Darjeeling – Travel Guide At Wikivoyage

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Tea gardens of Darjeeling
Darjeeling 1991-2020
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
11 11 2 11 12 3 26 16 6 89 19 9 160 19 11 419 20 13 649 20 13 530 20 14 385 20 13 79 19 10 11 17 6 2.8 14 4
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
Source: IMD
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
0.4 52 35 0.4 54 38 1 61 43 3.5 65 48 6.3 67 51 17 68 55 26 67 56 21 68 56 15 67 55 3.1 67 50 0.4 63 43 0.1 57 38
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Darjeeling, derived from the word Dorje-ling which literally translates to "Land of the Thunderbolt", used to be a cluster of villages that was administered intermittently by Nepal and Sikkim. It grew in prominence during the mid-19th century when, because of its climate, the British established a hill station there. It is famously known as "The Queen of the Hills".

Later, it was discovered that the area was particularly well-suited for tea plantations, and Darjeeling tea is still exported worldwide. In 1849, the British annexed the area, and Darjeeling became a part of British India. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was opened in 1881 (it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the town became famous during the days when the Raj was governed from Calcutta, the present-day Kolkata.

Many Tibetan refugees moved here after Tibet was annexed by China. They co-exist with the descendants of the many Nepalese who once came to the land as soldiers of Prithvi Narayan Shah and settled down there to work as labourers in the tea plantations.

There has been intermittent political action from Gorkha groups demanding an independent state (Gorkhaland). In June 2008, a strike paralysed the area, with closed hotels, restaurants and shops, and the accompanying protests even turned violent a couple of times. Though inconvenient, tourists generally are not at risk, but you should check the status before going there.

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