settled in Darjeeling after the Chinese invasion. The center was established in 1959 which gave the refugees the opportunity to continue practicing (or learning) their skills (woodwork, carpet weaving, etc.) and provided a sales outlet.

The complex today, consists of an orphange, school, clinic, home for the elderly, the crafts workshops and showroom, and a gompa (Buddhist temple), and there are over 750 people living there.

We spent time walking around the center and visiting the workshops. The people were so friendly, especially the children, who were absolutely delightful. I spent time photographing two little children (I just fell in love with them!) while Sandy played basketball with some older kids.

We made some purchases in the showroom (a beautiful wallhanging, among other things). The prices are similar to stores outside of the center but all of the money goes back into the Tibetan community (one of the reasons I wanted to visit in the first place) as the center is self-funded.

The center also takes donations and has opportunities for volunteers (teachers, medical staff, childcare and geriatric workers). Those interested in volunteering should contact the head office at the center or call 91 354 225 5938.
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The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Only the stores are open on Sunday.

I would not miss an opportunity to visit the center while in Darjeeling!

See my Darjeeling travelogues for additional photos from the center.

Also known as the Nipponjan Myohoji Buddhist Temple, the Japanese Temple is located near the Peace Pagoda. The temple, built in 1972, was designed in traditional Japanese architectural style by Dr. M. Okha. The inside is not very large but it is very colorful with several smallish statues of Buddha, flowers, and a large prayer book.

The philosophy of the temple is peace and spirituality. And you definitely feel that both inside the temple and outside where it is beautifully situated with a spectacular view of Mount Kanchenjunga and the Darjeeling city line.

Spend some time enjoying the garden and the view before heading to the Peace Pagoda.

The temple is open from 4:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. You may enter and take photographs except fduring prayertime. Shoes must be removed and left outside.

See my Darjeeling travelogues for additional photos of the temple.

The Yiga Chholing Monastery, also known as Ghoom Monastery is one of the most famous monasteries in the area. It sits at an altitude of almost 7,500 feet a few kilometers from Darjeeling. It was established sometime between 1850 and 1875.

It is a Yellow-hat Buddhist Monastery - a school of Buddhism founded by Tibetan religious leader and philosopher, Tsongkhapa - although its most influential figure is the Dalai Lama.

The inside is colorful - reds, yellows, blues - and ornate. A photograph of the Dalai Lama is prominently displayed. It houses Buddist scriptures and the 15 foot high sacred statue of Maitreya Buddha (Future Buddha).

There were also musical instruments used during prayer services, dozens of monk’s cloth covered prayer books and a table full of candles. Feel free to light a candle. Take time to take in all the fine details - it was fascinating. Don't miss the prayer wheel out front (as you recite a prayer you turn the wheel and it is supposed to bring purification).

You'll need to find someone to ask permission to enter and you may take photos. A donation is customary.

See my Darjeeling travelogues for additional photos of the monastery.

The zoo was actually established to conserve and preserve Himalayan fauna. I had read that Padmaja Naidu Zoo had a breeding program for snow leopards and this was my reason for wanting to visit the zoo. Sadly, the program was inactive when we visited and we only saw one very unhappy snow leopard. The program was unsuccessful due to the disturbance of visitors and the leopards were moved. However the zoo is a well-known center for captive breeding of other endangered species and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

I was very disappointed with the animal enclosures. The cages were too small - and the large cats especially - paced aimlessly. I found it to be a little distressing and surprising for a zoo that has the types of programs that this one does.

The setting was very green, peaceful and clean(!) and there were some wonderful animals including Tibetan wolves, red pandas, Himalyan bears, and other rare alpine animals. India's only Siberian tigers are here as well. The wolves were very playful and the red pandas were very cute.

If in Darjeeling, it's worth a stop to see some animals that you might not otherwise see. Hopefully the snow leopards will be back.

See my Darjeeling travelogues for additional zoo photos.

The zoo is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Entrance fee is Rs 100, with an additional small charge for cameras.

World-famous tea is Darjeeling's most famous export. Over 40,000 people work at the 100+ tea plantations ("gardens") in the area. Although this area produces 1/4 of India's tea (and that's alot of tea), still 80% is exported. Darjeeling tea is considered "mild" but tea from some of the estates is very high quality tea, with one estate getting paid $220 per kg. It is said that another estate, Margaret's Hope, supplies tea to Buckingham Palace. Darjeeling's black tea in considered one of the world's most prized varieties.

Happy Valley Tea Estate is the most convenient to Darjeeling. Between April to November, plucking and processing is in progress and the factory is open for tours. It is by no means a "high tech" place, it's actually quite dilapidated.

While we were there, the factory was closed because the season was over but our driver managed to find someone with a set of keys to give us a personal tour. It was interesting to see the place and learn about the working environment – how the leaves are separated and dried, etc.

That particular place employed a couple of hundred people most working in the fields picking tea. They were required to pick 8 kilograms (17.6 pounds) of tea per day for Rupees 45 (about $1). If they picked less they were paid less. Over 1,000 kgs. were processed daily. The tea plants look like “bushes” and you have to pick only the “bottom” leaves. Mostly what was left on the plants at the time we visited were the unusable top leaves.

If you go during the season, you can visit between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. An employee will give you a tour. There's no charge, but a tip is expected.

On the drive to/from the estate, there are stands selling cups of different varieties of tea. Be sure to stop and try some!

We were not familiar with the Ava Art Gallery prior to our trip. It was one of those places that your driver insists on taking you to although this time the stop was welcomed!

The gallery was started by the late Ava Devi in 1965. Ava is known as the "embroidery maestro" of Darjeeling. The gallery houses dozens of her works - some done by traditional methods of painting. But it is her hand embroidery ("thread" paintings) that you won't want to miss. Her embroidery work was very dark in color but you will appreciate her skill.

Among the paintings on display are "Still Strong" and "Torture", considered two of her best works.

Make a point to stop in while on your way to Ghoom or Tiger Hill. No photos inside.

The gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

There is no entrance charge.

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U must have to take a big round around the city and take a sip of fresh and great taste tea on road side small hut shops ,the shops are run by the young girls .they welcome u with nice smile. U can see that small roadside shops are really catching the atractions of school going children.