Darjeeling - The Queen of Hill Stations

Fascinating composition of the lush greens forests, the cascading rivers and lofty mountains of the Kanchenjunga and the Mount Everest makes Darjeeling a magnificent hill resort of incredible India. The artistic diversification of natural beauty makes it a hot spot for tourists trekkers, ornithologists, photographers, botanists and artists. This place is internationally known for its Tea Industry and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (toy train), which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Background:

This wonderful hill station is situated at an average elevation of 6,982 ft (2,128 meters) in the lower Shivalik Hills region. Initially, it was a part of Nepal and Sikkim but after Indian independence it became an integral part of the West Bengal State.

Fascinating Attractions:

Darjeeling Toy Train:

It is the name given to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Managed by the Indian Railways, this toy train is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge railway route from Siliguri to Darjeeling.

The train covers the distance of 86 km, rising from 100 meter at Siliguri to about 2,200 meter at Darjeeling. The steady puffing of toy train through the lush green valley gives a lifetime chance to witness the serene beauty of nature. The snaky railway track passing over gushing waterfalls, and greenery stretching for miles with panoramic views of snow capped lofty mountains is beyond imaginative description of effulgence nature's beauty. The historical significance combined with tourism importance earned this train the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Zoological Park:

It is popularly known as the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and its main objective is to preserve the endangered species of animals. This zoo houses a number of endangered species such as Red Panda, Tibetan Wolf, the Siberian Tiger and Snow Leopard.

The Lloyd's Botanical Garden:

It is a colourful garden known for its preserved endangered species of flora. The display of 150 species of Cacti and Succulent is the main attraction of it. The garden is also noted for its Orchid collections.

Darjeeling is one of the most magnificent hill resorts in the world. The scattered natural beauty is the charm of this place. Some of the other noteworthy tourists spots here include Kalimpong, Gangtok, Mirik,The Tiger Hill, Ghoom and many more.

This hill station can be visited throughout the year but the best season to visit is from May to June and from September to November. The grueling sport activities of trekking and river rafting along with nature's scenic pleasure makes Darjeeling an incredible destination of the north-east India.

Darjeeling is jotted throughout the world for its nature's scenic potpourri. The Darjeeling Tour offers a great deal of diversity in terms of culture, ethnicity and scenic beauty. The topographical location among hills make it a nature-laden place and it is often referred as the Queen of Hill Station. Darjeeling is one of the ranked tourist destinations of northeast tour packages.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com