Refreshing Darjeeling Tour

Refreshing Darjeeling Tour

Far from the madness of Delhi city I with three of my friends landed in Darjeeling. I had heard a lot about this destination and was very impressed. Now I was here to see it for myself. After reaching Siliguri we hired a taxi to Darjeeling which is around 75 km from this place. I really enjoyed the ride through the winding roads. No traffic jam, no pollution, it was a wonderful ride.

The moment we entered Darjeeling I was completely mesmerized by its charm and beauty. The sight of the verdant green hills was very soothing to the senses. The climate was pleasant and the environment was refreshing.

Darjeeling is a wonderful hill station of West Bengal state of India where nature lovers come from far and wide. Still retaining its old world charm, it is popularly known as the 'Queen of Hill Stations'. The most fascinating attraction of this destination is the refreshing and aromatic tea gardens. The forests here have their own unique charm.

Our first halt was the Tiger Hill which has an altitude of 2590 m. This is a famous spot as it offers breathtaking view of sunrise. I was enchanted to the hilt when I saw the sun rising like a fire ball over the great Eastern Himalayan Mountains from this hill. It was a Kodak moment. One can even get glimpses of Mt. Everest, the world's highest peak from here. Next we headed towards the Happy Valley Tea Estate. Roaming around in the gardens, breathing aromatic air and enjoying the mesmerizing views of the surroundings was a great experience. We also saw how tea leaves are processed. It was quite interesting.

Post lunch we headed towards the Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway which is the first of its kind in India. We enjoyed the cable car ride. After that we visited the monastery, garden and temple, which reflected the richness of this hill station. In the evening we went to the local market of Darjeeling and bought some handicrafts. We also picked up some tea packets as Darjeeling is famous the world over for its high quality and aromatic tea.

The Best Way to Reach Shimla

Shimla Tour

There are many things in our life which are destined and no one knows when and how it will get fulfilled. Same thing happened with me when I went to my friend’s engagement in Shimla. When his persuasion failed to convince me, he bribed me with a travel opportunity in Toy train from Kalka to Shimla. Since my childhood it was my dream to experience this riveting journey. Though I got several opportunities but somehow I missed all, why and how I don’t known. It was not destined that may be one of the reasons.

For me it’s not a bribe but he targeted on my Achilles’ heel and soon I headed for Delhi from Pune via flight. From here I boarded Howrah Delhi Kalka Mail and reached Kalka at around 5:00 in the morning. Kalka located on the foothills of Himalayas is an entry point to Himachal Pradesh. From here my long cherished journey started in a cozy seat of the Shivalik Deluxe Express. With smile on my face and joy in my heart I stepped inside the train.

It is a luxury train running between Kalka and Shimla. This train has only one stoppage at Barog that is why it is also called as ‘narrow gauge Shatabdi’. The train can accommodate 120 passengers at a time. There is a special tourist coach called 'Shivalik Palace’ attached to this train which is meant for elite tourists. Apart from this the Shivalik Express has individual posh cabins which are private compartments for couples or lovers. Some of the other distinctive features that impressed me most on board were the wall to wall carpet decorations, wide glass windows, reversible cushioned chairs, music system and microphone with an alarm bell for emergency communication. 

The slow and steady moving of the train over serpentine tracks, passing by charming hills, tunnels and bridges mesmerized me completely. The journey through green valleys, high mountains and steep slopes had left the impression of ecstasy and joy which will remain in my memory forever. Covering 96 km, the train passes through 919 curves, 20 railway stations, 103 tunnels and 969 bridges. 

The most fascinated duration of this expedition was when the train passed the longest tunnel at Barog. This tunnel is 1143.61-metre-long and the train passes through fissured sandstone. The train echo and darkness outside perplexed me and I got sacred for sometime. As soon as the train comes out of the tunnel, the spread over beauty of lush green natural ambiance is like a welcome sign of this bewitching land.

After 4:45 hours of this appealing journey the train reaches the beautiful hill station Shimla, where I saw my friends waiting for me. The moment I got down from the train two of my old friends hugged me and we all headed towards our friend’s house. 

It was really a memorable journey for me because not only it fulfilled my most cherished desire but also given me a chance to meet some of my old friends. After enjoying the company of natural vistas I spent quality time with my friends for two days which provided me a chance to enjoy everything at its best.