Darjeeling hills
Tea gardens, the toy train and Kanchenjunga at sunrise. 6 places, grouped into circuits you can combine in one trip.
Darjeeling & Singalila
Plan this circuitDarjeeling, Mirik and the Sandakphu ridge trek.
Darjeeling
Tea estates, the UNESCO toy train and sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill.
Mirik
A lake town ringed by tea gardens and orange orchards, near the Nepal border.
Sandakphu–Phalut
A ridge trek along the India–Nepal border with Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Kanchenjunga in one view.
Kalimpong hills
Plan this circuitKalimpong, Lava, Lolegaon and Rishyap — quiet forest villages.
Kalimpong
A quieter hill town of flower nurseries, monasteries and old colonial buildings.
Lava & Lolegaon
Forest villages at the edge of Neora Valley National Park, with a canopy walk and birding trails.
Rishyap (Rishop)
A hamlet of homestays on a ridge with a wide Kanchenjunga panorama.
Before you go
Darjeeling hills: good to know
Getting in
Fly to Bagdogra or take a train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP), both beside Siliguri. The hills are two to four hours up by road.
Permits and paperwork
No permit is needed for the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills. Singalila National Park (Sandakphu) charges an entry fee and a guide is compulsory. Neora Valley National Park needs a permit from the forest office.
Permit rules change. Treat this as a starting point and confirm before you travel.
Worth knowing
Landslides on the roads up from Siliguri are common in the monsoon. Strikes can shut the hills at short notice; check the news before you travel.
What to eat
- Darjeeling tea
- First flush in March and April, second flush in May and June.
- Momos and thukpa
- The everyday food of the hills.
- Aloo dum with sel roti
- Spiced potatoes with a ring of fried rice bread.
- Churpi
- Hard cheese, chewed slowly like gum.
- Kalimpong cheese
- A local cheese made since the mission days.
Festivals and seasons
- Rhododendron seasonApril
- The Singalila ridge is in flower.
- Dasain and TiharOctober and November
- The main festivals of the Nepali-speaking hills.
- LosarFebruary
- The Tibetan new year, at the monasteries.
- Orange seasonNovember to January
- Around Mirik and the lower valleys.
Many of these follow the lunar calendar, so the dates move each year.
Darjeeling hills: questions people ask
What are the best places to visit in Darjeeling hills?
This guide covers 6 places in Darjeeling hills, grouped into 2 circuits: Darjeeling & Singalila and Kalimpong hills. Each page says who the place suits and who it does not.
What is the best time to visit Darjeeling hills?
March and April and October to December are the best time for most places in Darjeeling hills. Seasons differ by altitude, so check each place.
Which places in Darjeeling hills are easy for families and first-timers?
Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Lava & Lolegaon, Mirik and Rishyap (Rishop) are rated easy and good with children.
Where can you see snow in Darjeeling hills?
Snow is likely for part of the year at Sandakphu–Phalut, Rishyap (Rishop), Darjeeling and Lava & Lolegaon. Each page lists the snow months.
Which are the main treks in Darjeeling hills?
Sandakphu–Phalut.
What is the highest place in Darjeeling hills in this guide?
Sandakphu–Phalut, at 3,636 m.
Do you need a permit to visit Darjeeling hills?
No permit is needed for the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills. Singalila National Park (Sandakphu) charges an entry fee and a guide is compulsory. Neora Valley National Park needs a permit from the forest office.
How do you get to Darjeeling hills?
Fly to Bagdogra or take a train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP), both beside Siliguri. The hills are two to four hours up by road.
What food should you try in Darjeeling hills?
Darjeeling tea: first flush in march and april, second flush in may and june; Momos and thukpa: the everyday food of the hills; Aloo dum with sel roti: spiced potatoes with a ring of fried rice bread; Churpi: hard cheese, chewed slowly like gum; Kalimpong cheese: a local cheese made since the mission days.
What are the main festivals in Darjeeling hills?
Rhododendron season (april), Dasain and Tihar (october and november), Losar (february), Orange season (november to january).