Glorifying its beauty in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, Darjeeling is a quaint hill station with beautiful tea estates, views of the popular Mount Kanchenjunga and a colonial touch in its surroundings. This destination also referred to as the ‘Queen of the Hills’ has a lot to offer for different types of travellers including peace, nature, adventure, food, and more. This place attracts thousands of tourists each year especially for its gorgeous landscapes.
Nearest Airports to Darjeeling
- Bagdogra Airport (IXB): Approximately 70 km from Darjeeling, Bagdogra Airport is the most common airport for travellers flying from all major cities in India like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
- Pakhyong Airport (PYG): Situated in the neighbouring Gangtok, Pabkhyong Airport is around 90 km from Darjeeling. A lot of tourists fly to this airport depending upon their source destination.
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata (CCU); For travellers who wish to take a road trip to Darjeeling can land at this airport which is around 625 km away from Darjeeling.
Guide to Reach Darjeeling from Major Indian Cities
1. Kolkata to Darjeeling
By Flight: Take a flight to Bagdogra Airport which takes around 1.5 hours from Kolkata. Further hire a taxi to reach Darjeeling which takes around 4 hours.
By Train: Board a train from Howrah in Kolkata to reach New Jalpaiguri Railway Station in around 12 hours. Further, hire a taxi or hop on the Toy Train to reach Darjeeling. The road trip takes around 4 hours, while the toy train takes about 7 hours.
By Road: There are a few direct buses that operate on this route. The other option is taking a bus ride till Siliguri and further hiring a taxi to complete the journey.
2. New Delhi to Darjeeling
By Flight: Board a flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport to Bagdogra Airport which takes around 2.5 hours. Hire a taxi for reach Darjeeling which takes around 4 hours.
By Train: The train journey from New Delhi Railway Station to New Jalpaiguri takes around 22 hours. Further, you can take a taxi or Toy Train to reach Darjeeling.
By Road: Take a flight till Bagdogra and then a road trip from Siliguri.
3. Mumbai to Darjeeling
By Flight: Take a flight from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Bagdogra Airport which is a 3-hour journey. Then hire a taxi and reach Darjeeling in approx. 4 hours.
By Train: Board a train from Mumbai CST or LTT Station to New Jalpaiguri. Further, hire a taxi or enjoy the scenic ride on the Toy Train.
By Road: It is recommended to take a train to Bagdogra and then enjoy a road trip from Siliguri to Darjeeling.
