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What are the places to visit in Darjeeling in 2 days? Well, 2 days in Darjeeling is a pretty short time, but with this Darjeeling travel guide, I will try to highlight the best things to do in the beautiful Himalayan town.
It is often said that whenever you get an opportunity never let it go and that is exactly what I did when I got almost an entire month free from work. It was the right opportunity for me to pack my bags and leave for a new destination. In this Darjeeling travel blog, I am sharing my 2 days Darjeeling itinerary. So, follow along!
It all started with my landing at Bagdogra airport. As soon as I stepped out of the departure gate all the taxi drivers came rushing towards me. While traveling solo it is recommended to do your homework prior. So for me, it was a bit easier to bargain with them. However, doing a fast forward right now I will share my experience in the Queen of Hills, Darjeeling.
It is rare to find a place where you can find spectacular views, cool climate as well as luxury at the same time. Darjeeling was the final destination of my almost 2 weeks solo journey so I was left with only 2 days in Darjeeling, in which one day I had a sponsored stay in tea-house so I was left with only one day to explore the town.
I reached Darjeeling the previous evening and after checking-in the hotel I took a walk towards the local taxi stand. While on a trip to Darjeeling, you simply cannot miss the sunrise and majestic view of Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill. So for that, I had to leave early at around 4. I got a fair deal and the driver agreed to take me to the places to visit in Darjeeling and later dropped me to the Ging Tea House.
Day 1: 2 Days Darjeeling Itinerary
Tiger Hill Observatory
I was staying near the Mall road so Tiger Hill is pretty far from my place. The driver bhaiya was on time and we reached the Tiger Hill Observatory in half an hour. The place fills up very soon, as no one visiting the town would miss such a splendid sight. But unfortunately, it was cloudy that day I couldn’t see the sunrise. However, I got to witness the majestic peaks of Kanchenjunga that was clearly visible from the hill.
Ghum Monastery/Yiga Choeling Monastery
Apparently, there are two monasteries by the name Ghum so be specific and mention old Ghum monastery. Yigo Choeling is one of the oldest monasteries in Darjeeling built in 1850 and has the tallest statue of Buddha in the town. It is a great place early morning to indulge in some meditation.
Batasia Loop
My next stop was my favorite among all the places I visited in Darjeeling. So as the name suggested there a spiral loop inside the garden which was built in earlier days to minimize the elevation of the toy train.
There is no place other than this to enjoy the 360 degree view of snow-capped mountains and all from the middle of a lovely flower garden. At the center is the war memorial, to commemorate the Gorkha soldiers, life to protect the sovereignty of the Nation.
The early morning fresh air, white clouds peeking through the mountains and the spectacular view of Mt. Kanchenjunga, everything was so mesmerizing around me. I took a walk along the track and noticed a few people were sitting sideways, approaching tourists to try out Nepalese costume at a very nominal charge. The beauty of the surroundings and the terrain that follows the loop was such an enchanting expedition that is not to be missed.
Japanese Peace Pagoda
The last on my list was the Japanese temple. The temple is a symbol of peace and tranquility. The two-storey temple was built in 1972 in a traditional Japanese style. It is also known as the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Temple.
Close to the temple is the Peace Pagoda which houses four statues of Buddha that includes Buddha’s postures such as meditating, sleeping, sitting and standing. I took a walk around the pagoda at the pinnacle. The walls reflect the beautiful artwork that depicts different stories from the different stages of Gautama Buddha’s life.
Darjeeling Mall / Chawrasta
Wrapping up early from there I quickly head to my hotel and meanwhile find some time to explore the Chawrasta. I went to the famous Glenary cafe for some freshly brewed tea and cake. I even purchased some tea from Golden Tips which was right across the Glenary cafe. The Mall is one of the preferred areas for tourists. The place has plenty of restaurants, shops, and even the local taxi stand is just at a walking distance. You can even enjoy lip-smacking momos in every corner.
Day 2: 2 Days Darjeeling Itinerary
Apart from above mentioned places, there are several other sightseeing places in Darjeeling that you would love to explore. Down below I have listed several such places:
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum
Take a round trip of a joy ride on Toy train from Darjeeling Railway Station to Ghoom. The railway track often runs side by side the main road and also takes a few minutes break at Batasia.
Visit the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum which is right above the Ghoom station. Interestingly Ghoom is the highest station in India right now. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and the museum was established for the visitors to showcase its heritage.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Darjeeling Zoo
Known as the pilgrimage for all climbing enthusiasts the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute shares the same entrance with the Zoo, so the two places can be visited together.
Taking about the Darjeeling Zoo first, it houses high-altitude animals from the upper Himalayas such as Tibetian Wolf, Yalk, Red Pandas, Snow Leopard and a lot more. Some of these are endangered species that are rarely seen anywhere else. The Zoo is pretty huge, so take your time and explore the zoo patiently, you might end seeing all these rare animals.
Next, is the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute which was established in 1954 when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa climbed the Mt.Everest. The place has a museum with mountaineering displays and many expedition artifacts. Apart from this, it has a residential school for mountaineers. Even the tourists can take rock-climbing session just for fun.
Darjeeling Ropeway
To experience the panoramic view of Darjeeling take a ride on the ropeway. The station is just 3 km from Chowk Bazar area. Started in 1968 it was the first cable car in India. You will get to experience the breathtaking view of the valley and lust green tea gardens all around. Even the altitude drop is so drastic. In just half an hour you will be dropped to 800 ft from 7000 ft. Take some break journeys, hop on to another cable car as there are few stations in between. Lest not forget to take the last cable car to Darjeeling.
Happy Valley Tea Estate
Trip to Darjeeling is definitely incomplete without a visit to a tea garden, and one of the most famous tea gardens among tourists is Happy Valley Tea Estate. It was originally established in 1854 by Britishers and the nearest tea estate from town. This might be one of the reasons for its popularity I guess.
Walk-through the narrow lanes of tea bushes and during the season you can watch the local women plucking leaves. Take an insight into various stages of tea processing by visiting the factory. The estate workers volunteer as a guide for the factory tour in expectation of some good tip of course.
I stayed in the resort for one full day, lazying around, and you can read my reviews on that here.
Hope you like my 2 days trip to Darjeeling; so when you will be planning your own Darjeeling trip? Or perhaps you have already been there, I would love to read your experiences and happy to answer your questions, let me know in comments!