DARJ: The Fragrance of Beauty

With each sip of tea every morning, with each Anjan Dutta song, comes back the Darj. And with its thoughts come the beautiful images of rhododendrons and magnolias, miles of tea bushes and forests of silver fir. The view of the snow-capped Kanchenjunga from the Darj makes your day (only if the sky is less cloudy). Darjeeling means a cup of hot chocolate at Keventer’s, Darjeeling defines beauty of nature, an heritage, the Queen among the hill stations.

Keventer’s, Darjeeling

Darjeeling is famous for its tea. The Darjeeling tea, famous for its fragrance, is recognized and popular around the globe. The hot, steamed Momos, the Thukpas, and various other delicacies creates a plethora of options you can taste in Darjeeling. The local culture is rich, but Darj is known mainly for its beauty.

When in Darj, don’t forget to take a ride on the famous toy trains of DHR (Darjeeling Himalayan Railways), declared a Heritage site by UNESCO. Go trekking, water-rafting, birding, butter flying, enjoy to your heart’s content. Immerse yourself in the beauty.

The Toy Train

 Take a morning walk around the mall and the Chowrasta. Enjoy the foggy mornings. Feel the wind. Live Darjeeling. Keep a dawn for Tiger Hill. A fascinating site, seeing the sunrise over Kanchenjunga. It changes lives, I tell you. And if you are lucky enough, you will get a glimpse of Mount Everest.

Tea Gardens, Darjeeling

The other notable places are the Peace Pagoda and the Batasia Loop- a feat of marvelous engineering. The Zoo . The Observatory Hill. Go around the gardens and spend hours seeing the women plucking tea. Their simplicity will leave a mark. A must go to place for photographers. Watch out for the fog to create wonders. The bird lovers should not miss this. And fellow traveler, Darj is waiting , at the foothills of the Himalayas with her chilly air and warm welcome.

 P.S: Trains are available from Kolkata to Siliguri, 80kms from Darjeeling, and then a bus or a car.

There are plenty of hotels in Darj, but always book in advance. So, Darj Awaits!!

 (image courtesy: Google images)

• About the Author

About Shreejit Guha

Run, Jump, Climb to the cliffs of Isolation and jump into the sea of madness and cacophony. Listen intently to the paroxysm and choose your way. Be content. And be Confused. Thus is my philosophy.