Darjeeling, West Bengal

 

Best for tea and toy trains

The former summer capital of the British Raj, the hill station of Darjeeling is nestled in the lap of the Himalayas. Kanchenjunga (Khangchendzonga) – the world's third-highest mountain at 8586m (28,169ft) – looks benevolently over this town, with its silver fir forests, meandering roads, lush tea gardens and plunging valleys.

As well as seeing relics of British colonialism, you can take a camping trek to the Singalila National Park, check out the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (where Tenzing Norgay was once director), climb up to Tenzing Rock, shop and promenade on The Mall and sample some of India's finest brews at one of the city's many tea estates. For a more spiritual experience, find peace at the Japanese Peace Pagoda, the Ghum, Dali and Bhutia Busty Buddhist monasteries, or the Mahakal Temple on Observatory Hill (where Hindu and Buddhist deities reside together).

The pride of Darjeeling is the tiny "toy train" that travels along the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed railway runs downhill to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) to connect with trains from Kolkata, but most tourists focus on the short trip by steam locomotive between Darjeeling and Ghum.

Detour: For a change of scene, there are more beautiful hill stations surrounding Darjeeling, such as Kalimpong, Kurseong, and Mirik – all accessible by shared 4WD.