2N/3D Darjeeling Package – Perfect Weekend Plan

Complete 2N/3D Itinerary Breakdown

Day 1: Arrival & Evening Acclimatization

Morning/Afternoon: Journey to Darjeeling

Option A: Train Arrival (Most Common)

• 7:30-8:00 AM: Arrive NJP railway station after overnight train from Kolkata

• 8:00-8:30 AM: Meet driver at platform, luggage loading

• 8:30 AM-12:00 PM: Scenic 3.5-hour drive to Darjeeling via Hill Cart Road

  • En-route breakfast stop at roadside dhaba (₹100-150 per person, not usually included)

  • Photo stops at Pankhabari viewpoint overlooking tea gardens

  • Pass through Kurseong, smaller hill town with Makaibari Tea Estate

• 12:00-1:00 PM: Arrive Darjeeling, hotel check-in near Chowrasta/Mall Road​

Option B: Flight Arrival

• 9:00-10:00 AM: Land Bagdogra airport

• 10:30 AM-2:00 PM: Transfer to Darjeeling (95 km, 3.5 hours)

• 2:00 PM: Hotel check-in​

Option C: Siliguri Direct Start

• 9:00 AM: Pickup from Siliguri residence/hotel

• 12:30 PM: Darjeeling arrival and check-in​

Afternoon: Lunch & Rest (1:00-3:00 PM)

• Lunch at hotel or nearby restaurants (self-arranged, ₹250-400 per person)

• Freshen up, brief rest to adjust to altitude (7,100 ft elevation)

• Driver briefs on next morning’s 3:30 AM Tiger Hill departure timing​

Evening: Mall Road Introduction (3:00-7:00 PM)

This first evening sets the tone—relaxed introduction to Darjeeling’s colonial charm without sightseeing pressure.

3:00-5:00 PM: Chowrasta & Mall Road Walk

• Chowrasta Square: Central plaza with benches, pony rides for kids (₹100-200), street food stalls

• St. Andrew’s Church: 1843 Scottish Presbyterian church with beautiful architecture

• Mall Road stroll: Traffic-free walking promenade with shops, cafés, viewpoints

• Observatory Hill: Short 10-minute uphill walk for panoramic town views and prayer flags​

5:00-6:30 PM: Shopping Preview & Snacks

• Browse Darjeeling tea shops (Nathmulls Tea, Golden Tips): tastings of first flush, second flush varieties

• Woolen shawl and handicraft stores

• Keventers Café: Historic 1911 establishment, famous for hot chocolate and breakfast (₹200-400 per person)

• Glenary’s: Bakery, café, and bar with Mall Road views

• Street momos, thukpa, Tibetan bread from vendors (₹60-150 snacks)​

6:30-7:30 PM: Return to Hotel

• Early dinner at hotel (included in MAP packages)

• 8:00 PM: Sleep early—Tiger Hill requires 3:30 AM wake-up​

Day 2: Tiger Hill Sunrise & Full-Day Sightseeing (The Power Day)

This is the core day delivering maximum Darjeeling experiences in 14-15 hours.

Early Morning: Tiger Hill Expedition (3:30-8:00 AM)

3:30 AM: Wake-up call, complimentary hotel tea/coffee
4:00 AM: Depart hotel in private vehicle
4:00-4:30 AM: Drive through sleeping Darjeeling town, then primitive oak and magnolia forests up winding roads
4:30 AM: Reach Tiger Hill summit (8,400 ft / 2,590 m)​

4:30-5:30 AM: Sunrise Viewing

Weather permitting, this is Darjeeling’s most magical hour:

• Pre-sunrise (4:30-5:00 AM): Mt. Kanchenjunga’s five peaks (28,169 ft, world’s 3rd highest) appear as dark silhouettes against gradually lightening sky

• First light (5:00-5:15 AM): Kanchenjunga peaks turn golden-pink as sun rises behind them (“golden hour” photography paradise)

• Full sunrise (5:15-5:45 AM): Sun fully emerges; on exceptionally clear days, Mt. Everest (8,848 m) visible 107 miles away to the northwest

• Post-sunrise: Crowd disperses; quieter moments for final photos and tea from roadside stalls (₹20-30)​

Weather reality: Clear views occur 40-50% of mornings. Monsoon (June-August) and winter fog (December-January) reduce odds. Spring (March-May) and autumn (October-November) offer best chances.​

5:45-6:15 AM: Ghoom Monastery

• 5 km descent from Tiger Hill to Yiga Choling Monastery (founded 1875)

• 15-foot statue of Maitreya Buddha (future Buddha)

• Morning prayer chants if visiting during monk rituals

• Serene atmosphere with butter lamps, prayer wheels, Tibetan manuscripts​

6:15-6:45 AM: Batasia Loop

• Spiral railway track where toy train negotiates steep gradient through 360° loop

• War Memorial: Gorkha Welfare Association tribute to Gorkha Regiment soldiers

• Landscaped gardens with flower beds, Japanese architecture influences

• Panoramic Darjeeling town and valley views​

6:45-7:15 AM: Drive Back to Hotel
7:30-8:30 AM: Breakfast at Hotel
8:30-9:30 AM: Rest/Freshen Up (crucial break before second sightseeing round)​

Morning Session: Educational & Nature Sites (9:30 AM-1:00 PM)

9:30-11:00 AM: Zoo & Mountaineering Institute Complex

Located adjacent to each other, entry ₹50 each (₹20 for kids):

• Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (Closed Thursdays):

  • Rare red pandas in naturalistic enclosures

  • Snow leopards, Himalayan wolves, Tibetan wolves

  • Alpine habitat specialists; conservation breeding programs

  • Photography allowed (no flash)​

• Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (Entry ₹50):

  • Founded by Tenzing Norgay (first Everest summiteer with Edmund Hillary, 1953)

  • Museum showcasing mountaineering equipment, expedition photographs, Tenzing’s personal items

  • Relief maps of Himalayan peaks

  • Mountaineering training center with rock climbing walls​

11:00-11:30 AM: Tenzing Rock & Gombu Rock

• Natural rock formations used for beginner mountaineering training

• Named after Tenzing Norgay and his nephew Nawang Gombu (first person to summit Everest twice)

• Quick photo stop, not extended visit​

11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Happy Valley Tea Estate

• Working tea plantation established 1854 (one of Darjeeling’s oldest)

• Factory tour showing withering, rolling, oxidation, drying processes

• Tea tasting sessions: first flush (spring, light), second flush (summer, muscatel notes)

• Purchase authentic Darjeeling tea direct from source (₹400-1,500 per 100g for quality grades)

• Scenic plantation walks with tea pickers visible during harvest season​

12:30-1:00 PM: Return to Hotel​

1:00-2:30 PM: Lunch Break

Self-arranged at hotel or nearby restaurants:

• Hotel lunch (if upgraded to full-board): ₹300-500

• Mall Road restaurants: Kunga, Sonam’s Kitchen, Glenary’s (₹350-600 per person)

• Local eateries: Thalis, momos, Tibetan bread, thukpa (₹250-400)​

Afternoon Session: Spiritual & Cultural Sites (2:30-6:00 PM)

2:30-3:15 PM: Peace Pagoda (Japanese Temple)

• White Buddhist stupa built by Nipponzan Myohoji (Japanese Buddhist order)

• Four avatars of Buddha around structure

• 360° views of Darjeeling town, valleys, and mountains

• Peaceful meditation platform; shoes removed before entering

• Tibetan prayer flags fluttering everywhere​

3:15-4:15 PM: Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre

• Established 1959 after Dalai Lama’s exile and Tibetan refugee influx

• Workshops showcasing traditional crafts: carpet weaving, woodwork, leather work

• Artisans work in open areas; watch craftsmanship in action

• Shop with authentic Tibetan handicrafts, prayer flags, singing bowls

• Closed Sundays​

4:15-5:00 PM: Darjeeling Ropeway (Optional)

• One of oldest cable car systems in India (built 1968)

• 5 km route from North Point to Singla Bazar, 45-minute round trip

• Valley views, tea gardens from aerial perspective

• Cost: ₹200 per person (usually excluded from packages, pay separately)

• Often skipped if time tight or budget packages​

5:00-5:45 PM: Bengal Natural History Museum OR Dhirdham Temple

Option A: Natural History Museum (₹30 entry):

• Regional flora and fauna exhibits

• Stuffed specimens of Himalayan wildlife

• Quick 30-minute visit​

Option B: Dhirdham Temple:

• Hindu temple complex with Shiva shrine

• Colorful architecture, peaceful setting

• Alternative for those less interested in museum​

6:00 PM: Return to Hotel
6:00-7:00 PM: Rest, Freshen Up
7:00-8:30 PM: Free Evening

• Final Mall Road walk, shopping for souvenirs

• Café time at Glenary’s or Keventers

• Observatory Hill sunset views​

8:30 PM: Dinner at Hotel (included)​

Day 3: Leisure Morning & Departure

8:00-9:00 AM: Breakfast & Checkout

Leisurely last meal at hotel, pack bags, settle any extras​

9:00 AM-12:00 PM: Choose Your Adventure

Since departure is early afternoon, morning options vary based on interest:

Option A: Toy Train Joy Ride (Most Popular)

• Book separately through IRCTC or hotel assistance (₹1,000 per person)

• Darjeeling-Ghoom-Darjeeling 2-hour loop on UNESCO World Heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR)

• Steam engine on select days; diesel on others

• Passes through Batasia Loop during journey

• Morning departures usually 10:00 AM

• Best for: Train enthusiasts, families with kids, UNESCO heritage collectors​

Option B: Mall Road Final Shopping Spree

• Serious tea shopping at Nathmulls (established 1931), Golden Tips, Dorje Teas

• Purchase Darjeeling teas (first flush ₹800-2,000 per 100g, second flush ₹400-1,200)

• Woolen shawls, jackets from Tibetan/Nepali stores (₹800-3,000)

• Handicrafts: prayer wheels, singing bowls, thangka paintings

• Gift items: tea sets, Darjeeling-themed souvenirs​

Option C: Spiritual Morning

• Mahakal Temple & Observatory Hill: Hindu-Buddhist pilgrimage site with Shiva shrine

• Prayer flags everywhere, offering rituals

• 360° town views

• Serene way to end trip​

Option D: Lloyd Botanical Gardens

• Entry ₹20

• Himalayan plant species, orchid houses, greenhouses

• Peaceful morning walk through 40 acres

• Less crowded alternative to Mall Road​

12:00-12:30 PM: Begin Return Journey

Driver picks up from hotel with luggage​

12:30-3:30 PM: Drive to Siliguri/NJP/Bagdogra

• 3-hour descent, lunch stop en route at roadside restaurant (₹200-350, self-arranged)

• Reach NJP station by 3:30 PM for afternoon/evening trains

• Reach Bagdogra by 4:00 PM for evening flights​

Kolkata Return Example:

• 3:30 PM: NJP drop

• 5:00 PM: Board Darjeeling Mail or Kanchankanya Express

• 2:00-3:00 AM (next morning): Arrive Kolkata Sealdah

• Total trip duration: Friday 10 PM departure to Tuesday 3 AM return = long weekend perfectly utilized