Travel Again To Darjeeling, The Queen of Hills

“Life is short and the world is wide”, this saying hasn’t been truer than now. For the last five months that we have been confined to our homes and cities, for the more adventurous at heart, you surely must have yearned to go out there and explore. Now with travel between states opening slowing, the travel sector (worst hit by COVID) is taking baby steps towards the New Normal. And what better place to head to for a rejuvenation than the tea laden hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong?

The Queen of Himalayas, famous world over for its tea, offers to the visitors stunning sunrises, the old-world charm of the British Raj time, welcoming smiles of the locals, lush green tea gardens and some of the most beautiful locales. All this adds up to make Darjeeling one of the most beautiful hill stations in Eastern India. This scenic hill town is a perfect getaway for honeymooners, families and solo travellers alike.

As of September 5th 2020, the hill towns of Darjeeling and Kalimpong have been opened to tourists after nearly six months, albeit with necessary precautions. Hotels will be operating with the necessary sanitisation protocols. It is necessary to have been tested negative for COVID before being allowed to enter the hotels. Temperature checks will also be done for all visitors and the hotel staff would have to wear masks and gloves at all times. The buffet services would be non-operational for the time being.

The best way to reach Darjeeling is via road from the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station or from Siliguri town. Shared transit cabs will continue to operate with 50% occupancy. It however is best to make your own arrangements to travel from these towns to Darjeeling.

Sikkim is also expected to follow suit, soon enough. However, the clear directives on travel to Sikkim haven’t be announced yet.

With over a million visitors every year, Darjeeling is one of the most popular hill stations in India. With the tourist season approaching from October, this opening up would mean the revival of the travel dependant businesses in the hill towns. And in case you are planning to travel to Darjeeling and the other hill towns of West Bengal in the near future, click here to know what awaits youthere.