Darjeeling
in India owes' its grandeur to its natural beauty,
its clean fresh mountain air and above all, the
smiling resilient people for whom it is a home.
Known for its natural splendor, Darjeeling's best
gift to its' visitors is the dawn of a new day.
The mountains awaken first with a tentative peeking
of the sun. A steep ride, five kilometers from
Ghoom, or an invigorating walk up a steep incline,
leads sun worshippers to Tiger Hill. The air is
chilly with darkness and damp. To the east, a
dull orange sun emerged painting the sky with
brilliant strokes of magenta, gold, orange and
fuchsia. The snow capped Everest, Kabru, Kanchenjunga,
Jannu and other peaks slowly emerge from slumber
to start a new day. The sun worshippers gasp at
the magnificent sight. As the fog lifts in the
slowly penetrating sun, the town gradually comes
alive. Amidst brewing of tea, the sing-song Gorkhali
which is the local dialect, rises and falls like
music.
BEST
TIME TO VISIT DARJEELING
The
best time to visit Darjeeling in India is from
March-May or September-November. The rains which
start by May end are heavy downpours making living
conditions cold and dreary. In winter there is
a drastic fall in temperature from the summer's
15 to 25 degrees centigrade to 2 to 10 degrees
in winter.
WHERE
TO STAY IN DARJEELING
Hotels
abound in Darjeeling in India. Besides the International
Youth Hostel, there are more recently opened resorts
as well. There is a hotel which boasts as the
place where Jinnah met his wife whom he courted
and married soon after. Many of the old villas
and estates that passed into Indian hands once
the British left have been converted into hotels.
Hotel Shangrila which is built along the main
promenade, Chowrasta, is typical of the traditional
pagoda style architecture. It also houses a travel
and trekking agency.
