NORTH EAST 5 DAY TRIP | DARJEELING - NAMCHI - PELLING

At a distance of 2 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station, Observatory Hill is a hill top located near Chowrasta Square in the dreamy hill town of Darjeeling. It is one of the great places to visit in Darjeeling and among the popular viewpoints in Darjeeling. The hill is encircled at the bottom of the Mall Road.

The Observatory Hill is one of the oldest sites of attraction in Darjeeling and also has historical and religious significance. Built in 1765 CE by Lama Dorje-Rinzing, the Bhutia Busty Monastery, the oldest monastery in Darjeeling, was first located on Observatory Hill. The monastery was sacked by a Gorkha invasion in 1815 and it was rebuilt and shifted to its present location at Bhutia Busty in 1879.

The hill is famous for its magnificent views of Kanchendzonga and the ancient temple dedicated to Mahakal or Lord Shiva. There is a white chorten or a Tibetan memorial shrine next to the Mahakal Temple, which has the relics of Dorje Lama who was the caretaker of .....

At a distance of 1 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station, Lloyd's Botanical Garden or Darjeeling Botanical Garden is a beautiful garden located in the beautiful hill town of Darjeeling. The garden is among the oldest botanical gardens in Darjeeling and also one of the popular tourist places in Darjeeling.

Established in 1878 CE, the garden was named after William Lloyd, who provided the required land for it. The garden was built in reference to the Calcutta Botanical Garden. The basic motive of Lloyd's Botanical Garden is to preserve the native floral species of Darjeeling Himalayan hill region, Sikkim and its neighboring regions. Located at an altitude of almost 1800 meters, the garden has terraced lands, rolling slopes, tall trees and lush green bushes mixed with grass.

Sprawling over an area of 40 acres, the Lloyd Botanical Garden preserves some of the most exotic and endangered species of plants. It has several species of bamboo, oak, magnolia, arisaema, cotoneaster, .....

At a distance of 1 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station, Darjeeling Mall or Chowrasta is located at the heart of Darjeeling town. It is considered as the hub for all type of activities in Darjeeling and also among the best places to visit in Darjeeling.

The word 'Chow' means four and 'Rasta' stands for roads, essentially means that the Mall is where four roads meet. Located on top of Nehru Road, This flat piece of circular land is the major shopping area and center for commercial activities. In olden days, this was the place where the Europeans came for their evening walks. Today, the locals as well as the tourists come here to lounge and relax. In a clear day, one can also have a magnificent view of the Kanchenjunga from here.

There are benches all along the Mall Road for people to sit and enjoy the views over a cup of Darjeeling tea. Also, there are some of the old and heritage stores lined up and countless vendors selling artifacts, woollens and various figurines .....

At a distance of 11 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station, Tiger Hill is a sunrise viewpoint in Darjeeling. It is the highest point in Darjeeling and among the most picturesque places to visit in Darjeeling.

Tiger Hill stands at an altitude of 2,590 m overlooking the spur of the snow-capped mountain ranges of the Eastern Himalayas. It is one of the two points in India from where you can capture the entire panorama between Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga on a sunny morning. The first rays of the sun shoot ahead and shed light upon the twin peaks of Kanchenjunga painting it pink, and then bathing it in a beautiful orange colour, which is an amazing thing to experience.

An observation deck is built on top of the Tiger Hill to cater to hundreds of tourists who visit every day. On a clear day the summit of Tiger Hill commands the view of Kurseong Town to its south-west along with plains of North Bengal and number of major rivers like Teesta, Mahanadi, Balasun and Mechi meanders .....

At a distance of 1 km from Ghoom Railway Station and 6 km from Darjeeling, Old Ghoom Monastery, also known as Yiga Choeling Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery situated at Ghoom near the beautiful hill town of Darjeeling. It is one of the oldest and most popular Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the region of Darjeeling and also one of the must visit places in Darjeeling.

Yiga Choeling Monastery was established in 1850 CE by the Mongolian astrologer and monk Sokpo Sherab Gyatso, who was the head of the monastery until 1905 CE. The Monastery belongs to Gelugpa or the Yellow Hat sect. This is the first ever Tibetan Buddhist monastery to be built in the Darjeeling region. During the Chinese occupation of 1959 in Tibet many high ranking monks fled to India and took refuge in this monastery.

The monastery is known for its 15 feet high statue of Maitreya Buddha or Gyalwa Shampa, which means the Buddha of the future or the Coming Buddha. This statue was created during the tenure of .....

At a distance of 4 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Batasia Loop is a railway loop in Darjeeling of West Bengal. Situated below the Ghoom station, it is one of the mesmerizing places to visit in Darjeeling.

Batasia Loop was built in 1919 as an engineering requirement to lower the gradient of ascent of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. At this point, the track spirals around over itself through a tunnel and over a hilltop. After Ghoom (the highest railway station), there is a sharp fall as the toy train moves towards Darjeeling. There was no way a narrow gauge toy train could navigate the drastic fall of about 100 feet to the gradient of the slope. So, a large circular area was built for the loop to make the slope gentle.

Batasia means airy space. The Loop serves a vital purpose for the toy train but is also an attraction in itself. The loop goes around a garden. The mountain garden is beautified with fresh green grass, seasonal and perennial flowers and shrubs. There .....

At a distance of 3 km from Darjeeling Railway Station, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is a zoo situated in the beautiful hill town of Darjeeling, West Bengal. Popularly called as Darjeeling Zoo, it is one of the best zoo parks in India and among the must visit Darjeeling Tourist Places.

The zoo was formerly known as Himalayan Zoological Park and was established in 1958 as a joint venture of Government of India and Government of West Bengal. The park was renamed in 1975 when Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, visited the park and dedicated it to the memory of Padmaja Naidu, who was also a poet and daughter of the famous freedom fighter Sarojini Naidu. Situated at an altitude of 7,000 feet, this is the largest high altitude zoo in India.

Spread over an area of 67.56 acre, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is the only specialized Zoo in the country and is the first recipient of the International award of 'The Earth Heroes 2014'. This zoo park is internationally .....

At a distance of 5 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station, Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre is a rehabilitation center for the Tibetan refugees in the beautiful hill town of Darjeeling, West Bengal. It is one of the prominent landmarks of Darjeeling and also one of the best places to visit in Darjeeling.

The center was setup by Tibetan refugees on 2nd October 1959 AD. It serves as a residence of several Tibetan refugees who fled from their homeland following the footsteps of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Located on the picturesque hilltop, it is spread over an area of 4 acres of land. A committee was formed with 10 members that were responsible for the development and management of the center. Ms Gaylo Thondup was the first President of the center. Initially, they started raising funds through donations, subscriptions, charity shows and even through exhibition soccer match. Later, they received funds from domestic and international voluntary organizations as well. .....

At a distance of 2.5 km from Darjeeling Railway Station, Happy Valley Tea Estate is a vast tea garden located in Darjeeling town of West Bengal. This is the second oldest tea estate in Darjeeling after Steinthal Tea Estate and also one of the popular places to experience Darjeeling Tourism.

Spread over an area of 177 hectares, Happy Valley Tea Garden was established by Mr. David Wilson in the year 1854, which was then known as Wilson Tea Estate. In 1903, the estate was taken over by an Indian, Tarapada Banerjee, an aristocrat from Hooghly. Later Banerjee bought the Windsor Tea Estate nearby in 1929 and merged the two estates under the name of Happy Valley Tea Estate. Since 2008, the tea estate has been under the ownership of Sanjay Bansal. Today, over 1500 people worked in the tea estate.

Located in the vicinity of Darjeeling town, it is one of the major tourist attractions in Darjeeling. It also has a museum and has a factory. Situated at an altitude of 2,100 m, Happy Valley .....

At a distance of 2.5 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Darjeeling Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa situated on the slopes of the Jalapahar hill in Darjeeling. It is one of more than 70 pagodas built around the world by the Japanese Buddhist Nipponzan Myohoji organization and among the most popular attractions in Darjeeling.

The foundation stone of the pagoda was laid in 1972 by Nichidatsu Fuji, a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzan-Myohoji Buddhist Order. Inaugurated in 1992, the pagoda was designed by M. Ohka. Being the tallest structure in Darjeeling with a height of 28.5 meters, it is open to people of all faith and is purposely made to propagate peace and prosperity in the world.

Peace Pagoda houses four shining and gold-polished statues of Buddha. Also, the walls of the temple have eight sandstone carvings which depict different stories from the different stages of Gautama Buddha's life. Known for its tranquility, Peace Pagoda offers breathtaking .....

At a distance of 5 km from Namchi Taxi Stand, Siddeshwar Dham is a huge pilgrimage cum cultural complex located atop Solophok hill in Namchi, Sikkim. Popularly called as Char Dham, it is one of the most prominent places to visit in Namchi and one of the popular tourist places in Sikkim.

Siddheswar Dham is built atop Solophok Hill by Sikkim Government in 2011 to promote Religious, Eco and Village tourism in the state. Spread over an area of 29 hectares, the Sikkim Government has been spent over Rs. 56 crore on this complex. The complex has a 108 feet tall statue of Shiva, replicas of 12 Jyotirlingas, models of sacred Char Dham Hindu Temples of Jagannath, Badrinath, Dwaraka and Rameswaram and a 17-feet statue of Kirateshwar a hunter incarnation of Shiva. Solophok Hill has a historical and religious significance, as it is believed that visiting this place washes away one's sins.

The major attraction here is the 108 feet gigantic statue .....

At a distance of 4 km from Namchi Taxi Stand, Ngadak Monastery is the Buddhist monastery located in Namchi, Sikkim. Also known as Nandak Gumpa, it is one of the oldest monasteries in Namchi and one of the best places to experience Namchi Tourism.

Ngadak Monastery was built in 17th century by Tensung Namgyal during the reign of Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal. This monastery was constructed as a palace of her Highness Pendi Ongmu. It ultimately has been converted to a monastery. Built beautifully with stone and wood, it was damaged by an earthquake and is a testimony to old religious culture of Sikkim. A large new Gumpa has been constructed near the old one as the old structure is ruined however it still exudes a sense of old Sikkim.

The word Ngadak means 'Promise'. It is believed that anyone coming here would make a promise to come back again. The place attracts huge number of tourists throughout the year as it is blessed with a great ambience and an ideal place to meditate.

Timings: .....

At a distance of 6 km from Namchi Taxi Stand and 22 km from Ravangla, Samdruptse is an epic hill situated in Namchi, Sikkim. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in South Sikkim and among the must visit Namchi Tourist Places.

Situated at an altitude of 2134 m, Samdruptse Hill is surmounted by a giant statue of Guru Padmasambhava who is the patron saint of Sikkim. At 148 feet, this is the tallest statue of Guru Padmasambhava in the world. Studded with gold that glitters when sun rays fall on it, it looks magnificent with the setting of the Kanchenjunga Hills against the blue painted sky. The foundation stone of the statue was laid in 1997 by His Holiness Dalai Lama and completed in 2004. The construction was sponsored by the Sikkim State Government.

The name Samdruptse Hill literally translates to the 'Wish Fulfilling Hill', as the hill is revered by many local monks, who worship the Hill, believing that the Hill is a dormant volcano, and only praying can keep the volcano .....

At a distance of 10 km from Yuksom and 24 km from Pelling, Kanchenjunga Waterfalls is a stunning waterfall situated in the beautiful hill town of Pelling, Sikkim. It is one of the largest waterfalls in Sikkim and among the prime Pelling Tourist Places.

Kanchenjunga Falls is a perennial waterfall situated around an hour drive from Pelling towards Yuksom. It is believed that the pristine waterfall originates high up in the glaciers of Mount Kanchenjunga, the 3rd highest peak in the world. It gushes down from a height of 100 feet into a pool. Kanchenjunga falls was not known to people and remained untouched till the 90s. It only came into the limelight, when a local tour operator named Topjor Bhutia accidentally discovered it. Today this spot become one of the leading tourist spots in West Sikkim.

Known for its splendid beauty and glory, the waterfalls serves as a perfect picnic spot with family and friends. Situated at a sharp curve on the road side, tourists need to climb around .....

At a distance of 25 km from Pelling, Khecheopalri Lake is a sacred lake situated at Khecheopalri near Pelling town of Sikkim. Also known as Wishing Lake, it is one of the beautiful lakes in Sikkim and among the must visit tourist places in Pelling.

Situated at an altitude of 6000 feet, the Khecheopalri Lake is a sacred place of worship for Buddhists as well as for the Hindus. The lake is an integral part of the much revered valley of 'Demazong' meaning valley of rice. The Khecheopalri Lake is also part of Buddhist religious pilgrimage circuit involving the Yuksom, the Dubdi Monastery in Yuksom, Pemayangtse Monastery, the Rabdentse ruins, the Sanga Choeling Monastery, and the Tashiding Monastery.

The lake is originally known as Kha-Chot-Palri which means the heaven of Lord Padmasambhava. As per Nesol text, the lake was recognized as the abode of Tshomen Gyalmo, the chief protecting nymph of dharma as blessed by goddess Tara. Native people believe that the shape of the lake .....

At a distance of 5 km from Darap Village and 12 km from Pelling, Rimbi Waterfalls is a scenic waterfall near Pelling. Situated near Darap Village, it is one of the famous waterfalls in Pelling and among the best places of sightseeing in Pelling.

On the way to Khecheopalri Lake and Yuksam, Rimbi waterfall is formed over Rimbi River. During summer, the waterfall looks spectacular which attracts many tourists. Located close to the waterfall is one of the oldest hydro power stations in Sikkim. Established in the early 70's, this power station is the source of energy for most of the villa towns of West Sikkim including Gayzing, Tigjuck and Pelling.

The waterfall turns into Rimbi River, which is frequented by locals and tourists for various recreational activities like swimming and fishing. Whether you go fishing or not, do try a local preparation of Assala - a variety of fish found only here. It is also the best place to spend some memorable moments with your loved ones amidst .....

At a distance of 2 km from Upper Pelling Football Ground, Pemayangtse Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located at Pelling in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim. Also known as Pelling Monastery, it is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim and among the most famous places to visit in Pelling.

Situated at an altitude of 2100 m, Pemayangtse Monastery was founded by Lama Lhatsun Chempo in 1705 CE. Initially the monastery was built very small in size and was enlarged during the reign of the third Chogyal Chakdor Namgyal who was considered as Lhatsun Chempo's third reincarnate, Jigme Pawo. The monastery follows the Nyingma Order of Tibetan Buddhism and controls all other monasteries of that Order in Sikkim.The monks of this monastery are normally chosen from the Bhutias of Sikkim.

The word Pemayangtse means 'perfect sublime lotus' and it is believed to symbolize one of the four plexus of the human body. The monastery was built for 'pure monks' (ta-tshang) meaning 'monks of .....

At a distance of 2 km from Upper Pelling- Football Ground, Rabdentse is an archeological site situated near Pemayangtse Monastery in Pelling. It is one of the best historical places in Sikkim and among the must visit Pelling Tourist Places.

Founded by the 2nd Chogyal of Sikkim Tensung Namgyal in the year 1670 AD, Rabdentse was the second capital of the former kingdom of Sikkim from 1670 to 1793 CE, the first one being Yuksom. This is the place where Tensung Namgyal married three wives, first from Tibet, second from Bhutan and Yo Hang of Limbuwana eastern Nepal. Later, the city was almost completely destroyed by the Nepalese Army in the 18th century and only the ruins of the palace and the chortens are seen here now. Today, Rabdentse has been declared a monument of national importance by Archaeological Survey of India and undertaking the restoration works.

Surrounded by dense forest, the place is a must see for the history enthusiasts. .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Upper Pelling- Football Ground, Sanga Choeling Monastery or Sange Choeling Monastery is a Buddhist Monastery situated in Pelling town of Sikkim. It is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim and among the best Places to visit in Pelling.

Sanga Choeling Monastery, means the place of secret spells, was built in 1697 CE by Lama Lhatsun Chempo. Located atop a high ridge, this is extremely acclaimed among the followers of the Nyingmapa sect of the ancient school of Tibetan Buddhism. In ancient times, Guhyamantra i.e. secret mantras were taught here. The monastery only houses male monks and belongs to the Nyingma sector. Entry into the inner sanctum of Sanga Choeling Monastery is strictly restricted to the Bhutia and Lepcha communities.

Built in a Tibetan style of architecture, the monastery was affected by fire several times and was rebuilt, but it still preserves various ancient paintings, accessories and clay statues. Also after Lhatsun's death his .....