Darjeeling Place of Interest

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute:
Caters to the training requirements in mountaineering, this Institute is situated in Birch Hill Park. Training course imparted are Adventure, Basic, Advanced. The institute itself was constructed in November 4th 1954, where the foundation stone was laid by Lt Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. This Institute as it is said was started under the influence of Tenzing Norgay after scaling Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary after the encouragement from Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. The Institute Museum displays the equipment used in the victorious attempt to scale the peak.

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park:
Adjacent to Himalayan Mountaineering Institute this Zoo in house the high altitude wildlife like, Siberian Tiger, Himalayan Black Bear, Pandas, Dear, Leopards, Birds, Monkeys, etc. Lloyd Botanical Gardens: Just below the town is this Garden in housing plants from Sikkim Himalaya, other sub temperate and Himalayan zones. This garden also has in-house plants from Europe, China, Japan, America, Australia, and New Zealand etc. Started by Sir Ashley Eden on 1878 in the 40 acres land gifted by Mr. W Lloyd's the proprietor of the Bank by the name of Lloyd's Bank, in order to make one of the best gardens in Asia.

Yiga - Choling Bhuddhist Monastery:
Nine kilometres ahead of Darjeeling town, this monastery at an altitude of 7,500 feet is situated at Ghoom. Built in 1875 by Lama Sherab Gyatso it follows the path of worship of Maitreya Buddha coming Buddha. Among the Buddhist text there is the Buddhist Tibetan Gospel running into 108 volumes, Monks perform the Tibetan folk dances during February March to welcome the Tibetan New year. This Monastery belongs to Yellow Sect.

Japanese Temple:
This temple belonging to Hinayana sect of Buddhism with the name Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Temple was started in the year 1972. Peace Pagoda was opened on 1st November 1992, which was inaugurated by film actor Sunil Dutt. Located on the spur above town at the distance of about four kilometers commands the panoramic view of Darjeeling town and Khangchendzonga range. It is near Lal Kothi, the Present administrative centre of DGHC.

Tenzing Rock:
About 5 kilometres from Darjeeling town towards Lebong Race Course ground alongside Lebong Cart Road is this 100 feet rock where initial mountaineering training by Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) is conducted. Rappling down the rock gives the breathtaking and spine chilling experience.