English (UK) 
Français (France) 
Nederlands (nl-NL) Embark on a nostalgic journey aboard the renowned Toy Train of Darjeeling Himalayan Railways. Marvel at the serenity of Ghoom Monastery, Yiga Choeling, and get a taste of history from the lush tea fields that birthed world-famous Darjeeling tea. This compact video offers not just breathtaking visuals but also a descriptive text shedding light on Darjeeling's historical significance. Located in West Bengal, India, this city's charm is a blend of British heritage and vibrant Indian culture. Dive deep into the narrative of how Darjeeling transformed from a hill station getaway to a global tea icon. Watch now and be enlightened!
This film was made on the basis of photos and videos taken during the trip Buddhist India • Sikkim • Bihar • West Bengal (EN)
A click on this icon above displays the list of chapters of this film about West Bengal • northeastern state of India in India. A click on a dot goes directly to a chapter.
Reading the text below will help you better understand the historical context of the sites shown in this video.
Chapters:
00:46 • Darjeeling Himalayan Railways
03:35 • Ghoom: Monastery Yiga Choeling
06:39 • ... other religions around Darjeeling
07:02 • Darjeeling: the tea fields
07:47 • Darjeeling: Back to town
Darjeeling, history
The British colonizer had made Calcutta (Kolkata) the capital of the British Indian Empire from 1773 to 1912. The capital experiences a tropical monsoon climate, in other words very wet during the rainy season and high temperatures throughout. the year. This is not exactly the kind of climate that officials and other English nationals wishing to settle in the colony are used to ...
Very quickly they discovered the charms of Darjeeling, a city located on the foothills of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 2000 meters. The freshness that Calcutta lacks quickly makes it a hill station where the British meet on weekends, in fact whenever they have the chance.
The city was founded by the British East India Company.
Darjeeling is located in the state of West Bengal, in northern India.
tea
To many people, the name Darjeeling evokes more of excellent tea than a city. The quality of Darjeeling tea is well established. The geographical location and climate of the Darjeeling region provide ideal conditions for this culture. The British, particularly fond of tea, developed this culture in the foothills of the Himalayas to counter the Chinese virtual monopoly for the sale of tea.
Darjeeling tea owes its exceptional quality to the type of tea plant used (sinensis) but also paradoxically to a parasite which by eating its leaves causes a reaction which gives a taste similar to muscat to tea.
The quality of Darjeeling tea also explains the important part taken by counterfeiting. Far more tea is sold under the Darjeeling name than the region can produce.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Nicknamed the Toy Train, the railway line connecting Siliguri to Darjeeling railway line was built from 1879 to 1881. The route is 82 kilometers long with a drop of 121 to 2076 meters above sea level. Small steam train, the Toy Train is a World Heritage Site. The gauge of the rails is very small, since it does not exceed 60 centimeters. It would have been technically very complicated to create a railway with "normal" locomotives in an environment such as the foothills of the Himalayas.
the Yiga Choeling monastery in Ghoom (or Ghum)
A few kilometers from Darjeeling is the Ghum monastery, also called Yiga Choeling. This Buddhist monastery is of Tibetan obedience. Ghum Monastery is modest in size compared to other monasteries in the region.
Darjeeling
Traces of the British occupier can still be seen all over the city. The architecture of the houses as well as the many churches found there bear witness to this past.
about the place, Darjeeling:
Darjeeling is a city in the state of West Bengal in India, at the foot of the Himalayas. The city was appreciated by the English colonizer for its freshness and therefore became a holiday city. They are the ones who introduced the tea culture that made the reputation of the region.
What's the weather like in Darjeeling?
link to related pages
• Monuments •
Ghoom's Yiga Choeling Monastery, Darjeeling: History & Architecture
Music:
- YouTube video library - Constancy Part 1 - The Descent, (© Constancy Part 1 - The Descent by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100775
Artist: http://incompetech.com/)
- YouTube video library - Constancy Part 2 - The Descent, (© Constancy Part 2 - The Descent by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100774
Artist: http://incompetech.com/)
- YouTube video library - Constancy Part 3 - The Descent, (© Constancy Part 3 - The Descent by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100774
Artist: http://incompetech.com/)
- YouTube video library - Crisis - Scoring Action, (© Crisis - Scoring Action by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100277
Artist: http://incompetech.com/)
- YouTube video library - Crusade - Video Classica, (© Crusade - Video Classica by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100884
Artist: http://incompetech.com/)
- YouTube video library - Done Running
- YouTube video library - Double Drift
Disclaimer: Despite its appropriateness, copyright issues prevent the use of indian traditional music in "Darjeeling • West Bengal, India", hence the use of royalty-free music. Despite our careful selection, some might regret this decision, which is necessary to avoid potential lawsuits. Although difficult, this decision is the only viable solution.
