Backpacking @ Queen of Hills: Darjeeling

LLYODS BOTANICAL GARDEN. The garden houses orchids, magnolias, primulas, ferns and many other varieties of Himalayan plants. Lloyd Botanical Garden is named after W. Lloyd, the famous banker who gifted this land in 1878. You can walk along the pathways and spend a quiet afternoon in these large, open gardens. The hothouse has a fantastic collection of more than 50 species of orchids. It is the oldest Botanical Garden named as Lloyd Botanical Garden with varieties of flora and is famous for two living fossils. It is located just below the Eden Sanatorium(Saheed Durga Mall District Hospital) on an open slope covering an area of about 40 acres. Lloyd Botanical Garden is open seven days a week. There are no entrance fees. A camera, a small note book for a botany. enthusiast and a couple of hours to spare, is a must.

Sunrise tours to Tiger Hill are arranged by hotels. Normally, the pickup time from the hotel is around 4 am. It is better to reach a little early in order to secure a place. There are tea stalls selling flavored Darjeeling tea along with snacks. There are also shops from where one can pick up souvenirs like hand crafted items or picture post cards of Kanchenjunga and Darjeeling. Tiger Hill is the best point in Darjeeling for watching sunrise. Located at a height of 7,407 feet above sea level, the hilly trails through the mountains lead to the hill top. On a clear day, the entire Himalayan range can be seen. It is at a distance of 11 km from the main city of Darjeeling.

The largest monastery in the region. Ghoom Monastery is also known as Yogachoeling Gompa. It is located in a place called Ghoom in Darjeeling, hence the name Ghoom Gompa. It was in the year 1875 that a Mongolian astrologer cum monk established the Ghoom Gompa. At the entry of the monastery, there is a huge giant size image of seated 'Maitreya Buddha' (prospective Buddha) inside. There are bells, ornate thanka scrolls and drums inside the monastery. Like many other monasteries in and around Darjeeling, this gompa is also a storehouse of some rare Buddhist manuscripts. Located at a distance of about 8 km south from the main town of Darjeeling, this gompa has become a destination for people seeking peace and serenity. The gompa is located nearby Ghoom station. One can also reach the gompa from Hill Cart Road as it is situated just below the road.

A beautiful park in the heart of Darjeeling. During the British days in early 1900s, this place was known as The Shrubbery. It used to be the private courtyard of Sir Thomas Tartan’s Bungalow. In 1934 it was completely destroyed by an earthquake.It’s ideal for relaxing and enjoying the superb panoramic views of the Kanchenjunga and the other snow peaks of Eastern Himalayas. During the tourist season, Nepali cultural programs like local dances are held here every day in the evening. Shrubbery Nightingale Park is located at about 10 minutes walk from the Mall. It is a beautiful public park area situated just behind the Raj Bhawan and on the top hill on the way to Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park with the view of Singalila Range and the awesome presence of mighty Kanchenjunga.