Bagdogra To Darjeeling: A Complete Travel Guide With The Best Stopovers And The Modes Of Transportation
Darjeeling is a brand with a tourism industry of $100 million. Further, it is home to Tiger Hills, The Himalayan Railway, the Japanese Peace Pagoda, the Ghoom Monastery, and, of course, the tea gardens.
Further, watching a glimpse of Mount Kanchenjunga from the Tiger Hill top is a lifetime experience.
Also, research by the Indian Institute of Legal Studies says that Tiger Hill is a prime tourist site in Darjeeling for tourists belonging to a middle-income group. So, Darjeeling is great for the ones traveling on a budget.
Besides being a budget-friendly destination, Darjeeling has also emerged as a popular hill station in India thanks to its easy accessibility. It is near the Bagdogra airport and New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station.
Bagdogra and NJP are well connected to the other major cities in the country. Further, from these locations, you can easily reach Darjeeling by road. You can even take a Toy Train Ride from NJP to Darjeeling to explore the best of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nevertheless, the journey from Bagdogra to Darjeeling is the matter at hand here. It is a delightful experience with a journey of less than 70 Kms and three hours. The scenic spots like Kurseong and Ghoom Monastery make this trip more enjoyable.
Bagdogra To Darjeeling Distance And Travel Routes By Road
| Bagdogra, being the closest airport to Darjeeling, is crucial for the tourism development in the hill station in the Eastern Himalayas. Raju Bista, the MP of Darjeeling, has bagged an allocation of INR 1,549 crores from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. This fund will be used to build a new New Civil Enclave at Bagdogra Airport. This development will be an important step toward tourism development in the Darjeeling Hills, Dooars, and Terai regions. Moreover, the airport, currently having 8000 passengers every day, will now have more flights and travelers with the development of the new 70,390 square meters terminal building. ⁕⁕ Dream and Travel Note ⁕⁕ This development is also crucial for transporting and tourist services from Bagdogra to Darjeeling. Managing the influx of tourists traveling to Darjeeling, Gangtok and other locations will be a challenge with the new terminal building being functional. |
Bagdogra to Darjeeling distance is 68 Km by road, and the journey will take around 2 hours and 50 minutes. Primarily, the route from Bagdogra to Darjeeling via NH 110 and Rohini is the most common.
However, there are also longer routes from Bagdogra to Darjeeling via Mirik and Pankhabari. Despite the longer detours, these routes offer the best scenic views and have many tourist hotspots.
Further, for the routes via Rohini, Mirik and Pankhabari, you will first have to reach Rohini More from Bagdogra. This is what the road looks like.
Bagdogra Airport
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National Highway NH 31
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Bagdogra Township And Market
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North Bengal University Campus
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Shibmandir Township
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Crossing The Balasun River Bridge
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Reaching Matigara
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Left Turn at Khaprail Crossing (Leaving NH 31)
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Khaprail
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Simulbari
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Simulbari Tea Garden
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Rohini More Crossing
| ⁕⁕ Dream And Travel Notes ⁕⁕ Rohini Road, or the Subhash Ghising Marg, and Pankhabari Road culminate into NH 110 or Hill Cart Road near Kurseong. From there, the road leads to Darjeeling via Ghum. Further, Rohini Road is narrow, but the prepaid taxis always take this route. However, after the initial windy and dusty ride, you will encounter lush greenery as you reach close to Matigara. Simulbari Tea Garden is the major attraction to Rohini More from Bagdogra. The tea gardens run parallel to the road, and the mountains appear before eyes beyond the horizon of the tea gardens. |
Now, from Rohini More, three routes lead to Darjeeling. Let’s learn about the routes in detail.
1. Bagdogra To Darjeeling Via NH 110 (Hill Cart Road) And Rohini
This is the easiest transportation route from Bagdogra to Darjeeling. If you take a right turn from Rohini More or the Police Check Post, you will find Rohini Road.
Then, the route continues on Rohini Road and meets NH 110 near Kurseong. The Hill Cart Road or NH 110 further takes you to Darjeeling via Ghoom. This is almost a 3-hour journey.
So, when you reach Kurseong after a journey of 1 hour and 30 minutes, you must break for tea and refreshments.
⁕⁕ Dream And Travel Notes ⁕⁕
Timboor On The Trail is a great place to gorge on delicious Nepalese, Continental, or Nepalese food. It is above the Rohini Toll Plaza and it also has vegan options. Furthermore, they have an outdoor setting.
So, catching a hearty meal here in the company of nature will be a great kick for the rest of your journey to Darjeeling.
You can call Timboor On The Trail at +91 99327 69511 to know more about its food variations.
Furthermore, Bagaicha Restaurant & Cafe is another food joint on the route. It is just 1 Km away from the Rohini Toll Gate.
However, if you want to ascend a few more miles and then break for lunch, you can stop at the Kurseong Tourist Lodge, run by the Government of West Bengal. You will find momos, Indian, and Chinese dishes here at a reasonable price. Contact them at 0354 234 5608.
🛣 Route Highlights
As you continue toward Darjeeling from Kurseong, around 8 Km down the road, you will come across the Margaret’s Hope Tea Garden.
Further, the Toy Train line runs along Hill Cart Road. You can take a Toy Train ride and reach Darjeeling Railway Station from Kurseong for a unique experience.
2. Bagdogra To Darjeeling Via Mirik
The route from Bagdogra to Darjeeling via Mirik is longer, and proceeds via the village of Garidhura. After reaching Garidhura, you can have some tea at Nipun’s Hotel. It also has outdoor seating options.
From here, the route advances like this.
‣ Garidhura Market
‣ Turning Left and Continuing on the Route To Mirik
‣ Pashupati Nath Market
‣ Sukhiapokhri
‣ Ghum
‣ Darjeeling
It will take more than four hours to reach Darjeeling via Mirik. However, the scenic views, especially the tea gardens on the mountain slopes, more than makeup for it.
⁕⁕ Dream and Travel Note ⁕⁕
Don’t forget to stop by the Simana, a picturesque viewpoint between Pashupati Nath Market and Sukhiapokhri. From here, you will see a winding trail moving toward Sandakphu, a popular trek in Darjeeling and India.
3. Bagdogra To Darjeeling Via Pankhabari
You can also reach Darjeeling from Bagdogra through Pankhabari. The highlights of this route are:
‣ Gardhura Village
‣ Pankhabari Road (Straight from Garidhura)
‣ Longview Tea Estate
‣ Pankhabari
‣ Makaibari Village
‣ Kurseong Town
‣ Ghoom
‣ Darjeeling
Don’t miss the view of the Balsun River on the right and Teesta River on the left as you ride upward from Pankhabari.
Further, you can catch some refreshments at Tashi Taki Restaurant after crossing the Longview Tea Estate. You can try Nepalese and Tibetan food there.
How Much Time It Takes To Reach Darjeeling From Bagdogra? How Is The Road From Bagdogra To Darjeeling?
The time to reach Darjeeling from Bagdogra will depend on your route. For example, if you take the route via Rohini, you will reach Darjeeling from Bagdogra within less than three hours.
However, the route via Mirik will take more than four hours.
The routes from Bagdogra to Darjeeling via Rohini or Pankhabari are narrow. So, despite the well-maintained roads, the journey can sometimes become windy and a little rough.
Having said that, the route via Rohini is preferred by all cab services. So, it’s a safe route to reach Darjeeling from Bagdogra by road.
How To Travel From Bagdogra To Darjeeling?
You can travel from Bagdogra by road for a straightforward journey. However, the modes of transportation are various as you can take a prepaid taxi, shared cab or private cab ride.
Here is a brief overview of the modes of transportation with tentative charges.
⁍ Bagdogra To Darjeeling By Prepaid Taxi: The Easiest Transportation Option
Reserving a prepaid taxi at the Bagdogra Airport is the easiest transport mode between Darjeeling to Gangtok. Siliguri Metropolitan Police runs this prepaid taxi service.
So, you will get the service at a standard rate and remain assured of safety. Cars of various models are available in prepaid taxi services. Santro and WagonR are small car models available here, and among the large cars, you can hire Innova, Xylo, and Scorpio.
The driver will drop you at the Clubside taxi stand or Chowk Bazaar Motor Stand. However, you can pay them a little extra if you want them to drop you at the hotel. You can call 097755 51151 to learn about the fares and details of the prepaid taxi service run by the Siliguri Metropolitan Police.
There are two minor drawbacks to taking a prepaid cab service. First, you may have to wait in a long queue. Also, the drivers will only take the road via NH 110 or Hill Cart Road and Kurseong.
However, if you want to explore a different route, you can contact the following taxi services.
Private Taxi Services From Bagdogra To Darjeeling
→ Himalayan Cab Service (Phone Number: +91 98837 50331)
→ Car Rental Siliguri (Phone Number: +91 97331 11234 / +91 97332 22567)
The tentative charges for a one-side trip from Bagdogra to Darjeeling will be around INR 2000-3000.
⁍ Bagdogra To Darjeeling By Shared Cabs: Budget Transportation Option
Officially, no shared cab ride option is available from the Bagdogra Airport. However, two practical ways exist to get a shared cab ride from Bagdogra to Darjeeling.
- Wait at the taxi stand and talk to fellow tourists. If any of them agree, you are up for a shared ride.
- However, there is a smarter method of booking a shared cab from Bagdogra. You can get in touch with the following private shared cab services.
| NE Taxi (Contact Number: +918068090680)Siliguri Travels (Contact Number: +9194340 86128 / +91 35325 51883) |
⁍ Bagdogra To Darjeeling By Car: A Luxury Travel Experience
Booking a private car is the safest and most comfortable option when visiting Darjeeling from Bagdogra with your partner or family. You can hire the following car models based on preferred amenities and the number of people traveling.
‣ Indica, Swift
‣ Dzire, Etios
‣ Xylo, Ertiga
‣ Toyota Innova
‣ Innova Crysta
‣ Swift Dzire
‣ Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
Private cars from Bagdogra to Darjeeling will cost between INR 2500-7000.
| The Best Luxury Car Rental Services From Bagdogra To Darjeeling are: ‣ Jayanti Travels (Phone Number:+91 94340 76821 / +91 96414 32368, +91 85091 77917) ‣ Darjeeling Yatra (Phone Number: +91 7431993155) ‣ Himalayan Wheels (Phone Number: +91 95315 88700) |
Bagdogra To Darjeeling – The Sight Scene Hotspots
The Bagdogra to Darjeeling route is beautiful, with spots like Kurseong, Ghoom, and tea gardens in all their glory. Further, you will love the amazing mountain vistas here.
Here, we have curated the favorite Dream and Travel hotspots on the way to Darjeeling from Bagdogra.
⦿ Kurseong
Kurseong sits pretty amidst an Alpine surrounding. However, it does not have the chill of Darjeeling and other hill stations at a higher altitude.
The town of Toy Train and Schools, Kurseong, also has the most beautiful tea gardens. Further, the orchids grown on the mountain slopes are the biggest draws for photography enthusiasts.
⦿ Ghoom
Ghoom is famous for its Toy Train and the Ghoom Monastery. The Maitreya Buddha statute in the Ghoom Monastery is the main attraction for spiritual souls.
Further, the monastery has many valuable scriptures and manuscripts, making it a holy place for Buddhists.
⦿ Makaibari Tea Estate
Phone No: 091471 27351
Makaibari Tea Estate in Kurseong is a hub of eco-tourism. A lush green tree plantation and surrounding wildlife and forests are its main attractions.
Further, from here, you can explore trails like the Verneli Trail and Butterfly Trail.
⦿ Margaret’s Hope Tea Factory
Phone No: 033 2287 3067
Goodricke runs the Margaret’s Hope Tea Factory. It is a picturesque tea garden with a loyal consumer base for the premium-quality tea produced here.
⁕⁕ Did You Know?⁕⁕
Lady Margaret loved this Darjeeling tea garden, and wanted to return here from England. However, she died of a tropical disease while traveling back to this garden.
Thus, her hope remained unfulfilled, and the tea estate got its name.
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