The name, Darjeeling is derived from the Tibetian word 'Dorje' which means the precious stone or ecclesiastical sceptre, which is emblematic of the thunderbolt of Indra, and 'ling' - a place, hence the 'Land of the thunderbolt.' Located at 6,800 feet above sea level, with picturesque tea plantations all round, Darjeeling is one of the most popular hill stations in the country.

Darjeeling Tea is known as the ' Champagne of Tea' and is the finest in the world. Darjeeling along with its natural beauty spreads away its majestic landscape giving ample opportunities forAdventure Sports. This world famous hill station at the foothills of the Himalayas is a paradise for plant and animal lovers.

The mighty Kanchenjunga peak over looks the town from where one can get a clear view of the peak on a sunny day. The world's highest peak The Everest can also be seen from nearby town. It was the British who rapidly developed Darjeeling into a pleasant resort around 1800.

Weather and Best time to visit
In Summer, the maximum temperature would be 14.9, and minimum, 8.6; in Winters the maximum would be 6.11 and minimum 1.50. The best season to visit would be from April to middle June and September to November.

How to reach

• Air
  The nearest airport is Bagdogra.
• Rail
  The nearest rail junction is New Jalpaiguri, 8 kms away from Bagdogra airport.
• Road
  Darjeeling is accessible to all vehicles. But particularly the 80 kms drive to Darjeeling from Jalpaiguri or Bagdogra has winding roads through dense green forests.From: Calcutta 651 kms, Gangtok 100 kms, Kalimpong 51 kms.