A trip to Darjeeling - How's this for a sunset !!

How’s this for a sunset !!

On our last full day in Darjeeling, as we were winding down from the day’s drive to Kalimpong; doing our last bit of shopping, we had this view greet us at sunset:

These photos, apart from being compressed, are unedited. This is what greeted us:

It’s a hell of a sunset indeed !!

A trip to Darjeeling - Tea Tasting

As Darjeeling is in the heart of the tea production, it’s only natural that you take the time to taste the teas from the region.

A trip to Darjeeling - Zong Dog Palri Fobrang Monastery

Just before you come into Kalimpong, you take to road up to Rinkingpong Hill to the army base up there.

Right, smack bang in the middle of the base, at the top of the hill, is the Zong Dog Palri Fobrang Monastery.

The views from the monastery were spectacular (there’s that word again) and the monastery itself is pretty amazing. From Rinkingpong Hill, you can gaze over to Bhutan and Tibet.

When we arrived, the monks were holding a service to celebrate the full moon that would rise that night.

It was quite relaxing to be there in the middle of a service.

A trip to Darjeeling - Kalimpong

We did a day trip up to the town of Kampilong (about 42kms from Darjeeling).

I wish that we could’ve seen the town but we couldn’t due to a protest rally that was going on the same day.

The road up was long but the views were spectacular:

A trip to Darjeeling - the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre

On the outskirts of Darjeeling, is the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre.

It was set up in October 1959 when a large influx of Tibetan refugees streamed over the Himalayas to escape the Chinese takeover.

Since that time, the centre has expanded and today, the main activity is the production of Tibetan handicraft. It also provides a refuge for the sick, the elderly and the destitute.

We stopped in on the way back to town.