World's 1000 beautiful tourist places

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Happy Valley tea estate : One can see plucking and processing of tea during April to Nov. Follow the Lochnagar road from Chowk bazaar bus station and the estate is near the District Magistrate's office (3 km, Sunday closed, Rs 20 tip per person). Darjeeling produces 25% of India's tea. Darjeeling tea is one of the finest tea in the world. For good tea Rs 500/kg, while the finest brews will cost Rs 10,000 plus per kg. World record price for tea is $220/kg by Darjeeling's Caslteton estate.

The Bengal Natural history museum is near St Andrew's church (Bishop Eric Benjamin road near Chowrasta.

Lloyd Botanical garden : Has an impressive collection of Himalayan plants and orchids. The flowering bird of paradise in the glass conservatory is an attraction. From the Chowk bazaar bus station follow the Lochnagar road (2 km).

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Zoological park : Was established in 1958 to conserve and preserve Himalayan fauna.This better zoo has animals kept in forested environment. It has India's only collection of Siberian tigers, Himalayan black bears, rare red pandas, snow leopards and Tibetan wolves. Admission Rs 10, includes Himalayan Mountaineering Institute entry. Take a share jeep from Chowrasta bus/jeep station (Rs 5, 2.5 km).

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) : This prestigious institution founded in 1954 provided training for some of India's leading mountaineers (Thursday closed). Tenzing Norgay was the director of the institute for many years. It has Everest museum, which traces the history of attempts on the world's highest peak, biographies, actual flag hoisted on the summit and climbing boots. The nearby Mountaineering museum has a model of Himalaya, fauna and the historic mountaineering equipment. Tenzing samadhi statue is on a hill nearby. The institute offers various mountaineering courses. HMI is located near the Zoological park. Rangeet valley ropeway is nearby and is worth visiting if operating (3 km).

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Ghoom (5 km) has a number of fascinating gompas. The fortress like Sakya Choling gompa and the Samten Choling gompa with the protector Garuda atop its ornate Buddha backdrop. Batasia loop is near Samten Choling gompa. Yiga Choling gompa (per photo Rs 10), the most famous monastery with a 5 m high Maitreya Buddha along with 300 beautifully bound Tibetan texts. The Druk Sangak Choling gompa has vibrant frescoes and is on the Hill cart road to Ghoom. The gompa was inaugurated by Dalai Lama in 1993. Mark Drong gompa is 2.5 km on the Tenzing Norgay road from Ghoom. Japanese peace pagoda is on the AJC Bose road (3 km from Ghoom). Phin Choling gompa is on the way to Tiger hill near Ghoom.

The Gorkha war memorial is near Batasia loop (Rs 5), consists of a sanctified raised oval platform, 37’ x 24’ , with a 9 feet high bronze statue and a 30 feet high triangular granite cenotaph, on a 3 feet octagonal base, with the Roll of honour engraved on it. The bronze statue was sculptured by Gautam Pal of Krishnanagar.

Tiger hill (2590 m): has panoramic views of four of the world's highest five peaks - Everest (8848 m), Lhotse (8501 m), Makalu (8475 m), Khangchendzonga (8598 m), Kabru (6691 m) and Janu (7710 m). Tiger hill is 11 km from Darjeeling. The spectacular sunrise is the major attraction. In the high season jeeps (Rs 60 per person return) leave Darjeeling at 0430 h for Tiger hill. The best way to enjoy the nature at it's fullest is to trek back via Ghoom visiting the gompas on the way.

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From Darjeeling to Siliguri, buses are available (3 hour, Rs 58 ). Gangtok is 4 hour by share jeep (Rs 110). The major railway station is New Jaipalguri near Siliguri. The diesel toy train leaves Darjeeling at 9.15 am for NJP (Rs 42, II class, 7 hour) via Ghoom (50 min), Kurseong (3 hour) and Siliguri. It is an exhausting travel on this route by toy train.

For Kathmandu, one has to go from Siliguri to Panitanki (Rs 15, 1 hour). Cross the border by cycle rickshaw (Rs 7) to Kakarbhitta in Nepal. Kathmandu is 13 hour travel by bus (Nepali Rs 520). Buses leave the station from 3.30 to 6 am.

From Kolkata's Howrah station, Mithila Express leaves daily at 4 pm and arriving at Raxaul Bazaar at 9.10 am in the following morning (Rs 276, II sleeper). Rs 10 by auto rickshaw to the Nepal border and another Rs 10 to Birganj. Kathmandu is 8 hour by bus (Nepali Rs 200 to 450).

The train journey from Kolkata to New Jalpaiguri (6 km from Siliguri) takes about 10 hours.

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Darjeeling

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World Famous Railway routes

The Qingzang railway opened in 2006 in China, connecting Xining/Golmud, Qinghai Province, to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region. At its highest point in the Tanggula Pass, the railway line reaches an altitude of 5072 metres. The travel takes 48 hour.

The line is designed for travel at speeds of 100 km/h on frozen ground to 120 km/h on non-frozen ground. The cabins are supplied with oxygen because of the thin air at the high altitudes. The windows have ultra-violet filters to keep out the sun's glare. Cooling pipes have been used to ensure the ground remains frozen.

In Switzerland, an 1 m gauge rack railway which runs 9 km from Kleine Scheidegg to the highest railway station in Europe at Jungfraujoch (3471 m).

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Gangtok : Capital of Sikkim state. Sikkim is regarded as one of the last Himalayan Shangri-las because of its remoteness and spectacular mountain views. The state has great views of Khangchendzonga (8598 m) from everywhere.

Pemayangtse & Rumtek has the biggest chaams (colourful masked dance) just before losar (Tibetan New year) in Feb/Mar. For the exact date and other festivals visit www.sikkim.gov.in

The Nathula - China (Tibet) border - is 53 km from Gangtok. Tsomgo lake (35 km) is on the way. The 3 km long Damovar ropeway (cable car Rs 50) has spectacular views. It starts from just below the ridge and runs up to Deoali. The Namgyal institute of Tibetology (with world's largest number of Buddhist books and manuscripts, statues, thangkas - cloth painting, sacred objects like kapali -sacred bowl from a human skull and kangling - flute made from a human thighbone. It has an Orchid sanctuary. Closed on Sundays). The huge Do-Drul chorten surrounded for dormitories for young monks are nearby.

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Gangtok, Sikkim

Parks & gardens : City Millennium garden is also worth a visit. The flower exhibition centre is near the imposing White hall on the Jawaharlal Nehru marg. It has a greenhouse with orchids, bonsai and other exotic plants. Flower fair is in March. The popular Ridge park is nearby.

Enchey gompa : This attractive monastery provides fine views of the town and Mt. Khangchendzonga.

The prayer hall has some exquisite murals, a huge statue of Sakyamuni (the historical Buddha) and a fearsome statue of Mahakala (the Great protector). The Deto chaam mask dance is in Dec/Jan. It is 2 km steep walk from the town or a taxi ride at Rs 50.

Helicopter service gives you an aerial view of the mountains and the town. Contact Sikkim Tourist Information centre. For Khangchendzonga ridge view by Helo, Rs 25,000 for a group of 5 persons.

Viewpoints : For stunning Himalayan views, visit Ganesh Tok (7 km). The Himalayan Zoological park is across the road, having red pandas, snow leopard and Himalayan bear (Admission Rs 10). About 4 km above Ganesh Tok is Hanuman Tok with more views and a Hanuman temple. Another popular point is Tashi viewpoint (8 km). Share taxis to Fatak leave from MG Marg and stop near Tashi viewpoint (Rs 15).

River rafting at Teesta and Rangeet rivers are the other attractions.

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Rumtek monastery : It is the official seat of Gyalwa Karmapa, the spiritual leader of the Kagyu sect. The monastery has attractive murals and huge statues of Sakyamuni and Mahakala. A giant throne awaits the arrival of the 17th Karmapa (Ogyen Trinley Dorje, teenage lama, fled from Tibet to Dharmasala in India in 2000). Karma Shri Naland institute of Buddhist studies is lavishly decorated. The bones and ashes of the 16th karmapa are kept in a magnificent jewel studded reliquary, known as the Golden stupa.

Rumtek is famous for its chaams (mask dance). The annual Drupchen festival is in May/June. Guthor chaam with lhamo (Tibetan opera) is in Feb/Mar. A 2 km further along the same road leads to Old Rumtek. The Kagyed chaam dance is 2 days before Losoong (Sikkimese New year, Dec/Jan).

The best time to visit a gompa (Buddhist monastery) is during the morning puja (prayers), when monks and novices gather to chant passages from the sacred scriptures, accompanied by ringing cymbals, booming drums, and honking Tibetan horns. A second prayer meeting is at 9 am.

Rumtek is 26 km from Gangtok. Share jeeps leave from Lal Bazaar jeep stand (Rs 20, 1 hour). The last return jeep is at 1 pm.

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Lingdum gompa : The gompa has a 15 m brass statue of Sakyamuni and the Kagyed chaam dance is 2 days before Losoong (Sikkimese New year, Dec/Jan). Share jeeps leave from Lal Bazaar jeep stand (Rs 20, 20 km, 1 hour). Ask about the last return jeep timing.

Tsomgo (Changu) lake : The lake is at 3780 m, 39 km from Gangtok, on the Nathula road. The near hilltop hike gives a spectacular views of the lake and mountains. Yak ride around the lake is at Rs 80.

Nathula (India-China border at 14,200 ft) is open only for Indian nationals on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. It is 56 km from Gangtok. The visitors have to get the permit to visit the place by applying to the Tourism Department through a registered Travel Agency.

Namchi has a 45 m high Padmasambhava statue covered in shimmering bronze paint. It is 3 hour by bus from Gangtok (Rs 55).