One of the best places to visit in Darjeeling — Shrubbery Nightingale Park
All over the world, Darjeeling is quite synonymous with tea and tea gardens; yet in this Darjeeling trip we hadn’t visited one single tea plantation. We had seen in Google maps that even the nearest tea garden is quite some distance away, a distance which cannot be travelled on foot in a limited time. Exploring one of the offbeat places to visit in Darjeeling was not on my mind then.
I decided — to hell with logic, and set off on foot to visit the nearest tea garden and return to the main city within a couple of hours (since I had a train to catch)! I took the logical husband along.
Sometimes I am so awed at how Sayan handles all my craziness.
I gave up after a few minutes of uphill walk and a brisk talk with a local tea seller. The day before a dishonest cabbie in the taxi stand told us the Shrubbery Nightingale Park had shut down and is no longer operational. The local shopkeeper however informed us, that not only is it fully operational, but also easily accessible on foot! The kind lad even showed us the way.
Now we know where we were heading to!
Shrubbery Nightingale Park — One of the offbeat places to visit in Darjeeling
We reached the park at around 10 AM. The entry price cost us INR 10. Apart from us, there were around 10 more travellers in the park. The giant space, beautiful decorations, a cafeteria and several park staff working on beautifying the area ensured it is fully functional.
Mount Kanchenjunga was clearly visible from the park. The clear blue sky and the pleasant sunshine encouraged us to try out ‘photography skills’.
We meandered around the centre of the park with occasional photo-stops until it was too late. We hurried back to our Darjeeling nest and checked out of the hotel bidding adieu to one of the best hosts we have come across.
The Jeep Full Of Locals
A traffic personnel helped us get on a shared jeep to Siliguri from Darjeeling town. The jeep was jam-packed with locals. We got two back seats.
We whooshed passed the houses, the Darjeeling railway station, the unfinished Buddhist learning centre, Batasia Loop, Ghoom. “Shit! We are indeed leaving the Himalayas” kept crossing my mind.
An aged co-passenger boarded off the jeep; the gap was soon filled by a beautiful young girl. Unfortunately, the girl didn’t have the best time since another oldie with oily hair almost sat on top of her.
The locals merely paid something in the range of INR 10- 20 to get off at point-to-point locations. The jeep provided regular shuttle service for them.
The vehicle dropped us off at Siliguri for INR 125 each seat. We got into a modified autorickshaw to get to the New Jalpaiguri Station. Just a matter of around 20-30 more bucks per head.
Waiting for the train in the station we thought to ourselves, “Though we aspire to travel the world, including the Polar Regions, it doesn’t matter how far we go, how luxuriously we travel, this Darjeeling trip will be the most special trip of our lifetime forever.”
*****
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Tania Banerjee
Tania is a freelance writer based in India who tinkers with words here and there but mostly focused on travel, food, arts and crafts. She writes for several Indian dailies and magazines.
47 Comments
Indrani
You revived the memories of my recent visit to Kurseong.
I don’t understand why taxi drivers give wrong info.The boy was so kind to lead you to this beautiful garden.
Lovely pictures. I feel the mountains are calling me.
Tania Mukherjee
Kurseong is another lovely place. Probably the driver was scared that I may ditch the plan of taking the taxi and just enjoy my time in the park.
Natasha | Meldrums On The Move
Darjeeling has been high on our list for a while now after watching the Darjeeling movie! You pictures are just as beautiful as I expected it to be 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
I just realised I never watched the movie! Gotta find it out!
Doreen Pendgracs
I’ve enjoyed experiencing your journey through Darjeeling with you. It truly looks amazing.
Tania Mukherjee
Thank you so does your chocolate journeys! 🙂
WorldGlimpses
The park looks amazing. And that view, wow, just stunning! If nothing else would take me there, that would, for sure! Great photos, by the way. 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
I wish I had a better camera to zoom in on the snow peaks visible from the park!
Milana's Travels
I hate taxi drivers! So many of them are either intentionally dishonest or just clueless about the location they serve, which means they should find another job! Glad you were able to find your way. The views are stunning!
Tania Mukherjee
You are absolutely right. I find Uber services better in India, atleast they have a map to guide but in small towns Uber isn’t available and we have to resort to normal taxis! Not to mention the traditional taxis have no honesty while charging you money. They are supposed to charge on per-metre basis but none of them do that. The reason why Uber is loved in India!
D of Love C and D
Some lovely views of the mountains and great photos all round. It’s always great when locals offer help and advice, another reason to ensure you engage when travelling. Thanks for travelling and enjoy your next adventure!
Tania Mukherjee
Thanks. Interacting with locals is a major part of my travels. Cannot imagine traveling without talking to the locals!
Delaine
I am an Indian and I haven’t been to Darjeeling yet. My mum had visited during her uni days and keeps raving about it till date … and now I can see why. Those views are breathtaking. And I think getting squished in between the locals is all part of the great Indian experience 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
Yes! You are not in real India until you get squished! You must head to Darjeeling as soon as possible. The nature of the town is so different from the rest of India. Frankly speaking I don’t like the big Indian cities (even though I live in one and have a hometown in other), but the mountains are so so different!
Michelle
How bizarre that the cabby told you the park had shut down! Those mountains look incredible, thank you for sharing your story with us
Tania Mukherjee
The cabby didn’t want to lose a customer I guess. 🙁
Ha Truong
Your pictures are so amazing! I love the view from Shrubbery Nightingale Park. It’s really stunning! Wish that I can be there and experience it.
Tania Mukherjee
Book your next trip to India! 🙂
quirkywanderer
Travel teaches you at every bend! There are kindred souls and misleading people too. But at the end serendipity wins! 🙂 So glad you discovered this beauty off the beaten path!
Tania Mukherjee
Absolutely true!
While I'm Young (@danniellelily)
What an adventure! I need to get to India one day, but for now reading these stories keeps me going
Tania Mukherjee
India is hard for a foreigner. The myriad culture shocks will leave you baffled. Though Darjeeling is nothing like that, it’s a slow, subtle little town. Absolutely lovely!
Diana Chen
The view from Shrubbery Nightingale Park is just gorgeous. So cool that you got to go out to this off the beaten path location. I would love to go one day.
Tania Mukherjee
Hit me up if you ever need any information! 🙂
Diana Chen
Will do – thanks!
joanna
Darjeeling looks so peaceful and beautiful, and i know that some of the best tea in the world comes from the area, The views from up the Nightingale park are to die for and i can’t believe how cheap everything is there. It’s the perfect place to just walk and enjoy the nature.
Tania Mukherjee
Things like prices of accommodations, transportation and flight tickets go up in high season but apart from these everything else remains pretty same. 🙂
ejey4u
Well written Tania. I was living the travelogue.
Tania Mukherjee
Thank you. Your comment made my day! 🙂
neni
Some taxi drivers…
But the view is stunning, wow. This is so pretty and I love all the details 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
Thank you. Seriously it is so hard to find an honest taxi driver!
Erin
What an incredible journey! I loved experiencing it with you and your pictures really bring it to life. Although it was an unexpected destination, it looks like everything worked out in the end 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
Worked out better than what the ‘planned destinations’ could have given me. 🙂
Chris
Such stunning landscapes and mountain views.
Even though I am sure the park is in full bloom in Spring, often it is nice to be somewhere when there are fewer tourists as well 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
Yes. I try to visit a place twice. Once during the pleasant season other time during the off season. It’s a costly affair though. 🙁
Sandy N Vyjay
Darjeeling is lovely and so charming that one wants to head back again and again. Once is definitely not enough. I would love to see Darjeeling in the rains and hope to get there again. Nice post that brought back all my Darjeeling memories.
Tania Mukherjee
Err.. But rains may not be the best option to explore Darjeeling. Those incessant droplets may lock you up in the hotel room forever!
Ami Bhat
Lovely to see the Kanchenjunga through your lens. I have not yet been there but have heard so much about this. Darjeeling has been calling out to me. Have to plan a visit soon.
Tania Mukherjee
Do it soon but not in the rainy season! If it rains there you might have to stay locked up in your room whole day!
Agness of eTramping
Darjeeling seems spectacular, Tania and Sayan! I hope I get to visit is soon!
Tania Mukherjee
May your wish be fulfilled! 🙂
Untraveled Routes
Beautiful inviting pictures??we have not yet covered that part of India but yes, would love to. Cheers, Charu
Tania Mukherjee
Glad to know you enjoyed reading my blog!
Untraveled Routes
☺️☺️
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