darz
6 friends · Bhubaneswar → Darjeeling

Darjeeling, December

Everything for the trip in one place: the train, getting up the hill, where we're staying, the plan for each day, what to see and what to eat.

20–25 Dec 2026 Bubble Beds 2–10°C
Day by day

The plan

A rough draft. We'll swap things around once train times and bookings are final.

Sun 20 Dec

Leave Bhubaneswar

  • Board the train to NJP. Train & time to fill
  • Overnight on the train.
Mon 21 Dec

Up the hill

  • Reach NJP around 6 AM and take the 7:00 or 8:00 AM bus up from Siliguri.
  • Leave bags at Bubble Beds and check in at 1 PM.
  • Evening on the Mall and at Chowrasta. Take it easy on day one.
Tue 22 Dec

Tiger Hill sunrise and the town

  • Leave around 4 AM for Tiger Hill to see the sunrise on Kanchenjunga.
  • Ghoom Monastery and Batasia Loop on the way back.
  • Zoo and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, right next to the hostel.
Wed 23 Dec

Day trip

  • Lamahatta, Takdah and Tinchuley: pine forest, tea gardens, valley views.
  • Or Mirik Lake instead. Pick one
Thu 24 Dec

Tea, ropeway, Christmas Eve

  • Happy Valley Tea Estate in the morning.
  • Ropeway ride and the Peace Pagoda.
  • Christmas Eve dinner in town.
Fri 25 Dec

Head home

  • Check out by 11 AM, then down to NJP.
  • Train back to Bhubaneswar. Train & time to fill
20 Dec · Overnight

The train

BBSBhubaneswar
NJPNew Jalpaiguri
Train
To fill
Class / coach
To fill
Leaves
Sun 20 Dec · Time
Arrives
Mon 21 Dec · ~06:00
PNR
To fill
Berths
To fill
NJPFri 25 Dec
BBSReturn
Train
To fill
Leaves
Time
PNR
To fill
Before boarding Keep an offline copy of the ticket and the ID used to book it. Pack a warm layer in your day bag: NJP at 6 AM is cold.
21 Dec · about 70 km, 2,000 m up

NJP → Darjeeling

Every way up if we land at NJP around 6 AM. Our budget is ₹2,000–2,500 for all six.

NJP114 m Siliguri Kurseong1,458 m Ghum2,258 m Darjeeling2,042 m

The road climbs almost 2,000 m in hairpin bends. Ghum, just before Darjeeling, is the highest point of the ride.

Government bus via Siliguri ₹1,050–1,700 Our pick₹175–285 eachabout 4 h
  • The bus leaves from Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Stand in Siliguri, not NJP. Take a toto from the station first: about 25 min and ₹200–500 for 6, maybe two totos.
  • 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM buses, arriving about 10:00 and 11:00. Non-AC seater via Rohini.
  • ₹105 a seat, checked on redBus and MakeMyTrip in Oct 2026. Only 4–5 seats per bus showed online, so book all 6 as soon as December opens.
  • It stops at Chowk Bazaar. Then 1–2 taxis to the hostel, about ₹200–500.
Shared jeep from NJP ₹2,000–2,900 Just about₹335–480 each3.5–5 h
  • Jeeps wait at the main taxi stand outside the station. Ask for "Darjeeling shared". The prepaid booth only sells whole cars.
  • About ₹300–400 a seat, up to ₹500 in peak December. Our limit is about ₹330 a seat. Agree the fare before bags go on the roof.
  • It leaves when full. Buying a 7th seat gives more room and gets us moving sooner.
  • Few jeeps run at 6 AM, so we may wait until about 7–7:30. Drops at the motor stand, not the hostel.
Reserved Sumo or Bolero ₹2,800–3,500 Over₹470–585 each3.5–4.5 h
  • A whole 8–10 seater, door to door, leaving right away. The prepaid booth charges about ₹3,500. Drivers outside sometimes go lower.
  • Tight with big bags.
Prepaid Innova ₹4,000–5,000 Over₹670–835 each3.5–4.5 h
  • The comfortable option, booked at the prepaid booth opposite the station exit. Keep the slip and check it says "Lebong Cart Road, below Zoo".
Pickup by Bubble Beds Ask Ask them3.5–4.5 h
  • Their tour package includes NJP pickup. If it's close to the Sumo fare, a driver waits for us at 6 AM.
Toy train – Not for arrivalabout 7.5 h
  • Leaves NJP at 10:00 AM and takes about 7.5 hours. Do the short Darjeeling–Ghum joyride (about ₹800) during the trip instead.

Totals are for all 6, door to door. Bus fares and times were checked on redBus and MakeMyTrip on 20 Oct 2026. Other prices are estimates from travel forums and 2025–26 guides.

The morning, if we take the bus

  1. Arrive at NJP. Grab chai and ignore touts inside the station.
  2. Toto or auto to Tenzing Norgay bus stand. Agree the fare first.
  3. NBSTC bus to Darjeeling. The 8:00 AM bus is the backup.
  4. Reach Chowk Bazaar. Taxi to Bubble Beds, below the zoo.
  5. Check in. Until then, leave bags at reception and go eat.
21–25 Dec · 4 nights

Bubble Beds

A backpacker hostel below Darjeeling Zoo, a short walk from the zoo, the ropeway and Happy Valley Tea Estate.

Address
32 Lebong Cart Road, below Darjeeling Zoo, Darjeeling 734101
Phone / WhatsApp
+91 81000 94453
Check-in / out
1 PM / 11 AM
Rooms
Room type to fill
Booking ref
To fill
Paid so far
To fill
Balance
Paid in full at check-in, plus 12% GST

Bring

  • Photo ID for everyone: Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence. PAN isn't accepted.
  • One person's ID stays at reception until check-out, since we're a group of 6.

House rules

  • No smoking, alcohol, food or loud talk in dorms. Quiet after 11 PM.
  • Visitors: max 2, 9 AM–7 PM, common area only.
  • Little or no power backup during cuts.

On site

  • Bubble Cafe for breakfast (8–10:30 AM), lunch and dinner. Order at reception.
  • Terrace, common room with board games, lockers, laundry.
  • Tour desk for Tiger Hill and day trips.

Cancellation

  • Groups of 4+: free if cancelled 30+ days before.
  • 50% between 30 and 15 days, full charge within 15 days.
Ask them before we go Room heaters and extra blankets, 24-hour hot water, and the price of an NJP pickup or a Tiger Hill jeep for 6.
What to see

Places to cover

A starter list. We'll trim it to what fits. Draft

Tiger Hill

Sunrise over Kanchenjunga. Leave around 4 AM and wear your warmest layer.

22 Dec · 11 km from town

Batasia Loop

The toy train's spiral loop, with a war memorial and mountain views.

22 Dec · on the way back

Ghoom Monastery

One of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the hills.

22 Dec · near Ghum station

Zoo and HMI

Red pandas and snow leopards, plus the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute museum.

22 Dec · right above the hostel

Happy Valley Tea Estate

Walk the tea slopes and try fresh Darjeeling tea.

24 Dec · walkable from the hostel

Ropeway

Cable car down over the tea gardens of the Rangeet valley.

24 Dec · queues build by late morning

Peace Pagoda

A white Japanese pagoda with wide views over town.

24 Dec

Mall and Chowrasta

The town square for evening walks, shopping and people-watching.

Any evening

Lamahatta and Tinchuley

Pine forest, a small sacred lake, tea gardens and big valley views.

23 Dec day trip

Mirik Lake

A lake ringed by forest, with boating and an easy walk around it.

23 Dec, or instead
What to eat

Food

Ideas to start with. Add your own finds. Draft

Momos

Steamed or fried, with fiery tomato chutney. Best on a cold evening.

Around Chowk Bazaar and the Mall

Thukpa

A hot Tibetan noodle soup that warms you right up.

Small Tibetan places in town

Darjeeling tea

Try a first-flush or a winter blend, and buy some to take home.

Tea shops near Chowrasta

Old bakery breakfast

Pastries, sandwiches and hot chocolate in a heritage café.

Glenary's or Keventer's, Nehru Road

Laphing and sha phaley

Cold spicy noodles and Tibetan fried meat bread.

Ask locals for their favourite stall

Christmas Eve dinner

Somewhere warm in town for the 24th.

Place to fill
Mid-December · 2–10°C

What to pack

Tick things off as you pack. Ticks are saved on your phone only.

Your checklist0 of 10 packed
Trip photos We'll put everyone's photos in one Google Photos shared album. Link to add