Darjeeling , a town in the Indian state of West Bengal, is internationally famous for its tea industry and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the headquarters of Darjeeling district, located in the Mahabharat Range or Lesser Himalaya at an average elevation of 6,710 ft (2,050 m).

Development of the town dates back to the mid-19th century, when the British set up a sanatorium and a military depot. Subsequently, extensive tea plantations were established in the region, and tea growers developed distinctive hybrids of black tea and created new fermenting techniques. The resultant distinctive Darjeeling tea is internationally recognised and ranks among the most popular of the black teas.

How to Reach

Darjeeling can be reached by the 88 km (55 mi) long Darjeeling Himalayan Railway from New Jalpaiguri, or by National Highway 55, also known as the Tenzing Norgay Road, from Siliguri, 80 km (50 mi) away.

Railway

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a 60 cm (24 in) narrow-gauge railway that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999 for being "an outstanding example of the influence of an innovative transportation system on the social and economic development of a multi-cultural region, which was to serve as a model for similar developments in many parts of the world", becoming only the second railway in the world to have this honour.

Airport

The nearest airport is in Bagdogra, located about 88 km (55 mi) from Darjeeling, and is connected by air with all metropolitan cities in India.

Tourist attraction in Darjeeling:

• The Mall
• Chowrasta
• Observatory Hill
• Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
• Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway