Darjeeling (Alt. 2134m), the quintessential hill station is draped over the ridge with panoramic views of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Its undulating hills are covered with tea plantations, which has a reputation for producing best tea, sometimes referred to as the 'champagne of the east. Darjeeling area belonged to Sikkim until 1780, when it was annexed by invading Gorkhas and later in 1816 British East India gained control over it and returned to Sikkim. In 1835, it was leased to British, who then established tea plantations, built colonial houses and even railway in 1881. Darjeeling provided cool hill retreat and sanatorium for the Bristish officer from their capital in Calcutta. Today, it is a semi autonomous state under West Bengal state called DGHC (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council). The pedestrian town centre is dominated by 'Chowrasta Mall', where you can stroll around and mingle with large Nepali and Tibetan populations mixed with Victorian colonial mansions. Darjee...