History, Culture and Heritage Thursday, 19 January 2012 . In addition to Durga Puja, Diwali, Saraswati Puja and Shivratri etc., there are local festivals unique only to this region. Besides, the diverse ethnic populace of the town also celebrates several local festivals. In the 19th century, China could no longer keep up with the growing demand for tea; the British then introduced their culture in other countries: India in 1834, Ceylan in 1857 and in other Asian and African countries, in Réunion and Argentina. Hinduism, Buddhism and to an extent Christianity, remain the predominant religions here. The culture of the hill people of Darjeeling are uniquely expressed in the exquisite and inimitable artistic handicrafts of the district and their traditional colourful designs, which show marked resemblance to the art of neighbouring Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. Planted at high elevation in the heart of the Eastern Himalayas, in an area of northern India bound by Nepal to the west, Bhutan to the east, and Sikkim to the north, the linear rows of brilliant green, waist-high shrubs that coat the steep slopes and valley Click through to see the tour itinerary for Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Bhutan. Wonderful Tankas with paintings depicting the life of Lord Buddha are also available. Soft chhurpi, a traditional soft cheese, is consumed along with green vegetables as savoury dishes, used as filling for momos, ground with tomatoes and chillies for chutney or made into a refreshing soup. History Of Darjeeling Tea,India takes the pride of owning the world famous Darjeeling tea which cannot be compared with its counterparts for it is unparalleled in the world,Darjeeling tea is from Darjeeling situated in the state of West Bengal,Tea is nearly 5000 years old and was first discovered in China, though aboriginal of both China and India. A team from Darjeeling Initiative met the Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Sri Prahlad Singh Patel and Member of Parliament from Darjeeling, Sri Raju Bista, at the Tourism, Art and Culture Stakeholders Meeting held in Darjeeling on 9th January 2021. The cash crops of the region are fruits, tea and cardamom. Darjeeling, a municipality within the state of West Bengal, provides a spectacular view of the lesser Himalayas.A beautiful city, it is known for its tea plantation, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town has a varied range of culture consisting of the Gorkhas, Khampa, Lepcha, Sherpas, etc. Each ethnic group has its own distinct traditional food. Aqua- culture is an important area of economic activity particularly in the context of enabling the rural people. Among the artistic crafts, ornaments, trinkets and handlooms are worth mentioning. Nepali Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, one of the two men to first climb Mount Everest, spent most of his adult life in the Sherpa community in Darjeeling. [1] Every year, cultural festivals are held in the town of Darjeeling and its surrounding areas. Travel Dec 24 - Dec 28. Football is the most popular sports in Darjeeling. The Lepchas and Bhutias celebrate the New Year in January, while the Tibetans have their Devil Dances to celebrate their New Year in their monasteries from the last week of February to March. All these provide a "regional distinctness" of Darjeeling's local culture from the rest of India. Apart from these, the Tibetan influence is very noticeable in the buildings of the monasteries. Prior to its acquisition by the East India Co. in 1835, Darjeeling formed a part of Sikkim and for a brief period of Nepal. Also much in evidence in the Hills are the Bhutias and they are divided into Tibetan, Bhutan, Dharma and Sikkimese Bhutias and a greater bulk of Bengalee from Siliguri subdivision. Balmiki Prasad Singh-present governor of Sikkim, India. As in the Chinese tradition the snake or dragon dances curl through the streets. How Darjeeling Express and Dishoom put a fresh spin on tradition to shift the tastes of modern Britain Dishoom co-founder Shamil Thakrar and Darjeeling Express owner/chef Asma Khan. - See 72 traveler reviews, 77 candid photos, and great deals for Darjeeling, India, at Tripadvisor. A view from the downhill side road, May'17. The history and culture of darjeeling is an intriguing one indeed! Tea was an immediate hit, and soon took the place of coffee in British people’s hearts. The Khampas are recent immigrants from Tibet. See culture, outdoors, romantic, historic sites, and museums. Created by a user from India. Since 2004, the term Darjeeling tea has been a registered geographical indication referring to products produced on … Like fine wine, Darjeeling is often enjoyed and even critiqued batch by batch. Darjeeling is a town in the Indian state of West Bengal in the Lesser Himalayas at an average elevation of 6,710 ft (2,045.2 m). Whether it is the ubiquitous momos or thupkas whose fabled taste has transcended across the Himalayas along with the migrant Tibetans or the lemon grass menu from south-east Asia,Darjeeling offers you the best. Kanchenjunga is a superb holiday destination in the east Nepal region. Cultural Northwest India: Darjeeling & Sikkim - 8 Days View Map The eastern end of the Himalayas and their neighboring foothills is one of the least-visited sections of the mountain range, but other travelers' loss is your gain as you explore this corner of India over the course of eight days. ... Indulge in a hearth northern Indian breakfast while learning about the history of the area. Salt tea which is mixed with butter which has its own distinct taste. The culture of Darjeeling is diverse and includes a variety of indigenous practices and festivals as mentioned above. Several monasteries like Ghum Monastery (8 km or 5 miles from the town), Bhutia Busty monastery, Mag-Dhog Yolmowa preserve ancient Buddhist scripts. The use of India as a back-drop for the reconnection of some spiritually displaced white men is an insult to the rich history, colors, and culture of India. The local culture of Darjeeling can be well understood during the season of native festivals. It’s an underrated attraction of Darjeeling and offers a further insight into the history and culture of its people. In 1835 when the British took over Darjeeling after signing a deed with the Chogyal (King) of Sikkim, it was a deserted place full of dense … Built- 1843, Rebuilt- 1873 St. Andrew's Church, Darjeeling. The local culture of Darjeeling … It seems that the people have saved all their energy for these two weeks which are filled with great rejoicing. Distance from Darjeeling: 73 kilometres Singing and playing musical instruments is a common pastime among the resident population, who take pride in the traditions and role of music in their cultural life. The culture of Darjeeling, India, is quite diverse and unique. Travel Mar 13 - Mar 27. Best things to do in Pelling, Gangtok, Lachung, and Darjeeling are: Tsongmo Lake, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Nathula, and Tiger Hill. Bengali is the language of the plains, Tibetan is used by the refugees and some other tribal people. And we were guided by your website at every step in our planning. Darjeeling, with a rich history of the British raj and cultural evolution, has gone through a lot of changes in the past decades, with modernization and advancement in infrastructure. It serves as a residence of several Tibetan refugees who fled from their homeland following the footsteps of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Darjeeling is West Bengal’s favourite hill station. Dashain, Tihar, Buddha Jayanti, Christmas, Holi, Ram Navami, etc. Age(s) of Children Add a … "The Nature-centric Culture of the Nepalese", North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_Darjeeling&oldid=918388144, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 28 September 2019, at 12:13. In 1706 the king lost Kalimpong to the Bhutanese. He is a distinguished scholar, thinker and public servant and has written several books. Created by a user from India. Overview . Visit Darjeeling. Colonial architecture characterizes many buildings in Darjeeling; several mock Tudor residences, Gothic churches, the Raj Bhawan (Governor House), Planters' Club and various educational institutions are examples. Price start @ ₹ 2200. Bedroom slippers and rope-sole shoes, jackets, hats, hanzu coats made from handloom cloth and masks are among the many items which attract tourists and curio collectors. But while many of India's top tea experts point to the autumn flush as their favorite, those teas are largely unknown. The ‘Rosia’ is sung in the fields, the ‘Baloon’ extols the deeds of the Mahabharata and ‘Malsiri’ is kept for the Durga Puja. Darjeeling's tea bushes run across a mythical landscape steeped with the religious, the sacred, and the picturesque. The East India Company gained control of the region in 1816, but soon returned most of the lands to Sikkim in exchange for … Darjeeling Carnival, initiated by a civil society movement known as The Darjeeling Initiative, was a ten-day carnival held yearly during winter that portrayed the rich musical and cultural heritage of Darjeeling Hills as its central theme. Visit Sikkim and Darjeeling. Bhutia chaddars can be found in beautiful textures. Price start at ₹ . Best things to do are: Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Tiger Hill, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, and Japanese Peace Pagoda. The National Parks, natural beauty, and rich forest culture make Kanchenjunga worth a visit. Local street food is as amazing as the sights here so be sure to indulge in some momos, thukpa, chowmein and much more. 1835 the area of Darjeeling - that had been part of Sikkim until then - was annexed by British India. Dashain, Tihar, Buddha Jayanti, Christmas, Holi, Ram Navami, etc. Edit. The region in North East India yields the uniquely wonderful tea, known all over the world as Darjeeling. Created by a user from India. Among the population are also the Newars or best known, the world over as the Sherpas. Decorative Nepali khukris are made in Ghum. History and Culture Hotels at Zakir Hussain Road in Darjeeling 1 Person in 1 Room. Houses are decorated and spirits start building up for Diwali eve when the festival commences. Best things to do are: Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Tiger Hill, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, and Batasia Loop. Even the two major religions. An up-hill climb by foot to get anywhere in Darjeeling will have you gasping for air, as the small little town of Darjeeling is at an elevation of 6,700 feet. It is noted for its tea industry and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A popular food in Darjeeling is the momo, a steamed dumpling containing chicken, mutton, pork, beef or vegetables cooked in a doughy wrapping served with a watery vegetable soup and spicy tomato sauce/chutney. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, also known as the DHR or the Toy Train, is a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge railway that runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in the Indian state of West Bengal. The culture of Darjeeling, India, is quite diverse and unique. A … Best things to do in Darjeeling, Paro, Bumthang, Punakha, and Thimphu are: Paro Taktsang, Dochula Pass, Kuenselphodrang, and Tiger Hill. Find 5 History And Culture near Governor House, Darjeeling. We must view the tea garden workers against the racialized and sexualised history of the plantation workers while we also try to locate them in the ‘identity politics of specific tea producing communities.’ The women tea plantation workers of Darjeeling are seen as sexually immoral and alcoholic. Darjeeling's tea bushes run across a mythical landscape steeped with the religious, the sacred, and the picturesque. Find 5 Darjeeling History And Culture on Travelguru. The original inhabitants of the Darjeeling Hills were Lepchas or Rongpa (the ravine folks) as they prefer themselves to be known as. This walking tour will give you a great induction of the city, its history, its vibrant culture, and its people with lots of wonderful stories about the city, fun facts and must do things in … Darjeeling Tea is world renowned for its flavour, which is unequaled by other tea producing areas not only of India but also of the world. Media in category "Culture of Darjeeling" The following 19 files are in this category, out of 19 total. People & Culture of Darjeeling Darjeeling district is home to mainly immigrants from Nepal, Sikkim, Tibet, Bhutan and even Europe. Though their origin is obscure, they are decidedly Mongolian in feature. They carry the traditional weapon, the Khukri-a curved ornamental knife. Sikkim was a Buddhist kingdom under the Namgyal-Chogyal dynasty from 1642 to 1975. Among the artistic crafts, ornaments, trinkets and handlooms are worth mentioning. Bengal Natural History Museum in Darjeeling was set up in 1903. are the main festivals. Tea is the most popular beverage, procured from the famed Darjeeling tea gardens, as well as coffee. The culture of the hill people of Darjeeling are uniquely expressed in the exquisite and inimitable artistic handicrafts of the district and their traditional colourful designs, which show marked resemblance to the art of neighbouring Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. Visit Darjeeling and Bhutan. Nepali, Hindi, Bengali and English are the prevailing languages. Darjeeling still manufactures the tea by the original methods known as the ‘orthodox’ method. Come and experience their authentic culture! Surrounded by the beautiful mountains and green pine trees one cannot deny that there is another heaven, Darjeeling recently is known as GTA [Gorkhaland Territorial Authority ],but the world knows it by the name of Darjeeling..the queen of the hills. Darjeeling is a Himalayan town located in the state of West Bengal. St. Andrew's Church, Darjeeling. forming a broad and analytical group of population. An improvised form of ball made of rubber garters is often used for playing in the steep streets. Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre, one of the prominent landmarks of Darjeeling, was established on 2nd October 1959. Darjeeling tea is a tea made from Camellia sinensis that is grown and processed in the Darjeeling or Kalimpong Districts in West Bengal, India. In mid-June, processions celebrate the birthday of His Holiness, The Dalai Lama. Usually found in the local haat(fair) held on sunday near the Rock Garden. There is also fine craftsmanship in wood-work and bamboo fret work. Travel Oct 15 - … A land-mark year in the History of Darjeeling was 1835, but it would be appropriate to trace its History before that. The first bogie carriages entered service, replacing basic four-wheel carriages. The following are some of the most popular and worth mentioning forms of Nepali folk dances. Journal / A (tea)potted history of Darjeeling. Typical indian potato preparation which the hill people cannot do without. The Kiranti Rai people (Khambus) celebrate their annual Sakela festivals of Ubhauli and Udhauli. • Inspirock See culture, outdoors, historic sites, and wildlife. The Darjeeling Second Flush also makes for a delicious but mild green tea, which is quite different from other varieties. A typical Buddhist traditional,"Khorlo" which spins with the help of a light bulb's heat- 2013-12-19 07-01.JPG 5,184 × 3,456; 4.94 MB A type of noodle called thukpa, served with soup and vegetables/meat, is extremely popular in and around the hills of Darjeeling. See culture. And control of the remainder was wrested from them by the Gurkhas who invaded Sikkim in 1780, following the consolidation of the latter's rule in Nepal. The ‘Rateli’ are nursery rhymes set to music. The Kiranti There are robust folk dances with the males participating enthusiastically in the ‘Chabrung’ of the Libus, the Tamangs dance, ‘Damfu’, and the most popular of them all, the scintillating Maruni. The culture of Darjeeling, India, is quite diverse.Apart from the major Hindu religious festivals like Diwali, Christmas, Dussera, Holi, Ram Navami etc., the diverse ethnic populace of the town celebrates several local festivals. The people of Darjeeling consume a diverse variety of foods. Check these photos from Darjeeling, how it was then in the past and how it is now in the … • Inspirock Exploring the history, geography, culture and production of tea in Japan. Gay folk songs fill the air with ‘Jhowre’ relating to the lover, and the ‘Juhari’ which throws questions and answers between the lovesick couple. Be immersed in the fascinating local cultures, which are exclusive to this area (Darjeeling and Sikkim only). 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