 Tiger Hill
The
highest spot in the area at 2590m, Tiger Hill is near Ghoom, about 11km
from Darjeeling. The hill is famous for its magnificent dawn views over
Kanchenjunga and other eastern Himalayan peaks. On a clear day even Mount
Everest is visible.
Every day a large convoy of battered Land Rovers
leaves Darjeeling at 4.30am, which means that in the smaller
lodges you get woken up at this time every day, whether you like it or
not. It can be very cold and very crowded at the top but coffee is
available. There is a view tower. Halfway down the hill a temple priest
causes a massive traffic jam by anointing the steering wheel of each
vehicle for the return trip. Many take the jeep one way and then walk
back - a very pleasant two hour trip.
Kanchenjunga Views
At 8598m, this is the world's third highest mountain. From Darjeeling, the best uninterrupted views of it are from Bhan Bhakta Sarani. The name Kanchenjunga is derived from the Tibetan Khang (snow), chen (big), dzong (fortress or treasury) nga (five) - big five peaked snow fortress, or big five peaked treasury of the snow.
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 Bhutia Busty Gompa
Not far from Chowrasta is this
colourful monastery, with Kanchenjunga providing a spectacular backdrop.
Originally a branch of the Nyingmapa sect's Phodang Monastery in Sikkim, it was
transferred to Darjeeling in 1879. The shrine here originally stood on
Observatory Hill. There's library of Buddhist texts upstairs which houses the
original copy of the Tibetan Book of the Dead
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