Darjeeling, Mountain resort town in West Bengal, India
Darjeeling sits at 2100 meters (6900 feet) elevation in the Sikkim Himalayas, surrounded by sprawling tea plantations and forested slopes. The town spreads across multiple tiers, with narrow lanes and steep staircases connecting residential areas to market squares and viewpoints.
The East India Company founded the settlement in 1835 as a summer retreat, transforming a small village into a major colonial hill station. The British introduced tea plants from China and established the first plantations, which later became the economic foundation of the region.
The community brings together Nepali, Tibetan and Bengali groups who live side by side and meet at festivals and markets. Buddhist monasteries stand next to Hindu temples, and many visitors watch monks during daily prayers or worshippers lighting butter lamps.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a narrow-gauge train service, connects the town to Siliguri through 88 kilometers (55 miles) of mountain tracks, passing tea gardens and forests. The main station sits centrally, and from there most sights and viewpoints are accessible on foot or by local jeeps.
The geographical and climate conditions at this elevation create the perfect environment for growing the internationally recognized black tea varieties. The cool air, mist and soil give the tea its distinctive flavor, which is considered a reference worldwide.
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