Darjeeling is in a small city in West Bengal, India.Tea gardens of
DarjeelingOriginally just a cluster of villages that was administered
intermittently by Nepal and Sikkim, Darjeeling grew in prominence during
the mid 19th century when, because of its climate, the British first
established a hill station there after leasing it from the Chogyal of
Sikkim and later discovered that the area was particularly well suited for
tea plantations. In 1849, the British annexed the area and Darjeeling
became a part of British India. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was
opened in 1881 (it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the town
became the de-facto summer capital of India during the days when the Raj
was governed from Calcutta. Because it was a popular hill station during
the days of the Raj, a lovely Victorian town was built among the Himalayan
foothills, the remnants of which are still visible around the Chowrasta
and Darjeeling remains a popular summer and fall resort for the natives of
Kolkata today. For foreign tourists, the main attractions are the cultural
diversity (many Tibetan refugees moved here after Tibet was annexed by
China and they co-exist with the descendants of the many Nepali and Bihari
laborers brought to work in the tea plantations), the beautiful views
(including the wonderful vista view of Kanchenjunga), a variety of
trekking options, and the opportunity to cool down after a stint in the
plains. The town is also a jumping off point for travelers heading to
Sikkim.
