7 Day Kolkata – Kurseong – Darjeeling Travel Itinerary
What can be more exciting than vacationing in the hills? Pack your bags and set out for a budget-friendly tour from Kolkata. Enjoy a week-long vacation in Kurseong and Darjeeling. The lush greenery of the slopes, snowy Kanchenjunga peaks and the British era charm will bring you soulful joy.
Contents
One Week in Kurseong and Darjeeling
About Kurseong
This small town nestled on the winding Siliguri-Darjeeling highway offers a magnificent view of the mountains, and is one of the Best Offbeat Himalayan Getaways in West Bengal . The lush green valley, beautiful waterfalls with the backdrop of the Himalayas offers a soulful retreat. You will get an old British touch with the number of schools, churches and Buddhist temples.
Places to Visit in Kurseong
Netaji Subhas Chandra Museum and Institute for Asian Studies – Here, Netaji and his father were captivated during their freedom struggle. This house-turned-museum well preserves the letters, artefacts and interiors of the Bose family.
Giddapahar View Point – On your journey via the Hill Cart Road, park your car here. Behold the panoramic view of the winding roadways cut through the lush greenery and a sneak-peak of Kanchenjunga.
Ambootia Tea Estate and Shiv Mandir – One of the famous operating tea estates since British times offering a wonderful view of the cityscape. A famous shiv mandir is also perched here.
Eagle’s Crag View Point – the majestic viewpoint is also the highest point of Kurseong. A beautiful garden with a watchtower offers a romantic ambience for couples. Open from dusk till dawn without an entry fee, don’t miss out on this place.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum – see how the train tracks in Darjeeling were built cutting across the steep Himalayan slopes, adjacent to the station premise.
St. Mary’s Hill – Enjoy the serene tranquillity at St. John’s church nested on top. You will find the statues of Jesus and Mary amidst the lush greenery around.
Dow Hill – Trek up through the tranquil forests to see Himalayan biodiversity at the Forest Museum. Trace the deers and relax a little at Deer Park.
Makaibari/Castleton Tea Estates – Check out the tea leaves plucking and processing here. Makaibari is the oldest tea estate and also offers homestay facilities. At Castleton Factory, the workers warmly narrate and show how tea leaves are processed.
Paglajhora Waterfall – Halt here for a quick photo-session on your way to Darjeeling.
About Darjeeling
Almost every person who stays in West Bengal visits Darjeeling at least for once in a lifetime. The Queen of Hills keeps up its prestigious name with its huge influx of tourists. It is rightfully known as Bengal’s mini-Switzerland. The picturesque setting of the place atop the mountains gives a breath-taking view.
Places to Visit in Darjeeling
Tiger Hill – The snow-capped Kanchenjunga painted in the hues of sunrise will take your breath away.
Darjeeling Mall – Shopping at the famous Mall Road is a must when in Darjeeling. It is famous for its winter wear and cosmetics.
Batasia Loop – Go for the heritage toy train joyride at Darjeeling. The edgy bend through which the train passes atop the mountains is called the Batasia Loop.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Himalayan Zoological Park – Located side by side, enjoy the taste of trekking in the mountains and seeing rare endangered species.
Peace Pagoda and Japanese Monastery – Attain inner peace visiting these beautiful places atop the hills.
Rock Garden and Ganga Maya – Include the beautifully waterfall-carved rocks enjoying the splendour of Mother Nature.
Keventers and Glenerys – Enjoy a wholesome English breakfast at these iconic restaurants. Your trip to Darjeeling will be incomplete without this.
Climate & Best time to visit Kurseong and Darjeeling
Located on the slopes of Himalaya, it is cold all year round. Winters are severe with mercury levels dropping below freezing point. Summers are cool. Monsoons bring copious rainfall bringing landslides and fog. Best time to visit is from March to May and from June to September. Although visiting in winters has also become popular these days.
How to reach Kurseong and Darjeeling from Kolkata
The hills are well accessible by road, rail and air from Kolkata. New Jalpaiguri station and Bagdogra airport are the heads connecting the hills from Siliguri. Shared taxis, buses and private cars/jeeps will ply you to Kurseong and Darjeeling by road.
7 Day Kurseong and Darjeeling Travel Itinerary
Here’s an easy-going itinerary covering all the tourist spots of Kurseong and Darjeeling:
Day 1: After reaching Siliguri, start your journey towards Kurseong. Adjacent to the Kurseong station, check out the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum. Halt at the Giddapahar viewpoint to see the winding roads and lush green hill slopes. Keep it easy going on the first day. After freshening up, stroll at the local markets and enjoy warm tea and hot momos.
Day 2: Set out to the tea estates of Makaibari, Ambootia or Castleton for getting a taste of the local culture and Darjeeling tea. Visit the Netaji Subhas Chandra Museum in the afternoon. On your way, stop by the Paglajhora waterfalls for a refreshing halt.
Day 3: Wake up early and go for the mesmerising view at the Eagle Crag point. Visit the St. John’s Church at St. Mary’s hill. Follow it up by walking through the forested Dow Hill. Visit the Dow Hill Park, watchtower and forest museum.
Day 4: Enjoy the UNESCO Heritage toy train ride from Kurseong to Darjeeling, covering Batasia loop on your way. Freshen up and go out for a shopping spree and stroll at the Chowrasta of Darjeeling Mall Road. Climb up the way from the Mall Road to Mahakal temple and Observatory point. End the day shopping and enjoying at Mall Road in the evening.
Day 5: Wake up early and head to Tiger Hill to behold the picture-perfect view of the sun rays lighting up Kanchenjunga. Next stop at Himalayan Mountaineering Institute for some exciting trekking experience. Next to it lies the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoo conserving Red Pandas and Snow Leopards. End the day on a peaceful note visiting the Ghoom Monastery.
Day 6: Indulge in a scrumptious breakfast at the famous restaurants like Keventers or Glenarys. See the cascading waterfalls making its way cutting the rock at the Rock Garden and Ganga Maya Park. Next, head to the Japanese temple and Peace Pagoda at Jalapahar Hill to enjoy spiritual serenity. Book an overnight stay at the Happy Valley or Orange Valley Tea Estates feeling the essence of tea gardens.
Day 7: Take the Toy Train ride from Ghoom to Darjeeling. Eat out at any of the famous or local restaurants. Do last-minute shopping at the Mall and pack your bags to return home.
Your journey to the Land of White Orchids and Switzerland of West Bengal will be one of the best budget-friendly trips. The beautiful landscape intertwined with touristy and tea garden cultures will leave a memorable imprint. Follow this doable non-hectic tour guide and have a pleasant journey to the hills. And if you like this guide, don’t forget to Pin this post.
And if you are in mood for some more adventure, do check out this 7 Day Bhutan Travel Itinerary and this 10 Day North Sikkim Travel Itinerary as well.
About the author: Ruma Dey Baidya has been backpacking for the last 20+ years. She lives in Kolkata West Bengal with her family, including her 6-year-old daughter. Photography and travelling have been her passion since childhood. She prefers to travel in a group and on a budget! She realised that memories are not constant so she decided to document them and create her blog The Holiday Story.
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