Darjeeling

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About the city

Delightful Darjiling, the'Queen of Himalayas' perched at an altitude of 2.134 metres is said to be named after Tibetan world, ‘dorje ling' or ‘Place of the Thunderbolt'. It is endowed with exceptional scenic beauty and offers a magnificent view of the grandeur and beauty of the mighty Himalayas. The beautiful town is indeed a paradise for holiday and adventure seekers as well as botanists, ornithologists, photographers and artists. The lovely lush woods around Darjiling are full of conifers like fir, pine and birch and are known for exotic orchids and are home to rich animals and bird-life. The name Darjiling is also synonymous with the most exquisite tea of the world.

Darjeeling conjures visions of serenity, of vibrant green hills steeped in splendour, a land of breathtaking beauty crowned by the majestic Himalayas.

Darjeeling is one of the most magnificent hill resorts in the world. This heavenly retreat is bathed in hues of every shade. The flaming red rhododendrons, the sparkling white magnolias, the miles of undulating hillsides covered with emerald green tea bushes, the exotic forests of silver fir - all under the blanket of a brilliant azure sky dappled with specks of clouds, compellingly confounds Darjeeling as the QUEEN OF HILL STATIONS.

Darjeeling - the name is derived from the Tibetian word 'Dorje' which means the precious stone or ecclesiastical sceptre, which is emblematic of the thunderbolt of Indra, and 'ling' - a place, hence the land of the thunderbolt. The sceptre of Indra is believed to have fallen at a place where now stands the Observatory Hill.

Darjeeling beckons thousands today for a leisurely respite from the bustle of the madding crowd. The traveller - whether a tourist or a trekker, an ornithologist or a photographer, a botanist or an artist - will find in Darjeeling an experience which will remain etched in ones memory - forever.

Demography

Darjeeling urban agglomeration, with an area of 12.77 sq.km has a population of around 109,000, while the municipal area has a population of 107,530. The sex ratio is 1,017 females per, 1,000 males-which is higher than the national average. The women make a significant contribution as earning members of the households and the workforce. The town houses approximately 31% of its population in the slums and shanty buildings.

Aptly called Queen of Hill Stations, Darjeeling still resembles an old Victorian town, complete with cobbled roads, old-world bungalows and endless tea estates. Who would have imagined that what appeared as an impenetrable forest and mountainside to the two British agents who were sent to explore the area, would one day be the stunning Darjeeling that draws hordes of tourists with its stunning views of the Kanchenjunga, oak, pine and orchids! and, as a trekker's paradise, it is witness to thousands of people who enjoy its adventure challenges. This is just the place where you wouldn't mind doing nothing; just soak in the cool climate and sip your morning cuppa before the golden rays of the sun! Yes, it's crowded now at all seasons and frequent landslides play havoc to its connection with the rest of the country. But ‘Dorje Ling' or Place of the Thunderbolt continues to be its alluring-best with its villages, waterfalls and the tiny toy-train

Previously Darjeeling formed a part of dominions of the Raja of Sikkim, who had been engaged in an unsuccessful warfare against the Gorkhas. From 1780 the Gorkhas constantly made inroads into Sikkim and by the beginning of 19th Century, they had overrun Sikkim as far eastward as the Teesta and had conquered and annexed the Terai. E.C.Dozey in his 'Darjeeling Past and Present' writes, 'Prior to the year 1816, the whole of the territory known as British Sikkim belonged to Nepal, which won it by conquest'.

In the meantime, the British were engaged in preventing the Gorkhas from overrunning the whole of the northern frontier. The Anglo-Nepal war broke out in 1814. Defeat of the Gorkhalis led to the Treaty of Sugauli,1815 in which, 'Nepal had to cede all those' territories the Gorkhas had annexed from the Raja of Sikkim to the East India Company.

In 1817, in the Treaty of Titalia' , the East India Co. reinstated the Raja of Sikkim (who was driven out), restored all the tracts of land between the Mechi and the Teesta to the Raja and guaranteed his sovereignty.

With the intervention of the British, the Gorkhas were prevented from turning the whole of Sikkim into a province of Nepal and Sikkim (including the present District of Darjeeling) was retained as a buffer state between Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet.

Ten years later dispute once again arose between Sikkim and Nepal, which according to the Treaty of Titalia, were referred to the Governor General. Accordingly in 1828 Captain Lloyd was deputed to settle the dispute. Along with Mr. J.W.Grant, the Commercial Resident at Malda,he came to the Hills and was attracted by the position of Darjeeling.

From a Report dated 18th June 1829, in which he claims to have been the only European, who visited the place. We learn that Lloyd visited 'the old Gorkha Station called Darjeeling', for six days in Feb. 1829 and 'was immediately struck with it being well adapted for the purpose of a sanatorium' (he was apprehensive of the winters suggested Ging).

Lord Bentinck promptly deputed Capt. Herbert to examine and map the tract of land along with Grant with special reference to its strategic and communication benefits. Their Reports proved the feasibility of establishing a sanatorium in Darjeeling. General Lloyd was accordingly deputed to start negotiations with the Raja of Sikkim for the transfer of Darjeeling in return for an equivalent in money or land. The negotiations ended in the execution by the Raja of Sikkim of a Deed of Grant on the lst of Feb. 1835.

Local Languages

Nepali (Gorkhali), Hindi, Bengali & English
A beautiful hill town made famous the world over by its tiny green leaves capable of a distinctive aroma from an exceptional brew known as Darjeeling tea. Darjeeling's terraced green slopes are the scene of much activity as tea leaves are picked in the presence of a constant stream of tourists eager for a sip of tea and for a picture in loaned traditional attire. In the background, loom the dramatic Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain peak, and its Himalayan siblings. The charming town also has a unique attraction a?? the famous toy train that chugs and toots up its winding track along Darjeeling's steep mountainside. Tranquil monasteries and placid lakes add to the surreal beauty of the place, and as the origin of its name suggests - Dorje Ling or 'Place of the Thunderbolt' - Darjeeling hits you like a pleasant bolt from the blue.

Fast Facts

Time Zone: GMT +0530 (Indian Standard Time) Latitude: 27.2 N Longitude: 88.16 E STD Code: 354 Area: 11 sq km / 5 sq miles Population: 73,062

Orientation

A summer retreat in the northern region of West Bengal, Darjeeling lies along a spur jutting out northwards from the Ghoom Senchal ridge 2200 m up in the Himalayas and almost 600 km north of Kolkata. Within Darjeeling itself, the area called the Chowrasta or 'crossroads' is a large promenade at the centre of town, above the busy bazaar on Hill Cart Road. A number of shops line one side of this area, with a bandstand on the northern end and stables offering pony rides on the southern end. One of the four roads that meet at Chowrasta is The Mall, now renamed Nehru Road.

History

The name Darjeeling is a composition of the Tibetan words --Dorje, meaning 'thunderbolt' and ling or 'place'. Thus, Darjeeling translates as 'Land of the thunderbolt'. It was the kings of Sikkim who ruled the area between present-day Sikkim and Bengal including Darjeeling and Kalimpong, until the beginning of the 18th century. In 1706 they lost Kalimpong to Bhutan and the rest of their kingdom to the Gorkhas who invaded Sikkim in 1780. However, the Gorkhas were often in conflict with the British because of their annexations and the consolidation of their rule in Nepal. Finally defeated by the British after a number of battles, Sikkim was returned to its rightful kings by the British with the agreement that the country s sovereignty would be guaranteed by the British in return for British control over any disputes which arose with neighbouring states. One such dispute in 1828 brought two British officers to Darjeeling. They were enchanted by the charming landscape and were quick to recognize its potential to be turned into a sanatorium and hill station, and as a gateway to Nepal and Tibet. The king was pressurized into relinquishing control of Darjeeling to the British who rapidly developed the town into a trading centre and tea-growing area. Inspired by their success in Assam, the East India Company began to clear the forests to introduce Chinese tea but discovered instead that some of the plants were discarding indigenous strains. Darjeeling's climate and altitude turned out to be ideal for tea growing and the one of the finest teas in the world was thus developed. Darjeeling s flourishing trade began to make a considerable impact on the fortunes of the Lamas and leading merchants of Sikkim, creating tensions with the British who eventually annexed the entire area between the present borders of Sikkim and the Bengal plains, and withdrew the king's annual stipend. They took over the hill-station and Darjeeling was merged with British territory further south while Sikkim was denied access to the plains except through British territory. This eventually led to the invasion of Sikkim by the Tibetans and the British military expedition to Lhasa.

Modern History

After Independence, Darjeeling became a part of the state of West Bengal. The visiting Bengali population kept up the tradition of using it as a summer resort, in true British style and sent their children to its reputed public schools established during the Raj. The town was a major centre of Gorkhaland separatism in the 1980s, resulting in a sharp decline in tourism-related commerce. The Gorkhaland movement demanded a separate state for the Nepalis living in Darjeeling. The Gorkhaland National Liberation Front led the movement, which resulted in massive violence between 1986 and 1988. The issue was resolved in 1988 with the establishment of the Darjiling Gorkha Hill Council within West Bengal.

Recent History

Darjeeling has carved a niche for itself on the world map with its flourishing tea industry, which produces blends considered among the world s finest. The town continues to be a popular tourist destination and one of its main attractions, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway which connects the town with the plains, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Darjeeling has expanded rapidly in recent years but the development is not without its ecological concerns as growing tourist traffic and rapid urbanisation begin to take their toll on environmental resources.

Years ago mountain sqrs, on the slopes of which the hill station of Darjeeling now stands, formed a part of the independent kingdom of Sikkim, and was covered with dense forest. The little town was founded by the two officers, Dr. Campbell and Lieutement grew its influence very rapidly. The natives of the surrounding country were quick to avail themselves of the blessings of life under the aegis of the Pax Britannica, and within ten years, between 1839 and 1849, the population rose chiefly by immigration from 100 to about 10,000 persons. The British success of these experiments led to the development of tea estates all around the town in the second half of the 19th century.

The name Darjeeling is believed to have been derived from the Tibetan word Dorje Ling, which means Place of Thunderbolt. Darjeeling was ruled by the Rajas of Sikkim till the 18th century. After continuous wars with the Gurkhas and a final invasion, the East India Company finally acquired the land after defeating the Gurkhas. Subsequent developments in the area by the British turned Darjeeling into a popular hill station. Tea estates came up and population grew as Nepali labourers came to work here. Finally in the early 1900s, Darjeeling became the summer residence of the Bengal government.

Trekking

Trekking in the Darjeeling Hills began almost a century ago. Infact, the first organised trekking route in India was established here along the Sangalila range. The trek begins in Darjeeling and proceeds through Maneybhanjyang, Tonglu, Sandakphu and ends in Phalut. The alluring natural beauty is replete with countless varieties of rhododendrons, magnolias, orchids and wild flowers. The dense forests, the verdant meadows, the savage mass of Mt. Everest, the everlasting beauty of Kanchenjunga, the rugged Lhotse or the mysterious Makalu - all in one sweeping glance, present an experience that can never be equaled.

There are trekker huts under the management of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Tourism Department all along the route to Sandakphu. For further information contact Tourist Bureau, Darjeeling.