Hill Stations In Darjeeling: 7 Top Darjeeling Hill Stations List
Darjeeling Hill Stations
Darjeeling is a beautiful hill station in West Bengal known for its lush tea gardens, stunning views of the Kangchenjunga and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Darjeeling’s British-style public schools are also popular among tourists. It is one of the most frequently visited hill stations and is close to several other tourist destinations. In this story we will look at Darjeeling and 7 hill stations around it.
Distance from nearest city:
Darjeeling is 62.1 km from Siliguri. Most hill stations in West Bengal are well connected through Siliguri.
Why Visit: Visit Darjeeling to refresh your mind, body and soul with its world-famous tea and of course, its natural beauty.
Best Way To Get There:
By Road – Both shared & private taxis operate regularly from Siliguri to Darjeeling. Buses are also available from Siliguri’s main bus stand. Travel time is about 3 hours from Siliguri to Darjeeling and one-way fare is approximately Rs. 2,000. You can travel to Darjeeling via NH110 and Matigara – Kurseong Road or via NH10 crossing Sevoke and Mungpoo.
By Flight – Flights from all major cities can be taken till Bagdogra Airport. Pre-paid private taxis or buses can also be taken to reach Darjeeling.
Flights from New Delhi to Bagdogra are offered by:
- Spice Jet
- Indigo
- Air Asia
- Jet Airways
- Vistara
- Go Air
Average flight fare is around Rs. 3,000.
By Train – Trains can be taken till New Jalpaiguri Railway Station. You will have to take a cab or bus from Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling.
Trains from New Delhi to New Jalpaiguri
- Dibrugarh Rajdhani
- North East Express
- Avadh Assam Express
- Bramhaputra Mail
- Poorvottar Sampark Kranti
Average fare – Rs. 1500.
Things To Do In Darjeeling:
- Take a ride on the UNESCO listed toy train
- Shop at mall road
- Try local cuisine
Places To Visit In Darjeeling:
- Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Darjeeling Zoo
- Tiger Hill
- Batasia Loop
- Peace Pagoda
- Darjeeling Ropeway
- Chowrasta
- Rock Garden
- Nightingale park
- Singalia National Park
- Ghoom Monastery
- Happy Valley Tea Estate
- Bengal Natural History Museum
Best Hotels In Darjeeling:
- Central Heritage Resort and Spa
- Dekeling Resort at Hawk’s Nest
- Villa Everest
- Cedar Inn
- Windamere Hotel
7 Amazing Hill Stations In & Near Darjeeling – 2019 List
| Hill Stations in Darjeeling | Region | Distance from City |
| Kurseong Hills | Near Siliguri | 37 Kms |
| Kalimpong Hills | Near Jalpaiguri | 77 Kms |
| Mirik Hills | Near Jalpaiguri | 56 Kms |
| Gangtok Hills | Near Bagdogra | 124 Kms |
| Sandakphu Hills | Near Ilam | 64 Kms |
| Ajodhya Hills | Near Faizabad | 5 Kms |
| Lava Hills | Near Kalimpong | 21 Kms |
Hill Stations Darjeeling: Complete Guide for Best Hill station In & Near Darjeeling
1. Kurseong – Beautiful Darjeeling Hill Station
Kurseong or Kharsang means “The Land of White Orchids”. This hill station enjoys a pleasant climate and is known for many educational institutes and a tourism-based economy. Earlier, it was a part of Sikkim and later became the summer home to the British.
Distance from nearest city:
Kurseong is at a distance of 34.9 km from Siliguri
Why Visit: Spend some time in Kurseong to explore tea gardens and stunning view points. Enjoy shopping, relax or explore local tradition and culture.
Best Way To Get There:
By Road – Hiring a private cab or taking a shared cab from Siliguri is the best way to reach Kurseong. If you’re driving yourself, take the Matigara – Kurseong Road to get there. A one-way cab might cost you about Rs. 1500.
By Flight – Flights from major cities can be taken till Bagdogra Airport.
By Train – New Jalpaiguri is the closest railway station to Kurseong.
Things To Do In Kurseong:
- Visit schools from the British Era like Dow Hill and Victoria Boys School
- Enjoy a piping hot cup of tea at the many tea gardens
- Take a jungle trek from St. Mary’s Hill to Dilaram
- Ride the toy train
Places To Visit In Kurseong:
- Eagle Craig or Durpin Dara
- Dow Hill Park and Forest Museum
- Giddapahar View Point
- Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Museum
- Ambootia Tea Estate
- Makaibari tea Estate
- Castleton tea factory
- Mary’s Hill and St. John’s Church
- Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum
Best Hotels In Kurseong:
- The Amarjeet Hotel
- Merry Vilas Hotel
- Gomtee Tea Garden Retreat
- Cochrane Place Hotel
- Nirvana Retreat
- Allita Hotels and Resorts
2. Kalimpong – Serene Darjeeling Hill Station
Overlooking the mighty Teesta river, Kalimpong is a prominent hill station known for its beautiful flower market. Kalimpong is mostly enveloped by fog and its hills are nestled within higher peaks with glorious snow-clad mountains.
Distance from nearest city:
Kalimpong is 66.8 km from Siliguri
Why Visit: The climate makes this place alluring along with charming churches that are a reminder of the British era. Valleys, forests, meadows, numerous variety of flowers and traditional handicrafts make this place worth exploring.
Best Way To Get There:
By Road – Take a cab or jeep from Siliguri to Kalimpong. Fares for a small car for 4 passengers costs about Rs. 2200. You can also take a shared taxi for Rs. 100 per person. National Highway 10 through Sevoke, Geil Khola Bridge in case you’re driving to Kalimpong.
By Flight – The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport.
By Train – New Jalpaiguri is the nearest railway station.
Things To Do In Kalimpong:
- Teesta river rafting
- Nature walks
- Trekking
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Bird watching
- Rappelling
- Camping
- Mountain biking
- Paragliding
Places To Visit In Kalimpong:
- Zang Dhok Palri Monastery
- Flower Nurseries
- Deolo Top
- Katherine Graham Memorial Chapel
- Tharpa Choling Monastery
- Durpin Monastery
- Lovers Meet View Point
- Galingka
- Thongsa Gompa
- Ringking Farm
- Neora Valley National Park
Best Hotels In Kalimpong:
- Summit Barsana Resort and Spa
- Sinclairs Retreat
- The Elgin Silver Oaks Hotel
- The Yakha Retreat and Spa
- Windsongs
3. Mirik – Scenic Darjeeling Hill Station
Mirik comes from the Lepcha word Mir-Yok which means “place burnt by fire”. The Sumendu lake and a long road encircling it makes it perfect for visitors to take a walk and catch striking glimpses of mountain Kangchenjunga. The orchids and gardens further add to North Bengal’s beauty. The place is not too crowded and thus is perfect for a relaxed and quiet holiday.
Distance from nearest city:
Mirik is 46.7 km from Siliguri
Why Visit: Mirik is popular among tourists for its climate, natural beauty and easy accessibility. Its serene environment and relaxed atmosphere is what people can enjoy when here.
Best Way To Get There:
By Road – Mirik is easily accessible by road via Mirik/Rishi Road. Cabs can be hired from Siliguri to get there. Private taxis cost about Rs. 1600.
By Flight – The nearest airport to Mirik is Bagdogra.
By Train – The nearest railway station to Mirik is New Jalpaiguri.
Things To Do In Mirik:
- Horse Riding
- Boating
- Nature Walks
Places To Visit In Mirik:
- Sumendu Lake
- Rameetay Dara (View Point)
- Bokar Monastery
- Pashupati Nagar
- Orange Orchards
- Bunkulung
- Tea gardens
- Devi Sthan
- Mirik Church
- Sunrise Point
Best Hotels In Mirik:
- Hotel Jagjeet
- Queens Hill Hotel and Resort
- Sourenee Tea Estate
- Mirik Eco Huts
4. Gangtok – Popular Darjeeling Hill Station
Th capital of Sikkim is one of the most fascinating hill stations around Darjeeling. Gangtok is known for its proximity to Nathu La and Jalep La mountain passes. In winters, the place is covered in snow and the view of the frozen Tsomgo lake looks all the more ethereal. Located in the Eastern Himalayan range, Gangtok also acted as a major trade route between Lhasa and Tibet.
Distance from nearest city:
Gangtok is 115.8 km from Siliguri
Why Visit: Visit Gangtok for those age-old monasteries and temples, hot springs and snowy passes. The waterfalls, Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve and gardens are alluring places that are a must visit.
Best Way To Get There:
By Road – State buses operated by Sikkim National Transport or cabs can be hired in order to reach Gangtok. Take the NH10 route which will take you to your destination in approximately 4 hours.
By Flight – Nearest airport to Gangtok is Bagdogra.
By Train – Nearest railway station to Gangtok is New Jalpaiguri.
Things To Do In Gangtok:
- Paragliding
- River rafting
- Bathing in hot springs
- Yak Safari
- Eat local cuisine
- Enjoy the flower festival
- Cable car ride
- Trekking and mountain biking
Check out more things to do in Gangtok
Places To Visit In Gangtok:
- Tsomgo Lake
- Nathu La Pass
- Enchey Monastery
- Banjhakri Falls
- Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary
- Hanuman Tok
- Reshi Hot Springs
- Tashi View Point
- Do Drul Chorten
- Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
- Rumtek Monastery
Best Hotels In Gangtok:
- Sterling Gangtok
- Mayfair Spa Resort and Casino
- Tashiling Residence Hotel & Spa
- The Royal Plaza
5. Sandakphu – Famous Darjeeling Hill Station
This picturesque hill town is the highest point of the Singalila Ridge providing pristine views of four sky high peaks in the world – Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu. Trekking routes in this region are not for the faint hearted. Along the route you will find seasonal wildflower blooms and tiny cottages nestled in hills. The place is 108.6 km from Siliguri.
6. Ajodhya Hills – Sacred Darjeeling Hill Station
Ajodhya Hills are located in the Purulia district of West Bengal and are a part of the Dalma Hills. The place is popular among young mountaineers for learning basic rock climbing. These hills also have a legendary reference in the Ramayana; it is said that Lord Ram and Sita stayed here during their exile. It is believed that when Sita was thirsty, Lord Ram pierced an arrow in the ground from where water gushed out. This place is known as the Sita Kund and is popular among tribals during Baisakh as they gather here for a game of hunting.
7. Lava – Picturesque Darjeeling Hill Station
Lava is a small hamlet near Kalimpong town and is the entry point to Neora Valley National Park. Alpine trees like fir, pine and beach line the place, verdant forests are popular for trekking, bird watching and picnics. Changey Waterfalls and Lava Jamgyong Kongtrul Monastery are other attractions in Lava.
