Best ways to reach Darjeeling from New Jalpaiguri

This article helps the travelers to reach Darjeeling from New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri. There are various routes available from New Jalpaiguri / Siliguri station or Bagdogra airport to Darjeeling town. New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is the largest railway junction in this area, one has to visit to reach Darjeeling or Sikkim.

Various routes to reach Darjeeling from New Jalpaiguri

1. Via Hill Cart Road
2. Via Rohini
3. Via Pankhabari
4. Via Mirik- Sukhia Pokhari- Lepchajagat
5. Via Peshok Road

It takes about 2.5 hours to 3 hours depending on traffic to cover the distance from New Jalpaiguri (NJP) to Darjeeling. All Roads offers magnificent views of the mountains valleys and village life. If someone avail Hill Cart Road, the toy train railway track runs side by side for most of the part of the journey. It goes via Tindharia-Kurseong-Ghum.

Easiest way to reach Darjeeling

The easiest way to reach Darjeeling is to avail the road via Rohini-Kurseong. This road also offers magnificent views of the mountains as well as the breathtaking views of plane lands beyond the horizon.

Other road from Pankhabari village

Another road goes through Pankhabari village and known as Pankhabari Road. This is a narrow road in comparison to others. Texas and commercial vehicles are not allowed to take this road to approach Darjeeling two vehicles can barely pass each other through this road. Except government officials VIPs or local peoples this is one way road only for downward vehicles. One can reach Makai Bari Tea Estate through this road.

Both of these roads, i.e., via Rohini and and via Pankhabari meet the main Hill Cart road at Kurseong. One can experience magnificent views of large and beautiful tea gardens availing the road via Mirik and Sukhia Pokhari.

Darjeeling via Peshok Road

The last option to reach Darjeeling is via Peshok Road. If you want to avail this road you have to cover more distance than the others.

Finally, all these roads meet at Ghum. It is the highest altitude point on the route. From here there is only one road that is the hill cart road that continues up to Darjeeling via Dali. The final stretch between Ghum and Darjeeling town is about 7 km and takes about 25 minutes by car depending on the traffic.

I can suggest two routes to reach Darjeeling from NJP and return. While going towards Darjeeling, you can avail the road via Rohini and Kurseong. And while coming back to NJP / Siliguri / Bagdogra, you can avail the road via Lepchajagat, Sukhia Pokhari and Mirik. This will definitely be the best option to explore Darjeeling district.

Have a look in my VLOG which will help you to reach Darjeeling via Kurseong and Rohini

Explore my VLOG on return journey from Darjeeling to Siliguri/NJP via Mirik road

Explore Ghats in Varanasi