Monsoon in India - Here's what you need to know

The monsoon in India depends on two seasonal winds; the Southwest Monsoon known as Summer Monsoon and Northeast monsoon popularly known as Winter Monsoon. The Summer Monsoon starts from June and is through till Mid-October; the Winter Monsoon is from October to December. The south-west monsoon brings most of the rainfall during the year in the country.

Mawsynram and Cherrapunji; wettest place on the earth

India is one such country in the world which is blessed with adequate rainfall. The amount of rainfall is different in different parts of the country. The place that receives the highest rainfall not only in the country but in the world is in the north-Eastern part of India, Mawsynram. It is a village in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. It receives an annual rainfall of 11,872 millimetres. The second wettest land in the world is Cherrapunji which is almost in the same region close to Mawsynram. Travel to this region should definitely be avoided during monsoon time.

Cherrapunji – one of wettest place in the world

Although people from across the world travel to India throughout the year, the months from October to March is the season where the country experiences the maximum tourists visit. Normally the months of summer are too hot and the months of winter are pleasant except for the places in plains. However there are places in India which would be best visited during monsoon season like Goa, Ladhak and Leh, Parts of places in South India like Mysore, etc.

Some major cities like, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad receive comparatively less rain during summer monsoon. The states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala get most of its rainfall from the winter monsoon, from October to December.

What to expect during monsoon in India?

India is a developing country and the actual India is not what it looks like in metros. Most of the places in India are under developed and lacks good infrastructure. Some of the things that can be mentioned are bad roads, pedestrian paths (footpaths), bad quality of restaurants or shelters in remote places and villages, good commutation facilities.

The unmade mud packed roads sometimes get so much worse that it becomes impossible to drive your way through it. Some of the tourists’ places lack even the basic essentials like toilets or motels. Since you cannot expect to stop your vehicle at the doorstep of your destination, getting drenched and falling sick with cold and fever becomes part of your travel. The situation becomes even worse if you are planning to take public transport since most of the tourist places are remotely situated and the transport facilities are not all that great.

Maintaining hygiene becomes much more difficult in the rainy season. The food you opt to eat on streets or open restaurants can get easily contaminated with water splashes or the flies population that increases during monsoon season due to stagnant water pits serving as open homes for the growth of infectious insects and flies. This is also one of the reasons for the growth of mosquitoes thereby increasing the chances of diseases like dengue, malaria, typhoid, cholera among other diseases.

Kanchipuram South India during the monsoon. Source: mckaysavage’s photostream

With the heavens pouring in on some of the major cities, drainage becomes a problem causing flooding in the cities and bringing the routine life to halt. The traffic gets still and the routes get blocked forcing to take diversions, especially Mumbai is infamous for heavy rains and flooded roads. If you need to catch a flight or take a bus then it is good idea to plan and start a head of time.

If you plan to visit India and travel in the monsoon season then there are several things that need to be worked on before you hit the roads.

• Make your research on the places you plan to visit in India. Your research must be water oriented – how much rains to expect in the place, when to expect it, what is the place like, the facilities and infrastructures of the place, is the place travellers friendly, about the local people, where are you going to stay, what special things to be packed for that place, etc.

• If you have already not planned for any places then it would be a good idea to choose the places that receive less or no rainfall to avoid adventure while you travel!

• Do not be overwhelmed with the unpredictable rains that hit the place without warnings and also the amount of rainfall. Just be prepared with your monsoon gear and you are done with fun without worries.

• You need to be extremely cautious with drinking water in India especially when you visit India in the monsoon seasons.

• Be prepared with ‘plan b’ in case of delayed or cancelled trains or planes or other public transports especially during monsoons (which is very possible in India).

India southwest summer monsoon onset map. Source: Wikimedia Commons

You can experience some day-to-day problems that can become horrifying if you are not all that used to such circumstances. Keeping clothes dry becomes difficult which soon starts smelling damp. Power cuts and failures happen almost every day and can last for hours.

The good news is that visiting India in monsoon is still possible. You are sure to see the other side of colourful India during monsoon and also avail the low air fares and costs of stay during this season.

More about seasons and climate of India here

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Gurgaon (Gurugram): The Cyber Hub of India

If you are visiting Delhi then you might as well visit Gurgoan (also known as Gurugram). In recent years Gurgoan has seen rapid urbanization and has become an industrial hub. You can do plenty of things in Gurgoan such as visiting local parks and cinemas to spending time at the shopping malls. You will be able to visit Gurgoan and come back to Delhi the same day.

Gurgaon is a city located in Haryana, India and lies just south of Delhi, which is the nation’s capital. Over the last four decades, Gurgaon has become more urbanized with all of the Fortune 500 companies building their offices there. This increase in commercial real estate development links back to a piece of legislation passed in 1957 called the “Delhi Development Act.” This legislation gave the local government in Delhi control over all the real estate development that occurs within the vicinity of their city. One of their biggest acts was to ban all private real estate developers from constructing residential buildings. This paved the way for commercial real estate developers to building structures where businesses and companies could place themselves in. India’s largest commercial real estate developer named DLF Limited, or Delhi Land & Finance Limited, is mainly responsible for this.

After the Delhi Development Act was passed, DLF Limited purchased commercial land in Gurgaon for very cheap prices. In the 1970s, DLF Limited started a city project where they developed hotels and buildings under special economic zones on the commercial property they owned. As a result, an Indian car manufacturer named Maruti Suzuki India Limited came to Gurgaon and built their manufacturing plant there. This created more job opportunities for local residents of Delhi and gave an incentive for more Indian people to move to Gurgaon for employment. As the population continued to increase in the city, big companies started establishing local offices in Gurgaon to capitalize on this trend. As of today, over 250 companies on the Fortune 500 list have established local offices in Gurgaon. The city has become one of India’s largest industrial and financial hubs and has the 3rd highest income per capita out of any other city in the nation.

Gurgaon is often referred to as the “cyber hub of India” because of all the companies that have moved there. Most of them reside in an industrial park within the city centre known as the DLF Cyber City. This is named after DLF Limited because it owns the buildings and property where the companies are located. The “cyber” part of the name is in reference to the futuristic look of the buildings that you won’t see anywhere else. Westerners who visit DLF Cyber City compare the hub to New York City in terms of their economic influences over their respective countries. The industrial park which houses these companies in Gurgaon is considered to be the “Time Squares” of India.

Some of the city’s most noticeable buildings include Gateway Tower, the Cyber Green building, and the Innov8 building. These buildings aren’t just typical skyscrapers that look like vertical blocks. They look like something that no one has ever seen before in the present. For example, the Cyber Green building has a series of solar panels that go from the top of the building down to the bottom. As for the Gateway Tower, it has a narrow oval shape that is recognizable to anyone who sees it. In fact, the majority of the buildings in the Cyber Hub area have glass windows everywhere. Between the glass, the solar panels and the oval-shaped buildings, you will certainly feel like you are in a futuristic setting. Some of the corporate tenants you will find in these buildings include Pepsi, Shell, Discovery Channel, Google, IBM, Phillips, Hewlett-Packard, General Electric, Samsung, LinkedIn, Expedia, Canon, Yahoo, and others.

Gurgaon is a city filled with skyscrapers, office blocks made of glass and steel, golf courses, and shopping malls. Due to the increasing population, they even have towering residential apartment buildings now. These apartment buildings come with an array of accommodations including swimming pools, gymnasiums, security, tennis courts, Wi-Fi, and more. The interiors contain laminated wooden flooring with marble and walls painted with acrylic emulsion. These high-end apartments are typically occupied by wealthier people who either have a second home in Gurgaon or work for one of the Fortune 500 companies located in the city. As for the lower-level workers, they can still live in Delhi and commute to Gurgaon for work just as easily. Gurgaon is a critical factor in India’s growing economy and is continuing to grow as we proceed further into the 21st century.

The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon governs the city. Gurgaon has a relatively low crime rate for a city because of the job opportunities there and the high level of police presence. The biggest problem in the city is the traffic congestion. With Indira Gandhi International Airport being so close to the city, tourists are adding more traffic congestion to the roads. Because of this, Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon was developed in the city so there would be a railway connection to Delhi Metro. There is a total of six railway stations for Rapid MetroRail within DLF Cyber City. This gives people more options to travel throughout the city at a faster rate. If you don’t want to travel by train then you can drive on the National Highway 8, or NH-8, from Delhi right into the Cyber City.

There are lots of places to visit in Gurgoan and I have listed my top ones below. If you are planning to visit Delhi then you can try flights deals from travelguru.com as they seem to have good deals. You can either take a day trip or you can spend a few days in Gurgoan if you like. If you do plan to stay then check out some of the deals here on OYO rooms coupons for Gurgaon City.

Kingdom of Dreams: Photo by Os Rupais

Gurgoan attractions

Cyber Hub: This place is perhaps the most happening place in the National Capital Region. It’s like a big shopping complex with a large number of good restaurants and bars.

Address: DLF Cyber City, Phase 3, NH 8, Gurgaon, Haryana 122002

Kingdom of Dreams: If you are into art, culture, heritage, craft, cuisine and performing art then this is the place you should be visiting. It’s a place where you can watch live theatre. It has two main sections “Nautanki Mahal” and the “Showshaa Theatre” and has an arts, crafts and food boulevard section called the “Culture Gully”.

Address: Auditorium Complex, Near IFCCO Metro Station, Sector 29, Gurgaon, Haryana 122001

Sultanpur National Park Bird Sanctuary: As the name suggests, it’s a sanctuary for migratory birds coming from Europe, Siberia and Central Asia.

Address: Gurgaon-Farrukh Nagar Road, Sultanpur, Gurgaon, Haryana 122506

NeverEnuf Garden Railway: If you like trains then you will like this. It’s a place where miniature trains are displayed. Children will love it and it makes a great day out with the family.

Address: Para, Haryana 122105

Image credits: Os Rupais and Harsh Mangal.

Jalebi – Indian swirls of sweetness

As a tourist to India I recommend trying out our most famous Indian sweet the JALEBI. Jalebi is a famous Indian dessert, prepared by deep frying batter in coil shape and then dipping it in sweet syrup. Jalebi is so very popular that it’s eaten during national holidays, weddings, festivals and other important occasions.

The name Jalebi originated from ancient Sanskrit word Jalvallika, meaning full of water (which is in fact is thick sugar syrup). Some believe that the Jalebis originated in West Asia, where it was known as “zoolabiya” or “zulubiya” and then was adopted by the Indians, though there is not much evidence to substantiate this claim. There is no word for Jalebi in English.

It is amazing to know that Jalebi is used as a cure for headaches and cold in northern India and Pakistan when taken along with warm milk, which also helps to deal well with biting cold in the winter. During fairs which take place in India, one can watch the vendor making Jalebis for the crowd.

Texture and Taste of Jalebi

The prefect Jalebi is crisp on the exterior, with a soft chewy texture inside which is filled with sugary sticky syrup. A Jalebi that has been left in the sugar syrup for more than required time turns soggy and loses its taste. Some people prefer sprinkling the syrup on the sweet instead of dipping it in the syrup which is known as “sheera” or “chaasni” in the local dialect which gives it a crystallized sugar coating.

Here’s a jalabi recipe if you want to make your own

Ingredients

Jalebis are prepared with various ingredients like using gram flour, split black gram flour, maida or all purpose flour, wheat flour, rice flour and rarely semolina for preparing batter. Other ingredients may include lime juice or sour curd to give for introducing a bit of tanginess into the sweet, the sugar for syrup, baking powder, saffron, powdered cardamom, rose water, and oil or ghee for frying. There is no need to use artificial flavor or color for the sweet, because it turns out in bright yellow color with mouth watering flavor with the natural ingredients used in preparation of jalebi.

Jalebis made at home

Preparation

Many may feel that process of making a jalebi is very complicated, where as the fact is that it is quite easy to make if you learn few basic techniques like preparing the right consistency for the batter, pouring the jalebi in spiral shapes and dipping in the sugar syrup.

The sweet is prepared by mixing the chosen flour and other ingredients into a batter that can be poured easily. Whisk the flour in a large bowl adding yogurt (or lime) with required amount of water to form a smooth paste without any lumps. Ferment the mixed batter for at least a day. Beat the fermented batter once again with hands or a whisker at low speed for some time.  Heat pure Ghee or oil in a pan on medium heat. Pour the batter into a cloth which has a hole to allow the batter to pass through it. With a special technique perfected by practice, the jalebis are poured into hot oil in spiral shapes through a cloth with a hole in it and turn them occasionally to cook them evenly on both the sides. The technique is similar to using icing to decorate a cake. The spiral deep fried jalebis are then dipped into the separately prepared and cooled sugar syrup and removed immediately to prevent the jalebis from turning soggy. The syrup is prepared cooking sugar in water to form one thread string consistency. Usually some milk is added to the syrup and the scum discarded when it rises to the top. Saffron is added for flavor, color and taste. Though many enjoy the sweet just as it is, some prefer it with other dishes like ice-creams, Rabri, milk etc.

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Where to Buy Jalebis?

Jalebis can be bought at any local sweet shops scattered across every city, town and village of India. The cost of Jalebi’s can vary from Rs.50/k.g. to 500/k.g. depending on the ingredients, locality and popularity of the sweet shop.  Jalebis are reasonably priced at many shops which has earned its fame as the sweet of poor. With the era of internet shopping, these jalebi’s are also available to buy online. If you want you can get an instant jalebi recipe pack from your local Indian store.

Chandni Chowk in Delhi is one of the famous places renowned for traditional jalebiwala’s who prepare exotic jalebis which are sought after by tourists. The jalebis of Sadar Bazaar (Agra) in UP are also famed for its unique taste, which people often bet cannot be found anywhere else.

Is it safe to eat? Absolutely! If eaten fresh it should be safe. The intense heat of the oil should kill any bacteria if there is any.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY8H3_wFny0

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Photo credits: Hari Prasad Nadig and Satish Krishnaswamy

How to make money from a travel blog?

There are lots of webmasters that don’t make a dime from their travel blog. One travel blogger was so frustrated with his travel blog that he sent me a message on Facebook asking me to explain him the various ways to make money from his blog. He told me that Adsense had not approved his blog and was thinking of giving up. I did name a few Adsense alternatives but the truth is that Adsense is the not the best way to monetise any website let alone a travel website or blog. So let’s take a look at various ways to make money from a travel blog.

For more information on how to start a travel blog, you can read about it here. In short, you will need a domain name, good web hosting service like SiteGround, content management system like preferably WordPress (or Blogger) and bit of creativity.

Lets take a look at how to make money from a travel blog:

# Sell your own products

This is perhaps the best way to make money. Most people will assume you are an expert on the topic hence you maintain a travel blog. The reason why I stated my own travel blog about India is because being Indian and someone who actually have travelled in India and abroad felt that I can do travel blogging. Now that I am expert why not sell your own products which can be in the form of ebooks/books, organise itineraries and so on. This is exactly what I am currently doing. You can see my author profile on Amazon and the list of travel related books that I have on offer.

The only trouble with this is the time that it takes time to create the products. The second trouble is the marketing, keyword research, reviews and a host of other things. Basically if you aren’t going down the traditional publishing route, you just have to do everything yourself from publishing to promoting. 

# Contextual advertising

When we think of contextual adverting, we think of Adsense. Indeed, Adsense is the most credible and most profitable of all contextual adverting programmes out there. But most professional bloggers are of the view that Adsense is the worst thing you can do to your site. The reason is that when someone clicks on the ads, you do get paid but you lose a potential reader. Another issue with Adsense is that you really need a huge amount of traffic to make some decent sum of money from them. When I say decent, it means more than 10,000 unique views a day.

Anyway, if you did want to go down this route, other than Adsense others include infolinks, Bing Network Contextual Ads, kontera etc.

# Affiliate marketing

This is another great way to make a decent sum of money from your travel blog. You see this image of the camera; if you were to click on it and buy it then I will get paid a bit of money from Amazon. The camera is supposed to be one of the best ones for travelling hence I decided to place it here for people to take a look. If they liked it, they would would buy it and I would get paid. Remember most of the buyers are from the United States, the most prosperous country in the word. I don’t even bother with other countries. My experience tells me that if I were to sell 10 products (my books), 8 out of them are from America. Amazon.com is one of the most stable shopping sites and has a reputable affiliate programme. You can monetize your blog posts with Amazon affiliate products. You can even set up a recommended products page like I have done here. You can also do product reviews and include your affiliate links in it.  

# Hotel bookings

I have also joined various hotel booking sites and have realised that they are all bogus. Most people who come to travel sites don’t really come to book tickets but to get free information and converting traffic like that is like banging your head on the wall. But there is no harm in trying various programmes and see if converts or not. Just type in hotel affiliate programmes and there are so shortages of hotel affiliate programmes.

# Selling holidays and air line tickets

Again you can do this as a part of an affiliate programme but my experience tells me that it’s not worth the time. Most visitors to your sites are looking for free information and not to book holidays or fares. I have set one page up and have closely monitored my commissions. To be honest I have made a few bucks here but not something that I would actively pursue. So go ahead and find something decent, it doesn’t cost me or the passenger anything but I get a share.

# Offer services

You can offer your own services from search engine optimisation to writing services. The world of internet is a very hungry place and content is gobbled up at a very rapid pace. With all the Panda and Penguine updates, placing less emphasis on links and more on content; content has become more important than ever before. Why not offer writing your own SEO or writing services. Take a look at what I offer that earns me a bit of money every month. You know what they – every little helps!

# Trip planning service

I tried this and would have to say that it’s not a great earner. I did get some enquiries but never really took off. I had an issue with the organiser. I will revisit this idea again in the future! Basically the idea is that a potential traveller approaches you about their travels and you make an itinerary for them for a small amount of money. 

# Offer advice for money

I am currently offering this service and again it has not been a money spinner. I had some enquires and most of the travellers expect free advice. Once I offered advice on Skype and I did not get paid for it. Some people think that in the internet age, information is supposed to be free. But they don’t realise that behind a blog there is a person behind it.

# Sell blog posts

Some bloggers are charging money for posts that can run into 100’s of dollars. As long as you mention sponsored post somewhere in the post then that’s fine. You just have to be careful about that you do not go overboard with this.

# Sell text links

This is the most controversial of them all. Google has clearly stated that it does not like selling links. Mat Cutts, Google’s (now former) head of spam has talked about this time and time again that they do not like this at all. But some people go around this by guest posting and this is why many companies will approach to place a guest post on your blog. You can make good money from this but you need to be careful. 

# Start a directory on the website

You can start a directory on your website and offer paid placements in the form of links on your website. If you are using WordPress then there’s a number of plugins you can use. Just do a search for using the word “directory plugin for WordPress” and you will get a range to choose from.

I hope some of these blog monetization techniques have been useful. If you have a travel blog then you can implement them on your website and see which ones works best for you.

I have a written an ebook called, “How To Start A Travel Blog And Make Money” which goes through the entire process of starting a travel blog and making money from it. If I can start a blog then anyone can.

# Ask for money

Yes, why not? I do on my blog here. And people do land on it and offer random money. Some people find the blog useful and offer small amounts of money and once in a while you will get a decent lump sum of money in your PayPal account.

## Finally

There is one tip that I have left out which I hope to reveal in the near future. The tip is worth weight in gold and hence would like to keep it to myself and no right minded blogger will reveal it. Some blog monetising secrets are never told. But I am dying to tell you (honestly). So if you are interested, I suggest you subscribe to my blog now and keep an eye on it so that you don’t miss out.

How you do you monetize your blog or your travel blog if you have one?

Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai

Haji Ali Dargah a magnificent sight to behold is one of those rare Islamic religious places that are accessible to people of every caste, creed, color and religion.  The great structure with its white domes and minarets, standing majestically surrounded by the waters of the Arabian Sea; is one of the most important landmarks of Mumbai, which attracts not only people of faith but also tourists from all over the world. Though commercialized, the shrine has managed to maintain its magnificent, exotic mystic value.

The shrine entombs the body of the famous Muslim Saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, who was known to be a merchant from Persia. He had travelled many places around the world before settling down in Mumbai somewhere around the mid of 15^th century A.D.

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Legends of the Shrine

Legend has it that the casket of the saint had floated by itself and chosen the rocky islet as the final abode for his body; even though he had died quite far off from Mumbai, on a pilgrimage to Mecca which he undertook after giving up all his riches to the poor.

Another legend states that he drowned himself in the sea after being grief stricken over the guilt of hurting mother earth. The story behind this legend goes as follows. Once the saint saw a poor woman sobbing uncontrollably over the oil she had spilled. She was afraid of the wrath of her husband who would thrash her for her folly. The saint poked the spot where the oil had spilt; to the utter surprise of everyone present a fountain of oil gushed forth. But later he started feeling sad that he had hurt earth and fell sick due to the remorse.

As there is no proper record to substantiate the claim, today, all we know is that his followers erected the monument on the high rising rocks of the Arabian seas as he had wished in his lifetime.

Construction and Renovation

The shrine which is a great example of the Indo-Islamic style of architecture is known to be constructed by a ship owner Usman Rangikar in 1431. In 1916 a legal trust was founded to renovate and expand the structure, which has given it the present day form. The trust also undertakes performance of festivities on special occasions like the death anniversary of the saint, birthday of prophet Mohammed etc according to the traditional customs of Islam.

Another renovation of the Shrine was undertaken in 1960 and again in October 2008, when a great plan was laid to enhance the beauty of the structure with white marble of Makrana.

Attractions of Haji Ali Dargah

The main attraction, especially for the followers and believers, is the Saints Tomb. The tomb is artistically constructed and decorated with art of glass work. Many visitors swear to have felt a powerful mesmerist energy flowing from the tomb, which makes them go back to place again and again.

The other things which catch attention are

• The amazing floral inlay decorating the structure.
• The beautifully carved artistic minaret behind the shrine.
• The very popular Mannat tree or dagha (thread) which is said to grant the rightful wishes of the people who tie it with faith.
• The attractive zhumar (chandelier) which is claimed to be nearly 500 years old and part of the original construction. There is some exclusive glass work arranged around the chandelier to reflect the 99 different Islamic names of Allah.

The place is also known for its famous qawwals and fakirs. The beggars are not so welcoming guests of the causeway and premises of dargah. These are no ordinary beggars, as they are known to earn quite a lot in one single day and also that they do have good collection of currencies from all over the world.

Travel Mumbai: Places to Visit in Mumbai: Mumbai Travel Guide

Getting There

As the islet is situated in heart of Mumbai, off Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, there is no difficulty in getting up to shore of Arabian Sea. Beyond that, the glorious floating structure can be accessed only by a 500 yards narrow causeway, which unfortunately submerges under the water during high tides. As there are no barricades erected for the safety of the pilgrims, the shrine can be reached only when the tide is low.

Read this if you are visiting Mumbai

Upon reaching the entrance, the males and females of the family have to separate, because the place has different entrances and prayer halls for males and females. The prayer hall is often too crowded and noisy for someone who would really try to pray or meditate.

Opening times are Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Indian Standard Time).

Address and contact details Haji Ali Dargah:

Haji Ali Dargah Trust
Above Kinara Masjid,
Haji Ali,
Lala Lajpat Rai Marg,
Mumbai 400 026

Telephone: +91 – 22 – 23529082

Fax: +91 – 22 – 23524221

A trip to the Haji Ali Dargah would be ideal for the religiously inclined. (Image credits: Yogesh Mhatre)

Darjeeling Travel Guide

Nicknamed as “Queen of the Hills”, Darjeeling certainly lives up to its name as an exciting place for any tourist to visit. It is one of the most visited areas in Western India, and with this guide, you’ll be able to see just why that is. You’ll find ancient monasteries, awe inspiring mountains, and much more on your trip.

Darjeeling is located in the far north west of India, nestled between Nepal and Bangladesh. Because of its key strategic position in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, it was fought over for many years by warring countries, until the British Raj took it over and it was incorporated into India. Although few might be able to point it out on a map, the name Darjeeling is now famous worldwide as one of the most popular types of tea, thanks to its association with the British Empire.

From the moment you set foot in the town of Darjeeling, you’ll see just why its name is linked with tea across the world. There are many magnificent tea gardens to see here, offering many places to relax and unwind while enjoying a refreshing cup of tea. You’ll also be able to see many awe inspiring mountain peaks which surround the town, and give it its unique feeling of being close to the heavens. At an elevation of over two thousand meters, Darjeeling truly is a region amongst the clouds.

While walking around, you should bear in mind just how hilly this part of the world can be. Situated as it is in the Himalayas, you should remember that what looks like a short distance on paper can feel a lot further because of the gradient of many of the streets. If you’re planning on doing a lot of hiking while on vacation, then it might be a good idea to prepare yourself before you leave, to make sure you’re up to the challenge!

That being said, hiking in the region offers some stunning views and amazing experiences. You can almost feel the history as you walk across these ancient mountains, in a region which still retains many elements of its unique past. Hiking here allows you to see many vast plains and tea plantations, a further aspect of Darjeeling’s past which is still going strong today.

Kangchenjunga as seen from Tiger Hill, Darjeeling

Places to visit in Darjeeling and things to do

With so much on offer here in Darjeeling, you’ll want to make the most of your time here and see the essentials. We’ve put together this handy list, so that you can get the lowdown on the very best things to see and do while you’re here.

Bengal Natural History Museum

First begun in 1903 as a way of cataloging the regions birds and butterflies, this museum has grown to an impressive size, housing a wide variety of animal specimens from mammals, to birds, to even fish. Everything here is a real animal that has been carefully preserved, so you can actually experience close up all the wildlife that Darjeeling has to offer- without fear of being eaten! The museum is easy to get to, being located just a few minutes away from the Chowrasta Mall.

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Tiger Hill

The highest point in the region, Tiger Hill is well known for its amazing views of the whole eastern Himalayas, as well as offering a spectacular place to watch the sun come up over the Kanchenjunga. With the right weather, you’re even able to see Mount Everest. Tiger Hill is around 11km from Darjeeling, so is a relatively short trip by road.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI)

Built in honour of Tenzing Norgay, after he climbed Everest along with Sir Edmund Hilary in 1953 for the first time, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute has become a place visited by climbing enthusiasts from all over the world. Its museum features many different displays about mountaineering, in testament to this incredible region that is close by to many of the highest peaks in the world. There is also a boarding school for students of mountaineering, allowing people the chance to tackle these peaks themselves with dedicated training. The Institute is located just a short distance from Mall Road, so it’s easily accessible for you to visit any time during your trip.

Darjeeling Ropeway

Observatory Hill and Mahakal Temple

Rising up behind the Mall, Observatory Hill is a great place to take in a complete view of Darjeeling and beautiful area around it, including many nearby mountain peaks. The hill is also the site of the Mahakal Temple, the central place of worship for everyone in the town. It is located on the original site of the Dorjeling Buddhist Monastery, which gave the town its name, so it is also a great place to soak up some of the local history.

Take part in one of the local festivals

Darjeeling is a very vibrant place with a strong sense of culture, and there is no better time to experience this than during one of the many local festivals which take place here throughout the year. From Loshar, the Tibetan New Year, when traditional songs and dances are used to usher in the New Year, to Diwali, the colourful five day “festival of lights”, you should ideally time your trip around one of these spectacular occasions. Be sure to check what’s going on before you book, so you don’t miss out on one of these once in a lifetime experiences.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Whatever you get up to, you must take a train ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway also known as the Toy Train that runs between runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling and Ghum station. It’s good fun! The tickets will also include entry to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museums at Dhum. You can find out more and buy tickets here.

Tea plantations on the road to Darjeeling by Sandip Bhattacharya

Accommodation in Darjeeling

Thanks to its fabulous reputation as a place for tourists from all over the world to visit, you’ll find plenty of hotels in Darjeeling, to suit any budget. From backpacking hostels to magnificent, five star hotels, there really is something for everyone here. It pays to do your research beforehand; through any of the many price comparison sites that have sprung up in recent years, to be sure that you’re getting the best deal on what you’re looking for. You should also aim to book your accommodation well in advance, preferably as soon as you’ve picked a date to go, so that you can take advantage of the discounts that many hotels will offer for advance bookings.

When you’re looking for someone to stay, you’re probably best with looking within the town of Darjeeling itself. With its central location, you’ll easily be able to explore the region from your base here, and there’s plenty to do in the town itself.

How to get to Darjeeling

Unfortunately, it is hard for the international traveler to get a direct flight into the region, but luckily it’s not hard to fly into India, and then get a local flight. Cities such as Delhi and Guwahati offer direct flights to the nearest airport, Bagdogra, and then it’s simple to get a taxi for the 3 hour journey into the town itself. Alternatively, you can make the journey by train from other major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai to the nearest station, New Jalpaiguri, and then take a cab from there.

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How to go from Delhi to Kathmandu

Many travelers visiting India are combining their tours to Nepal. Taking that into account, let’s look at the best ways to travel from Delhi to Kathmandu in Nepal? Depending on your budget and the time you have to spare; there are several options, ranging from an adventurous and very long bus ride, to direct flights, to train-and-local transport combinations.

Here, we cover the more popular and quicker options from Delhi to Kathmandu – by air and by road.

By Air

You can get on a direct flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi to Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, which takes approximately one and a half hours. You have a choice of about five airlines with six flights including both government-owned and private operators. There are 7 flights per day.

As value for money options, Indigo Airlines and SpiceJet offer cheap airfares and decent flight times. You can also choose the more up-market private airlines, Jet Airways. The Indian government-owned Air India and Nepal’s flag carrier, Royal Nepal Airlines are also frequently used. Most airlines have economy and business class flights. The air routes from Delhi to Kathmandu are quite frequently packed as many tourists choose this travel option, so is a good idea to make your booking in advance.

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By Train

This is a popular option for those who want to avoid the expenses of flying, and would like to explore travelling by train. The route goes via Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. Several overnight trains run from Delhi to Gorakhpur, and the journey takes approximately 12-14 hours. Try to reach Gorakhpur as early in the morning as you can, to make the most of your time.

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From Gorakhpur, get on a bus or a shared jeep to travel economically to Sunauli, which is the Indian side of the border. You can also hire a private taxi to get to Sunauli. Take a walk across, from Sunauli to Bhairawa, the Nepalese side of the border. Don’t be surprised if you hear the Bhairawa side called Sunauli too – it is often called thus, locally, and is just one of the many fun and unexpected sides of travelling this route.

The quickest option to get to Kathmandu from here is to have a flight pre-booked from Bhairahawa Airport (Gautam Buddha Airport) to Tribhuvan International Airport. A popular and economic option is to break up your journey. From Bhairahawa bus stop, many buses and shared jeeps go to Kathmandu, a journey of about 9 to 12 hours. If you arrive at Bhairahawa in the morning, you can get on one of the many daytime buses bound to Kathmandu and enjoy the gorgeous scenery along the 183 km route. Alternatively, arrive fresh at Kathmandu in the morning by getting on an overnight bus from Bhairahawa. Most overnight buses depart Bhairahawa in the early evening, between 4 and 7 PM.

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By Road/Bus

One of the cheapest options to get to Kathmandu from Delhi, this journey covers about 601 km. You have many buses travelling this route, but try to choose one which is operated by a reliable agency. Usually, if you book a bus ticket via a reputed agency, it should take about 10 hours to get to Kathmandu. Most buses travelling this route do not have toilets and are non-air conditioned.

For some of these services, like trains and flights, you can make your bookings online via many sites.  It is advisable to pre-book and enjoy a convenient and safe trip from Delhi to Kathmandu.