r/DarjeelingCity

Landed today at njp thought we'll get a taxi or transport to darjeeling but every taxi said that we have to buy there hotel and whole package then only then can take us to darjeeling..we have already booked and paid for a homestay so,we can't do that..

Somehow reached to Siliguri bus stand here they r doing the same scam...and public buses lines are so long we have been in line for 2-3 hours can't get a ticket...so confused what to do..

Any local can give us any idea about how to make things not go bad as it's been going from now..and what should we do in Darjeeling, book a scooty or something so don't have to face public transport hassle.....

Hey everyone.. we're planning to visit Darjeeling next month and we're in search of good hotels preferably on mall road.. one of my friends recommended me PINERIDGE HOTEL but we're kinda skeptical bcos it has some rumours that it is haunted...

Just wanted to know from the residents of darjeeling or the ones who have stayed in this hotel, how is the hotel and is it really haunted or these r just rumours?

With BJP coming to power do you think beef will get banned in Darjeeling just like Assam?

As someone from Darjeeling, I see many tourists complain that the town is overcrowded, dirty, and overpriced. While some criticism is understandable, people also need to realize that Darjeeling is a small Himalayan town with limited infrastructure, not a perfectly planned luxury destination built to handle massive crowds throughout the year.

Darjeeling was once quieter, cleaner, and far less commercialized. Over time, the rise of mass tourism has changed the town drastically. More visitors now come looking for the cheapest stays and budget-friendly trips, but at the same time contribute to overcrowding, traffic, littering, and pressure on local resources.

If you truly want to experience Darjeeling, accept it for what it is… an old hill town with history, character, charm, and limitations. And trust me, locals genuinely love welcoming tourists who appreciate the place as it is, respect the culture, and travel responsibly.

If you are looking for extremely clean, highly organized, and less crowded mountain destinations, those places absolutely exist, though most are outside India and naturally come with much higher costs. Take Bhutan for example: Indian tourists there currently pay around ₹1,200 per person per night as a Sustainable Development Fee, and even Indian vehicles travelling beyond the border zone are charged around Nu. 4,500 per day as green tax. That is how countries protect their environment, infrastructure, and tourism quality. Clean surroundings, limited crowds, and well-maintained destinations are expensive to sustain, and travelers should also be prepared to afford that kind of experience.

Honestly, if your only expectation is a very cheap holiday with luxury-level standards, then Darjeeling may not be the right destination for you. There are many other hill stations in India that might suit your preferences better. Darjeeling doesn’t need more careless tourism, it needs visitors who value and respect the place for what it truly is.

Suggest travel options and cab driver numbers from Siliguri bus stand to Dhotrey? We are a group of 3. Please share how much we can expect.

Hi, my dream is to shift in Darjeeling in near future it's my dream place. Do they sell land or houses to outsiders like in northeast it's not possible for mainlanders to buy property under 20 yrs of staying. Is it the same in Darjeeling??

Have recently visited Darjeeling and can't actually believe the place. It's just so mid. The buildings are decades old, very gloomy and devoid of fresh maintenance and paint. Even the world famous Darjelling Heritage Railway was just so eww. The main buildings of the stations desperately need restoration work. The engines are just so dirty. The tracks are covered black mud which makes the whole place so yuck. The only saving grace was Bastia Loop and that was because it's a garden.

However the biggest issue was traffic congestion and pedestrian nightmare. Yes in hilly region, it's common to see long traffic queues but the baffling part was lack of proper footpath. Some areas do have it but still majority of the city is without proper footpath.

There are hardly any good tourist spots that would make the city unique except toy train.

Wish new govt of Bengal would focus on imrpoving the vibes of the city.

Well given the landslide victory of BJP in West Bengal I just have one worry especially in Darjeeling. The hills is not new to political turmoil, we have seen worst days in the past yet there has never been religious or communal tension among the people. Tbh religious difference is still a laughable subject here in the hills. Now BJP as the dominating political power whose history and present has always flourished around religion and communal tension, are the people of hills gonna change their stand or totally boycott this aspect of BJP? Are we gonna see harassment of other religious faiths in the name of Hindutva here in the hills?

Gorkhas have lived, loved and sacrificed for this country but under this TMC government we always felt third class citizen. They never wanted to give us political representation, too much ego and always wanted to control us.

We have supported BJP from the day 1, when there footprint in Bengal was zero with the hope that we will get our representation. Now that BJP has came in power in the state with 5 gorkha MLA, I believe we should get our representative in cabinet minister position. Tourism minister or Sport minister would be a good choice. Hope party looks into this matter.

Currently my end semester exams are going on. After that I'm thinking of taking a break. Darjeeling has always been in my list but never got the opportunity to visit. This time I want to do it. I need help, as the political situation in WB is going under a change, and there are news of violence here and there. Is it really safe to do this trip? Like i want to go around 17-21 May.

Also I have budget of 5-6k for 3-4 days.

Suggest me an itinerary.

Scotty rental service in Siliguri and place for staying under 1000. Etc.