Express Wanderlust: When in Darjeeling, here’s what you should do

About the place: You have seen it in movies, in songs, probably hummed along to the soulful 'Kasto Mazza He Relaima' from the movie Parineeta. And now, you are finally visiting the place. If this is your first time to the beautiful city of Darjeeling in West Bengal, then here is a carefully-curated guide for you. This beautiful hill station has an old-world charm to it, with its lush green tea plantations, breathtaking view of the mountains and a pleasant climate all through the year. What more, it is ideal for a romantic getaway, too. If you are looking to head out and explore the eastern part of the country, you should definitely begin with Darjeeling. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

How to reach: Reaching Darjeeling is easy. It is well connected to almost all major cities. If you are taking the train, the nearest station would be New Jalpaiguri. If you are looking to fly, disembark at the Bagdodara airport near Siliguri, from where you can take a cab for the rest of the journey. If you are in Siliguri, which is nearly 80 km away, you can travel to Darjeeling via the Himalayan Railway, famously referred to as 'toy trains'. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

Best time to visit: The good thing about the place is that you can visit it anytime of the year. Ideally, the summer months of April, May and June are best. But, you can also visit it during winters, from October to December. Monsoon months are best avoided due to torrential rainfall and roadblocks. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

Things to see: Depending on how much time you are planning to spend here, this quick and easy itinerary can be helpful. You must begin your trip by taking a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway trip. Nothing can be more picturesque than this entire experience. Also known as the Darjeeling Toy Train, this 88 km-long railway track runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. It is believed to have been built between 1879 and 1881. This journey will give you a chance to sit back and enjoy the amazing views of the mountains and the quaint villages passing by. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

The Batasia Loop must also make it you your itinerary. It is believed to be one of the most unique train routes in all of Darjeeling. As the name suggests, the Batasia Loop forms a magnificent loop, with the train wrapping itself impeccably around it. The pathway was created so as to make the rail navigation easy. You absolutely cannot miss it. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

After this, you can head out to the Darjeeling Rock Garden, which is located some 10 km away. Also known as Barbotey Rock Garden, it is surrounded by greenery and hill streams. If you are a nature lover, you may want to come here to spend some quiet time. Again, you can also engage in some photography here. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

Your journey is really incomplete unless you visit the Darjeeling Peace Pagoda. Situated on the slopes of the Jalapahar hills, the pagoda stands for peace, harmony and unity. Allow yourself to become mindful of where you are, and stay in this moment for some much-needed inner healing. From here, too, you can enjoy the stunning views of the Kanchenjunga peak, making it ideal for peace seekers and nature lovers. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

While we understand you cannot cover everything, can you imagine leaving Darjeeling without a trip to one of the tea plantations? After all, isn't Darjeeling famous for its many varieties of tea? Every time a tourist sets foot in Darjeeling, they are believed to visit one of its 80 tea plantations, so as to understand the wonders of tea. There are many tea gardens and estates here, and you can check with the locals if you are looking to visit one of them. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

Shopping: For those who are looking to buy some souvenirs, Darjeeling has many places from where you can shop. Among them is the Nehru Road and also the Batasia Loop Market. Here, you will get everything of cultural interest and at good rates, too, provided you are decent at bargaining. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

Food: The food in Darjeeling has distinct essence of Bengali, Nepalese and Tibetan styles of cooking. So, it is clear that the food here will be delectable. Do not miss the momos, the thukpas, the Naga platter and the Nepali thali here. And, goes without saying, try the tea, too! (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)