Darjeeling in three days — Tiger Hill and Senchal, the zoo and the tea, and the old town
Three easy days in Darjeeling for families and first-timers. The first starts before dawn at Tiger Hill and comes back by the Batasia Loop; the second spends the morning at the zoo and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the afternoon at the Happy Valley Tea Estate; the third is the old town on foot. For the toy train, see the two-day plan; for the tea, our tea gardens guide.
Photos: Matt Stabile (CC BY 2.0) · Dr Vikramjit Kakati (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Pinakpani (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Families and first-time visitors who want the sunrise, the zoo and a tea garden without rushing, best in spring and autumn.
Day by day
Day 1Sunrise at Tiger Hill, the loop and the lake
3 stops · 30 min on the road
Sunrise at Tiger Hill, the loop and the lake
Up before dawn for the view of Kangchenjunga, then the Batasia Loop and Senchal Lake on the way back.
- 05:00Tiger HillThe summit at about 2,590 m, about 11 km from the town by Wikipedia, for sunrise on Kangchenjunga; on a clear day Everest shows far to the west. Dress warmly; it is cold before dawn in every season.
- ↓ 19 min by road · 7 km07:30Batasia LoopThe spiral of the toy-train line below Ghum, built in 1919, with its Gorkha war memorial and garden.
- ↓ 11 min by road · 4 km09:15Senchal LakeThe twin reservoir of 1910 and 1932, high on a hill, that supplies the town's water, in the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary. A quiet stop among the trees.
Day 2The zoo, the climbers' school and the tea
3 stops · 12 min on the road
The zoo, the climbers' school and the tea
Birch Hill in the morning and the tea estate below it after lunch.
- 09:30Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological ParkThe high-altitude zoo, opened in 1958, at about 2,134 m. Its paths climb, so allow time and good shoes.
- ↓ 2 min by road · 1 km12:00Himalayan Mountaineering InstituteNext to the zoo: the school founded on 4 November 1954, the year after Everest was first climbed, with Tenzing Norgay its first director of field training.
- ↓ 10 min by road · 3 km14:00Happy Valley Tea EstateDarjeeling's second oldest tea garden, founded in 1854, about 3 km north of the town at about 2,100 m. We have no verified visiting hours; ask in town.
Day 3The old town on the ridge
3 stops · 16 min on the road
The old town on the ridge
An easy last morning on foot.
- 09:30Bhutia Busty MonasteryThe monastery below the town, rebuilt after the 1934 earthquake, which Wikipedia says keeps a collection of old Buddhist scriptures.
- ↓ 15 min by road · 7 km11:00ChowrastaThe square at the top of the town, at about 2,134 m, where the Mall roads meet; the place to sit and watch the hills.
- ↓ a short walk12:05St. Andrew's ChurchThe church near the Mall at the top of the ridge, a short walk from Chowrasta.
Getting there
Bagdogra airport is about 127 minutes and New Jalpaiguri station about 134 minutes below Darjeeling on our routing. See how to reach Darjeeling.
Where to stay
Darjeeling for all three nights. We have no verified lodging or prices.
Know before you go
- Book the Tiger Hill drive the evening before; the road fills before sunrise.
- The zoo's paths climb steeply; carry water and wear good shoes.
- We have no verified opening hours for the zoo, the institute or the tea estate; ask locally.
Places on this route
Going together
No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Other ways to do it
All Darjeeling itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Darjeeling →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
Is three days enough for Darjeeling?
Yes, for the main sights at an easy pace: Tiger Hill and the Batasia Loop on the first morning, the zoo, the mountaineering institute and a tea estate on the second, and the old town on the third. Add a day for the toy train, Mirik or Kurseong, or go on to Gangtok.
What time should I leave for Tiger Hill?
Early enough to be on the summit before sunrise, which is why this plan puts it at 05:00. It is about 11 km from Darjeeling by Wikipedia and stands at about 2,590 m, so it is cold in every season. On a clear morning Kangchenjunga lights up first, and Everest can be seen far to the west.
Can you visit a tea garden in Darjeeling town?
Yes. The Happy Valley Tea Estate, Darjeeling's second oldest, founded in 1854, is about 3 km north of the town, about 11 minutes by road on our routing. Wikipedia says it reopened to the public in 2008 with its old factory kept as a museum. We have no verified hours.