DARJEELING

Darjeeling town (elevation 2,134 m) is located on a spur with houses hugging the hillside.  Darjeeling (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council) in northeast India provides the perfect ambiance of a hill resort with its mild climate and laid back charm (Its verdant hills and valleys mare steeped in color, and are interspersed with vast stretches of lush green tea gardens. President over all these is the 8,856m Mt. Kanchenjunga looming over the northern horizon, giving a magical aura to the land that entices thousand to its environs and leaves all the senses intoxicated.
 
Darjeeling is hemmed in by Sikkim in the north, Nepal in the west and Bhutan in the east. Darjeeling town, Kalimpong and Kurseong are the major urban centres. Heavy influenced by British India, Darjeeling still carries imprints reminiscent of its colonial past. The toy is on of the most striking examples of Darjeeling 's British Raj influence.
 
Places to visit: 
* Chowrasta, a wide promenade atop a ridge lined with shops and restaurants; 
* Mall Road, starting and splendid views; 
* Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park which has the Siberian tiger, Himalayan black bear, red panda, snow leopard and many other animal and bird species, and the nearby snow leopard breeding centre 
* Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, a training centre for mountaineers which also houses the Everest museum; 
* Natural History Museum, with its fine display of Himalayan wildlife.
* Observatory Hill which has Hindu and Buddhist shrine
* Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre, a major center for the production of Tibetan carpets, woodwork and leather goods
* Thupten Sangag Choling (Dali) and Yiga - Choling(Ghoom) - the Buddhist monasteries of Bhutan Busty
* Batasia Loop, a marvelous feat of railway engineering
* Tiger Hill for its renowned sunrise view over Kanchenjunga and the eastern Himalayan.
* Japanese Peace Pagoda, established by the Japanese Buddhist order, Nipponzan Myohoji; and Lloy's Botanical Garden which has a varied collection of Himalayan flora.
* Visitors can also stake a ride in the Darjeeling - Rangit valley passenger cable car or hop on the toy train which wheezes and winds all the way from Siliguri to Darjeeling town via Kurseong. 
 
KURSEONG  
Kurseong( elevation 1,458 m) is a quaint little town about 30 km to the south of Darjeeling on the way to Siliguri. The market consists of rows of shops lining the main road which is crisscrossed at several points by the railway tracks of the toy train. 

Eagle's Crag which has a park from where glorious views of Kanchenjunga on one side and the southern plains on the can be taken in; 
Dow Hill which has the forest museumm, Deer park, a water reservoir, all set amidst moss-laden conifers and Chimney, a serene, open meadow. 
 
MIRIK
Mirik (elevation 1,765 m approx) is another tiny hill resort easily accessible from Siliguri, Kurseong or Darjeeling. The centerpiece of the town is the Sumendu lake where boating under the serene gaze of Kanchenjunga makes for a most relaxing  
pastime. Tameeta Danda and Deosi Danda are two elevated points near the lake from where the view all around is terrific.