Travel advisory · IndiaSome governments advise against travel to parts of India.The warnings cover only these areas: Jammu and Kashmir (Union Territory), Kashmir Valley, Manipur, Within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha (Orissa), Rural West Bengal, Srinagar–Ladakh road.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Jammu and Kashmir (Union Territory) · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, US
Kashmir Valley · avoid all travel · Spain, France, Italy
Manipur · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK
Within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK, US
Bihar · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
Chhattisgarh · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy, New Zealand
Jharkhand · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
Odisha (Orissa) · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
Rural West Bengal · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
Srinagar–Ladakh road · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy

Also named by one government: Jammu region (Spain), Tripura (Ireland), Assam border areas with Bangladesh (New Zealand), Border areas of Jammu and Kashmir (Italy), Gulmarg (Italy), Imphal (Ireland), India-Myanmar border (France), Ladakh (Spain), Ladakh border with China (immediate vicinity) (France), Nagaland border areas with Myanmar (New Zealand), Pahalgam (Italy), Rural Andhra Pradesh (Spain), Sonamarg (Italy), Srinagar (Italy)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Exercise increased caution (regional advisories)	Jun 16, 2025	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	No warning against the whole country; partial warnings for specific areas (regional advisories)	Oct 14, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise increased caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs)	High Degree of Caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Pays relativement sûr dans son ensemble, sous réserve de respecter certaines règles et de tenir compte du risque terroriste (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

Darjeeling

Darjeeling is a hill town in India's West Bengal state where travelers ride a narrow-gauge mountain train, walk among tea estates and watch the sun reach Kangchenjunga at dawn.

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Darjeeling is a hill town in the Eastern Himalayas, in the Indian state of West Bengal, at about 2,000 meters above sea level. It sits close to the borders of Nepal and Sikkim. The British set it up as a hill station in the 1800s, and its colonial-era buildings still line the town's streets. Most visitors come for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the narrow-gauge Toy Train that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for the tea estates on the slopes around town. Tiger Hill, a short drive out, is where many people go before dawn to watch the sun reach Kangchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain.

Go for cool air, slow walks and tea, or as a stop before Sikkim or the wider Northeast. Spring, roughly March to May, brings the first-flush tea harvest. The monsoon, June to September, brings heavy rain and cloud that often hides the peaks. Plan two to three nights. That gives you a chance at a clear dawn view, a ride on the Toy Train and a tea estate visit, with a spare day if the weather turns.

Darjeeling in five

Book the Toy Train joyride aheadThe Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a UNESCO-listed narrow-gauge line, with short steam and diesel joyrides to Ghum and the Batasia Loop. Reserve in advance in peak season, and check the day's timing.
Do Tiger Hill at dawn, if the sky is clearJeeps leave around 4am for the ridge, where sunrise lights Kangchenjunga on clear days. Cloud often hides it from June to September, so aim for October, November, March or April.
Reach it by shared jeep from SiliguriDarjeeling is about 3 to 4 hours uphill from Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri station. Shared jeeps and taxis leave from the plains, and monsoon landslides can close the road.Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri
Taste first-flush tea in springThe first picking in March and April gives the lightest, most fragrant cup. Tour a working estate in the morning, when pickers are on the slopes.
Add Sikkim, with the right permitsGangtok is a day's drive north, and Sikkim's high valleys need permits that vary by area and nationality. Check them before booking.Sikkim

Things to do in Darjeeling

See all attractions in Darjeeling

Temple · DarjeelingShri Mahakal Temple, Darjeeling

Temple · DarjeelingDhirdham Temple

Zoo · DarjeelingPadmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park Darjeeling

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to DarjeelingPut the places you like in Darjeeling on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Bagdogra (IXB), about 90 km and 3–4 hours by road
Getting there: Rail to New Jalpaiguri, then shared jeep or taxi for 3–4 hours
Getting around: Walking, shared jeeps and taxis; the Toy Train is a ride, not transit
Best base: Near Chowrasta or Observatory Hill for walks and views
Time needed: 2–3 days; 4 with Kalimpong or Sikkim

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Cold, clear
FebruaryRain15 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Cold, dry
MarchRain20 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°First flush
AprilRain22 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°First flush
MayRain28 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Pre-monsoon
JuneRain30 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Monsoon
JulyRain31 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Heavy rain
AugustRain30 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Heavy rain
SeptemberRain27 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh21°Low15°Monsoon ends
OctoberRain19 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Clear peaks
NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Crisp, clear
DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Cold, clear

Average daily high and low in Darjeeling, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Darjeeling

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 20°
Humidity: 91%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 45%

Darjeeling

03:27 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+5:30

Today19°10°45%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 45%.
Wed17°10°69%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 17°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 69%.
Thu18°10°55%Thursday: Fog. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 55%.
Fri18°9°53%Friday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 53%.
Sat18°9°31%Saturday: Clear. High 18°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 31%.
Sun19°9°0%Sunday: Clear. High 19°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 11:27 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR

Amount

Converted to

INR · Indian Rupee

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Ghum and Batasia Loopabout 30–45 min by Toy Train or jeepA monastery stop and a spiral track with mountain views.
Mirikabout 1.5–2 hours by roadA lake and tea gardens, quieter than Darjeeling.
Kalimpongabout 2.5–3 hours by roadMonasteries, orchids and a calmer hill town.

Before you go to Darjeeling

Heritage and tea estate staysHill stays with Kangchenjunga viewsCheck availability

Tiger Hill and tea estate tourJeep, guide and a plantation visitCompare day trips

eSIM for the Himalayan foothillsSignal drops in the valleysRead the guide

Cover for landslide delaysRoad closures in the monsoonRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Darjeeling, checked

Most foreign nationals need an Indian visa or e-Visa; apply on the official portal before you travel and carry the approved copy.Source
Some areas near Darjeeling, including parts of Sikkim, need a Protected Area Permit for foreign nationals; check the list with the MHA.Source
Hotels must record foreign guests' passport and visa details on a registration form; keep your passport with you at check-in.
Dial 112 for police, fire and ambulance across India.

Plan around Darjeeling

Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri

The rail and road gateway to the hills

Read the guide Sikkim

Monasteries and mountain valleys, a day north

Read the guide Guwahati

Gateway to the Northeast, a rail or air hop east

Read the guide Kolkata

The main city to the south, by train or flight

Read the guide All of India

Regions, seasons and routes

Read the guide India e-Visa

Apply online before flying to Kolkata or Bagdogra

Read the guide

Darjeeling FAQ

How many days do you need in Darjeeling?

Two to three days: one for the Toy Train and the Batasia Loop, one for Tiger Hill at dawn and the tea estate, and one spare for cloud. Add Kalimpong or Mirik if you have more time.

What is the best time to visit Darjeeling?

March to April for first-flush tea and clear spring air, and October to November for crisp skies and mountain views. Avoid June to September, when monsoon rain brings cloud and landslides.

Is the Darjeeling Toy Train worth it?

Yes, as a short, scenic ride with UNESCO history, not as a way to travel. The joyride covers a short stretch, so book it for the experience, and choose steam if you can.

Is Tiger Hill worth the early start?

Only if the sky is clear. Check the forecast the evening before, and skip it if cloud is forecast. On a good morning you see Kangchenjunga turn gold above the cloud.

How do I reach Darjeeling from Kolkata?

Take an overnight train or a flight to Bagdogra or New Jalpaiguri, then shared jeep or taxi uphill for 3 to 4 hours. Allow a full day and avoid arriving after dark in the monsoon.