Why You Should Actually Visit Darjeeling in Monsoon

Whenever we ask for suggestions from our friends and family for a monsoon travel destination in India, we get many options. Still, almost none of them will suggest visiting the hill station. The reason is we usually avoid mountains during the rainy season. But if I tell you that you should actually visit Darjeeling in Monsoon, will you be interested?

Confused, huh??

Well, let me tell you if you have ever been to Darjeeling and love this hill station, then you must revisit at least once during Monsoon. And if you have never gone there, then you can plan your first trip to Darjeeling right in the next monsoon. Monsoons turn Darjeeling into an enchanting place, and you must visit at least once during the rainy season to experience this magical atmosphere.

Why visit Darjeeling in Monsoon?

To most of us, Darjeeling is all about the majestic view of mighty Kanchenjunga, the 3rd highest peak in the world. But honestly, the magic of Darjeeling is something more than that. In fact, there are other places nearby Darjeeling that can offer an equally gorgeous view of this mountain. But those places can never substitute the ever-charismatic charm of Darjeeling to us.

If you want to feel the soul of Darjeeling, then visit there in Monsoon. You will love to explore Darjeeling beyond the “view of snow-capped mountains”.

Misty mountain roads, clouds playing at the top of the tall pine trees, gorgeous green shades all across the valley, toy train chugging through the white blanket of mist and musky-sweet aroma of Darjeeling tea — make Darjeeling a perfect getaway in Monsoon.

Monsoon is also the lean tourist season in Darjeeling which means –

• The hustle and bustle of tourists are minimal during this time. There is no queue outside Glenary’s or Keventer’s and there is no rush in Darjeeling Toy Train’s booking.
• And you will get the best deals on everything, be it accommodation, transport or shopping.

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Things To Do in Darjeeling in Monsoon

Enjoy “Joy Ride” in Darjeeling Toy Train

Ride in a Toy Train in Darjeeling is always a prime attraction for tourists. Only a few would waste such an opportunity. A Joy Ride from Darjeeling to Ghum on UNESCO World Heritage Railway passing across several attractions is always special.

The picture of Darjeeling Toy Train that we can portray in our mind is of a small train of two or three coaches pulled by a steam engine chugging along the narrow track and throwing a puff of smoke in the air every time it blows the whistle. Though nowadays diesel locomotives mostly run these trains, the nostalgia associated with this heritage ride does not seem to be reduced a bit.

The journey itself will take you back to the old days of the British Colonial Period. Tourists can enjoy the gorgeous view of the valley while taking a ride. The train halts at Batasia Loop for 10 minutes and at Ghum for 30 minutes to visit Ghum Rail Museum. The Hill Cart Road road that runs mostly parallel to the railway track reminds us of some popular scenes from Bollywood movies.

Have Your Breakfast in Glenary’s or Keventer’s

A trip to Darjeeling is incomplete without a visit to the best cafes and bakeries in the town, especially Glenary’s and Keventer’s. Both of these restaurants are situated on Nehru Road. Keventer’s rooftop has a fantastic view of the clock tower in front. You should try their famous breakfast platter full of sausage, ham, bacon and omelette accompanied by a glass of hot chocolate.

Glenary’s is my favourite restaurant in Darjeeling. A grilled sandwich, red velvet cake and a cup of Darjeeling tea served on the parapet with a view of Darjeeling town playing hide and seek with the cloud, always made my day.

A Ride in Darjeeling Ropeway

One of the best ways to enjoy the panoramic view of sprawling tea estates in Darjeeling is by taking a ride in Rangeet Valley Passenger Cable Car, popularly known as Darjeeling Ropeway.

The ride is from Singamari (3 km from Darjeeling Chowk Bazar) to Tukvar Tea Estate which takes 40 minutes for a round trip. You will get a view of lush green tea gardens, pine forests, and flowing rivers in the valley from the cable car. And if you are the luckiest person on earth, then you might get an unforgettable view of the Eastern Himalayan Range as well.

A Walk Along The Observatory Hill Road

Observatory Hill is an adjacent hill to Darjeeling Mall from where you can get a clear view of the snow-capped Himalayan range. You probably will not get a glimpse of snow-capped mountains in monsoon, but that should not stop you from going for an early morning walk in Observatory Hill. You will enjoy walking through the mist and exploring flora and fauna beside your walkway till you reach the summit where the Mahakal Temple is situated.

Taste Authentic Darjeeling Tea

There are a few places near Mall Road, where you can get a cup of authentic Darjeeling tea. Nathmull’s Tea and Sunset Lounge is the most popular one. They have an outlet right at the Mall where you can spend an hour over a cup or a pot of tea of your choice. Another tea lounge, Golden Tips Tea Lounge, is also located at the Mall.

A Visit to Darjeeling Zoo, HMI, Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda

You can go for a half-day sightseeing to the Zoo, HMI, the Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda.

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (Darjeeling Zoo) and Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) are right beside one another in the western part of Birch Hill. Darjeeling Zoo is home to many upper Himalayan habitats like snow leopard, red panda and Himalayan Tahr. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is one of the premier mountaineering institutes in India where Tenzing Norgay, the first man to set foot on Mt. Everest along with Edmund Hillary, was associated as Director of Field Training for 22 years since its inception in 1954. The museum inside HMI is like a pilgrimage for mountaineers across the world.

Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda are located in Jalapahar, at the other end of Darjeeling town. You can join prayers inside the Japanese Temple and visit Peace Pagoda which houses four large avatars of Buddha.

You can also go to Happy Valley Tea Estate, Rock Garden, Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre and Ghum Monastery but that will make it a full-day trip.

Spend a Lazy afternoon in Darjeeling Mall (Chowrasta)

Darjeeling Mall is the epicentre of all the attractions in Darjeeling. All walking roads converge to Darjeeling Chowrasta. You can sit there for hours watching kids playing around or local boys practising dance sessions over the concrete stage behind the statue of Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, the renowned Nepali poet. You can also go for a pony ride or eat Momo from roadside stalls.

From Darjeeling Mall, you can also go for shopping. New Mahakal Market (Bhutia Market) and Nehru Road Market are most popular among tourists. In Bhutia Market, you will get all kinds of woollen products whereas, in Nehru Road Market, you can buy trendy wear, Tibetan masks, traditional jewellery, curios, and Khukri (curved knife with decorative handle).

Do not forget to visit Das Studio, an almost hundred-year-old studio, a prominent landmark in Darjeeling located right beside Glenary’s. Apart from camera and camera accessories, you can see a huge collection of photographs of Darjeeling and adjacent areas, the Eastern Himalayan Range and much more; some of which are old rare photographs of the town. You can buy a print for your collection.

An Evening in a Local Pub

Though Darjeeling sleeps early, that does not mean it is devoid of any nightlife. You can visit one of the local pubs before you call it a night.

Darjeeling Gymkhana Club is the most well-equipped club in Darjeeling. It has an old colonial charm and a rich history of more than 100 years. But you can only go there as a guest or by taking up a temporary membership. Otherwise you can spend some quality time in other popular pubs in the town – Glenary’s Restaurant and Bar, The Park, Gaty’s Cafe or my favourite place Joey’s Pub. Unfortunately, Joey’s Pub permanently closed in 2020, but you can go to other places. In Gaty’s Cafe, local musicians play live music to make your evening more relaxing.

Read more: 6 Pubs You Can Visit in Darjeeling Before Calling It A Night

When Monsoon Starts in Darjeeling

The monsoon usually starts in Darjeeling from mid-June and extends until the end of August, sometimes mid-September. The weather is mostly cloudy with scattered rains to occasional heavy rainfall in between.

You will not see the sun for days sometimes, and until you are exceptionally lucky, you should not expect a view of Kanchenjunga from Darjeeling during this time of the year.

What to Pack for Your Visit to Darjeeling in Monsoon

Apart from your usual packing list, you should take care of the following things that will help during your visit to Darjeeling in monsoon.

• Light Woolens
• Umbrella / Raincoat for your child
• Proper shoes with good sole grip / Avoid heels
• One or two board games
• Your favourite storybook
• Few sachets of common salt for leeches
• Few sachets of Silica Gel inside your camera bag

Where to Stay in Darjeeling in Monsoon

Monsoon is the off-season for tourism in Darjeeling. That means hotels and resorts offer heavy discounts during monsoon. The room price may be slashed up to 30% from its usual rate. That allows you to stay in a luxury hotel like the Mayfair Hotel or The Elgin at an affordable price. You can also stay at Darjeeling Tourist Lodge run by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC). There are many other mid-range and budget properties near Darjeeling Mall, like – Hotel Sunflower, Dekeling Hotel, Little Tibet Resort and Central Heritage Resort.

How to Reach Darjeeling in Monsoon

You have to reach Siliguri from where you will get a cab or a bus to Darjeeling. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway usually stops running trains from Siliguri to Darjeeling in monsoon due to frequent landslides. It only operates between Darjeeling and Kurseong in monsoon.

You can reach Siliguri by a flight to Bagdogra (IXB) or a train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP). There are also frequent overnight bus services from Kolkata and Patna to Siliguri.

From Siliguri, three roads via Kurseong go to Darjeeling. And another two roads that go via Ghum. So if one or two roads get closed due to landslides which is quite natural in this part of Himalaya, you still have few other options to reach Siliguri on time to catch your train or flight back home.

Frequently Asked Questions

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