January
New Year: The New Year is a grand time when everyone gets engaged in the merrymaking on the eve of New Year.
Maghe Sankranti: A worship and celebration of Sun god, Maghe Sankranti is also celebrated as the first day of Nepali month.
Tibetian Year: A fortnight after Nepali New Year, it is time for Tibetians to engage in jollification as the end of January brings in Tibetian Year, celebrated by Chaam and Chakrasambhara Dance.
February
Losar: This again marks the bright and prosperous beginning of Tibetian New Year celebrated as momos, new clothes and dances.
Shri Panchami/ Saraswati Pooja: A reverence to Nepalese (Hindu) Goddess, Saraswati, it is also the day of sowing seeds.
March
Holi: A Hindu festival, Holi is widely enjoyed with colours and sweets in Darjeeling.
Ram Navami/ Chaite Desai: It is basically the birthday of Lord Rama, doubled up Hindu New Year. Processions of Lord Rama are taken out and at home, tika ritual is performed.
April
Buddha Jayanti: This is the birthday of Lord Buddha and celebrated with great fervour in all Buddhist monasteries and stupas.
May
Saga Dawa: At the starting of May, Tibetans celebrate Saga Dawa and other Buddhists celebrate Buddha Shakyamuni`s Enlightenment and Parinirvana.
July
Dalai Lama: 6th July is feted as the birthday of his Holiness Dalai Lama.
Dzam Ling Chi Sang: A Tibetain Celebration, this is the Local deities Day in Darjeeling.
Chokhor Duchen: A festival of high import for all Buddha followers, Choker Duchen is a day on which Buddha turned the Wheel of Dharma.
August
Newar Kwati Purne/ Guru Poornima: A unique festival to welcome Sawan (monsoon), Nepalis eat legumes and welcome gods and goddesses in the month.
October
Gandhi Jayanti: 2nd October is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanthi all over Darjeeling in extreme gaiety and honour.
Jamare Anushi: This is the greatest festival of Nepalis celebrated over a period of fifteen consecutive days. From the very next day of this festival begins the day of Durga Pooja.
Tsechu: During mid-October, the Tibetians celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Rimpoche.
November
Tihar/Teohar: A special Nepalese festival, on the day of Tihar crows and dogs, are fed in large number. And the next day, Goddess Laxmi and Lord Vishnu are worshipped for prosperity and success. In the evening young girls go from house to house singing Bhaileni (special songs of Tihar) and they are offered money and food. Nepalis celebrate this day with lights and firecrackers in the evening.
Govardhan Puja: A puja offered to bull and meant for boys, on this occasion boy go house to house singing folk song.
Lha Bab Duchen: TIbetians celebrate this festival as Buddha’s descent from heaven.
December
Nambun: This is a new moon day celebrated as the victory of good over evil. A dance and dress drama is enacted for next 15 days from this day.
Kiomoi Must Dos
1- It is like having a Train parked in your backyard. Chug your dreams on Darjeeling Toy Trains ? A UNESCO HERITAGE.
2- If Darjeeling heights scare you, sip a Cuppa of freshening Darjeeling Tea, which helps your head from spinning.
3- It just that you have memorized this name in your school examinations. This time you are face to face with it ? Mt Kanchenjunga.
4- Tiger Hills is minus Tigers! But, of course, the sunsets and rises here have a huddle of tourists.
5- Trek to the Sandakfu, a point where from where you can see those beautiful heights of Kanchenjunga and other pinnacles.
6- A visit to Chowrasta is never complete without momos and wai, thupka and churpee.
7- Leopard Breeding Centre is a must-visit for all!
8- You get peace of mind in these Tibetian and Buddhist Monasteries.
Coupled with the visual enraptures, the Eat n Dine-in Darjeeling is a distinct delight for tourists who flock to Darjeeling. The enrapturing town has a combo of Tibetan, Nepalese and Bengali gastronomic delights to offer its visitors. Specialized eating joints chart out the global fare savoury including Mexican-style enchiladas to Italian pasta and Tibetan momos at Darjeeling Hotels. Food and culinary Attractions at Darjeeling are mixing n blend of Tibetian, Nepalese, Bhutia and Bengali delicacies savored with local spices and produce. A number of eateries queue up in the market area served with local cuisines suchlike wai, momo, thupka, cheaper and many other delicacies. One can relish real and local tastes of Darjeeling food at these eating corners against awe-some valleys. Darjeeling has a good score of night-time restaurants that kick-off with a small orchestra arrangement and good food to binge on. In addition, those who are on the lookout for preferred changed, Darjeeling Hotels and eateries host a variety of Indian, Chinese, Italian and Continental food delights for them.
Foodie’s tracing out for beverages can try to sip local tea or tsongba (local beer) and chaang (a beer prepared out of millets) in Darjeeling Restaurants and eating joints. When in Darjeeling, give your taste buds a treat at following addresses:-
The Glenary`s,: Nehru Road, Darjeeling.
Hasty Tasty 13: Nehru Road, Darjeeling.
Keventers: 1 Nehru Road, Darjeeling
Joey`s Pub 2, S.M. Das Road, Darjeeling
The Park: Opp. State Bank of India, 41, Ladenla Road, Darjeeling
Fiesta: Chowrastha, Darjeeling
Dekevas: Gandhi Road, Darjeeling
Kunga`s: 51 Gandhi Road, Darjeeling
Simla Restaurant & Bar: N.C. Goenka Road, Darjeeling
New Dish Restaurant & Bar: J.P. Sharma Road, Darjeeling
Amigos: Chowrastha, Darjeeling
Seven Seventeen, 26, HD Lama Road, Darjeeling
Food Exchange Restaurant, Capital Hotel Complex, Darjeeling
Taija's: Planter`s Club, Darjeeling
Stardust: Chowrastha, Darjeeling
Penang`s: Laden-La Road, Darjeeling
Frank Ross: 14, Nehru Road, Darjeeling
Mayaloo Restaurant: 4, Gandhi Road, Darjeeling
Dafey Munal: Laden-La Road, Darjeeling
Shopping Places & Market in Darjeeling
Darjeeling has grown to become a huge and prodigious shopping avenue in recent years after the Raj era. Locals, tourists and buyers from nearby areas populate Darjeeling’s chi-chi stretch of markets that expertise in selling jewellery, wooden carvings, Tibetian Carpets, tea (speciality), bronze carvings and many local handicrafts. Markets here are dotted with small and big cafe’s, shops and hanging street-side kiosks engaged in local handicrafts deal. The main shopping streets/ zones are Chowk Bazaar, Chowrasta, Laden la Road, Nehru Road, Supermarket, Motor Stand and Mahakal Market. A variety of colourful items and bargainers’ paradise makes Darjeeling markets a Microcosm in West Bengal in all its gilt and variety. Every street, nook and corner showcase something special and eye-gripping. But before you get lost in the mesh/bazaar, learn the following market geography by heart Hayden Hall Women’s Co-operative Opp State Bank of India Laden La Rd. Chowrasta & Nehru Road Speciality: thangkas, brass statues, religious objects, jewellery, wood carving, woven fabrics, carpets West Bengal’s Manusha Emporium, Nehru Road Speciality: Himalayan Handicraft, silk and loomed products Hill Cart Road Speciality: Cheap patterned woollens sweaters, bamboo umbrellas Curio Shopping Dorjee: Opp. General Post Office, Ladenla Road Habeeb Mullick and Sons: Chowrasta Art Emporium: Laden Road Kalimpong Art Gallery Nehru Road Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre Lebong Card Road Sikkim Art Palace: Gandhi Road Tea Shopping Tea Emporium: Ladenla Road Nathmulls Tea Cosy: The Rink Mall, Ladenla Road Keventer`s: Nehru Road
Hayden Hall Women’s Co-operative Opp State Bank of India Laden La Rd.
Chowrasta & Nehru Road
Speciality: thangkas, brass statues, religious objects, jewellery, wood carving, woven fabrics, carpets
West Bengal’s Manusha Emporium, Nehru Road
Speciality: Himalayan Handicraft, silk and loomed products
Hill Cart Road
Speciality: Cheap patterned woollens sweaters, bamboo umbrellas
Curio Shopping
Dorjee: Opp. General Post Office, Ladenla Road
Habeeb Mullick and Sons: Chowrasta
Art Emporium: Laden Road
Kalimpong Art Gallery Nehru Road
Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre Lebong Card Road
Sikkim Art Palace: Gandhi Road
Tea Shopping
Tea Emporium: Ladenla Road
Nathmulls Tea Cosy: The Rink Mall, Ladenla Road
Keventer`s: Nehru Road
Kho-Cha Darjeeling Tea Bureau: Hotel Yuma Complex, Ladenla Road
