This Jewel of a town nestles in the Himalayas north of Calcutta . One of the great train journeys of India is the overnight Darjeeling Mail which leaves Sealdah Station in north Calcutta in the evening and reaches New Jalpaiguri early the next morning. The real presence in Darjeeling, however, is that of Kanchenjunga.

Everest is 140 Kms from Darjeeling and, if the sky is clear, it is possible to see the peak. The other attractions in Darjeeling are its exquisite Buddhist monasteries and colourful markets. The most famous is the Ghoom . Two other mountains towns worth visiting are Kalimpong and Gangtok . Kalimpong is a small, quiet bazaar town at an altitude of 1,250 meters (4,062 feet). Kalimpong has two Buddhist monasteries and fine view of the surrounding landscape.

Gangtok , the capital of Sikkim, is a five hour drive from Darjeeling. Places of interest here include the Tsuk – La – khang , the royal chapel, with fine wooden carvings and many impressive images of the Buddha on decorated altars; the institute of Tibetology, which promotes research into traditions of Tibet and Mahayana Buddhism; Orchid Sanctuary , where most of the 454 species of Sikkim orchids can be seen; and Enghey Monastery, near the tourist lodge. Permit are required to visit Sikkim. For Sikkim, permits are issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices and Sikkim Tourism Offices in Delhi and Kolkata