When it comes to a hill stations of India, Darjeeling is one of the most popular destinations. The ineffable and outstanding views of the Eastern Himalayas and the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Kanchenjunga amid the naturally decorated scape of green beauty in the form of tea gardens standing at high altitudes makes it worth a trip. Adhering to the global popularity of Darjeeling town, one can trace its history as the relaxation place in the British times. Therefore, it is quite clear as to why is Darjeeling is named as the “Queen of Hills”. Every traveller visiting Darjeeling is bound to leave a piece of their heart in between the paradise-like beauty and its fresh mesmerizing aura with countless tourist attractions.
The weather and climate of the Darjeeling area is blessed with cheerful and pleasant aura almost throughout the year. As a result of the cleanliness and greenery, Darjeeling experiences calming breezes and sweetness is mixed in its air. Summers are short and last only from May to June. Spring sprouts with all the positivity from March to May making it the best time to visit. Talking about which, the months from October to November also witnesses a large bunch of tourists due to the clear skies in autumn.
Darjeeling witnesses a broad spectrum and diverse cultures mainly because of sharing borders with Bhutan and Nepal. Various groups of the Nepali Hindus and Buddhist groups such as Lepchas, Bhutias, Kiranti Limbus, Tibetans, Yolmos, Gurungs and Tamangs. In addition to this, Darjeeling is the spot and hub for art and festivals. The varied culture boasts different styles and talents in the all fields of music and instruments.
You might find great restaurants and places to eat given to it being a heart-warming host for its tourists throughout the year. However, the world-famous local cuisine of Darjeeling is something you would never miss. The steamed dumplings called Momo will make your taste buds swirl. The other must-try dishes are Alu Mini which is made by boiled potato, spices and the traditional wai wai. A lot of Bhutanese cuisines like Thupka are quite popular.
The tourist attractions in Darjeeling are countless. While some are natural spots with splendid views, there are lot of man-made stops that will make a mark on you. The entire town of Darjeeling is a big tourist attraction.
We would describe Sikkim as the paradise beneath the Eastern Himalayas. Known for its cleanliness, natural beauty and heart throbbing views of the crystal-clear skies covering a canopy of lush greenery grown all over the hill station, Sikkim is definitely one of the top hill stations and tourist holiday destinations approved by the travellers all over the globe. Starting from great trekking sites, scenic panorama and adventure sports, Sikkim has endless travel delights to offer its visitors. The cheerful and hospitable environment of the entire state with the most welcoming locals makes this tourist spot a cherry on the cake. Sikkim boasts of some of the wonders of Indian tourism and is a place of amazements from the point of view of each traveller.
If you are planning a trip to Sikkim, then the months of March to May or October to Mid-December, as it is the best time to witness the best of Sikkim and its breath-taking beauty. The weather is really pleasant and most-suited for comfortable and convenient conveyance and sightseeing. Although Sikkim experiences beautiful and content climate throughout but the steep winters during late Decembers to January might get extremely cold but it the sight gets beautifully decorated with snow covered mountains and lanes.
Sikkim is a land of diverse culture and multiple languages but all over you will notice a Buddhism, Nepali Hindu and Tibetan culture. You can see many tribes and groups of variant lingual in the state. The vibrant and popular festivals of Sikkim make it one in a million and are the perfect depiction of the cultures followed there. The primary language spoken in Sikkim is Nepali while others like Majhwar, Kafle, Sherpa, etc are also profound.
When it comes to food and eateries, Sikkim has a popular mark in the tourism industry. You can spot elite restaurants to eat but the local food steals the show. If you are travellig to Sikkim, your trip will remain incomplete if your do not stop by to taste the famous local cuisine prepared by the talented local chefs. Some of the must try delicacies are Sinki, Thukpas, Gundruk, Dumplings, Wantons and other fermented dishes.
The list is long. Although Sikkim is one of the smallest states in the country yet it boasts of much more attractions than any big town. The first attraction is the clean and pure vibe in the aura itself.
Located on the banks of a huge lake, the hill town of Mirik adds to North Bengal's beauty. Amidst the Himalayan Valley, Mirik has various tourist spots to explore other than just the mountains and lakes. Range varies from boating experiences for your romantic getaway to temples for the faithful to orchids and gardens for the nature's lovers. Mirik is a very beautiful place and the entire tourism if West Bengal is incomplete without it. The well populated, yet not over crowded town also offers viewpoints for those quiet moments of introspection and traditional Indian Bazaars to explore. The outskirts of Mirik is surrounded by tea plantation which makes the on-way scenic beauty itself very relaxing and beautiful.
Mirik experiences a blossom-like weather all year and in all seasons. The beautiful hill station and tourist stop has a temperate climate, with mild summers, cold winters and wet monsoons. This makes spring, summer and autumn the best time to visit Mirik and enjoy the best of this place to the fullest. March, April, October and November are considered as the golden period to explore Mirik in all its enchanting glory and photogenic views.
The place lies in semi-hills and therefore, it witnesses a blend of culture, customs and language. It is impacted by the Bengal, Sikkim and Nepali traditions and festivals. You can find many shops by the town selling unique and traditional antiques as souvenir.
YThe local cuisine of the place has is more influenced by the Bengali Culture and the local weather, along with dishes that all hill stations are quite prevalent and deliciously prepared in its restaurants. Some really special and popular dishes that are served there are Hakka Noodles, soup-Thukpa and a few other Tibetan dishes.
One of the most popular and cosiest hill stations stop in the jolly state of West Bengal, Kalimpong remains one of the unexplored gems. Filled with floral passages and beautifully designed circular roads leading to places of sheer joy, this tourist attraction has the potential of lifting the mood of any traveller just by its vibes. It is situated at an altitude if 1250m on the foothills of Shivalik ranges naturally making it a placed stuffed with awe-inspiring views and nature’s bounty. The sight of Teesta valley beneath its roadside dwelling makes the aura even more captivating. Kalimpong is very poular for its nurseries, plantations, churches, monasteries, flower markets like orchards and other bright flowers and Tibetan handicrafts. Lesser known to us, it also holds a major place in the history of Bhutanese and British.
Kalimpong has well distinct seasons like Spring, Summer, Monsoon, Autumn and Winter. Weather generally remains lovely and pleasing throughout the year although it can get a bit cold during the winter. However, you won't face extremes in any season. In summer, the temperature varies between normal to moderate temperatures, while in the winter it can go as low as 5-7 degrees yet it remains soothing.
The main tribe that belongs during ancient times to Kalimpong was the Lepchas but nowadays, Nepalis could be seen here. Other native tribes living in Kalimpong are Bhutia, Newars, Sherpas, Limbus, Gurungs, Tamangs and many more. And, among the non-natives it is home to Bengalis, Biharis, Chinese, Tibetans and so on. The main language spoken in Kalimpong is Nepali for common conversation. Other main languages for conversing with tourists are Hindi, English, Tamang, Limbu, Lepcha, Bengali and Kirat. The favourite and the most predominant snack of Kalimpong is momos and are preferred even by tourists. Other must-try varieties in Kalimpong are Wai-Wai, Churpee, Thukpa, etc. There are countless restaurants in the town that serve great varieties of different cuisines like Indian, Continental, North-Indian and Nepali.
Nestled at a peak height of 6800ft above the sea level, Pelling is one of the top tourist attractions in Sikkim. In fact, it is the second most favoured tourist spot after Gangtok. Travellers who visit Gangtok, make sure that their next stop is Pelling. What makes Pelling such a worthy hype? The natural beauty spread with eternal bliss as far as the eyes can see is not so surprising answer to the quest. The aura of Sikkim itself makes that believable. The main highlight of the graciously beautiful town of Pelling is sightseeing and view of the glazing Kanchenjunga from its high view point. Once you reach there, every mile invested into the trip makes perfect sense. In addition to this, the serene essence of the entire area and innumerable tourist spots of Pelling makes us soak ourselves even more.
Given to the significant height of the destination, Pelling qualifies all the parameters to be a perfect summer getaway for the travellers and visitors. Naturally, it witnesses mild summers and pleasant spring season. It experiences rainfall at rainy months of the year, however December marks the beginning of winters and cosy coffee dates. Therefore, if you wish to make your trip joyful and filled with crystal clear photogenic views of mountains, the months from September to May is the perfect time for you to plan your travel.
Limbu community is the major tribe found there. However, Pelling has other sub-castes like Khamdhak, Muringla, Tamling, Lingden and Pegha. People are seen to make a living by farming methods that tells a lot about their closeness to nature. The festivals of Pelling are one of the best things about the place. The entire town comes together to celebrate and be a part of cultural activities like art and dances like Limbu dance in the festivities like Kanchenjunga Festival. This festival also witnesses fun activities like White-water rafting, Kayaking, trekking, mountain biking and many more adventures. Starting from luxury to local foods, Pelling is home to a wide variety of multicuisine restaurants and street stalls serving famous local foods. Rejoice your taste buds and make memorable memories by tasting the authentic local Momos and Thukpas. You can also visit to the high-end restaurants serving all kinds of vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisines. Some of the popular places to eat serve great Chinese and Tibetan foods.
The places to visit does not need any mentioning. The fact that Pelling is a place of great tourist attraction is not a hidden fact. However, you must make a checklist before you travel so that you do not miss out on your favourite spot.
Located at the foothills of Mount Kanchenjunga, this small village of utmost calm and peace is one of the most beautiful places of West Sikkim and also whole of Sikkim. Tourists never want to miss the chance of witnessing this enchanting beauty. Covered by lush green lands, this clean and misty tourist attraction is effortlessly a hub of adventure, relaxation and a beautiful escape from the city hustle. The beautiful settlement of Yuksom shares a significant contribution to the religious, historic and tourist importance of the state. Yuksome boasts of the some of the major places to visit in Sikkim. Therefore, it witnesses a great amount of traveller each year.
The weather is cool and cheerful throughout the year in Yuksom as it is in close proximity to the mountains. You will never experience extreme summers in Yuksom given to the divine greenery and pollution-free lanes. If you are planning to explore the exciting and serene tourist spot, then the months of March, April, May and June are the most ideal time of the year.
Yuksom is an important part of the Sikkim in terms heritage, festivals, history and tradition. The first Chogyal was crowned in Yuksom, therefore Buddhism and Gorkha prevails in Yuksom. The Lepchas speak the Rongring language. Adhering to the historic monasteries, there are many folk dances & festivals that play a large cultural role. The local cuisine is a must-try in your Yuksom trip. Remotely situated in the state, Yuksom boasts of some of the flavoursome and delicious recipes. Yak Cheese Momos, Tongba made of fermented millet grains served in broad bamboo stem cut. You can also famous restaurants but the local street side stalls are the specialty.
There are endless travel attractions in Yuksom. However, the entire town of Yuksom is itself a big major spot for your refreshment but there are special stopovers that will make your trip an unforgettable experience.
