Page 10 - The Endeavour

Tourism 10
Tourism 10

Darjeeling tourism - a historical overview DOOARS-THE GEM OF

-Sartaj Nasrin NORTh BENGAL
ourism has come ists for a joy ride on Company. It has sub- Secondly, tourism in - by a staff reporter
Tto occupy a ma- its toy train run by the sequently undergone the Darjeeling Himala- he extensive tea aries and national parks
jor slot in the econo- Darjeeling Himalayas considerable function- ya can be studied from Tgardens, the bold lie in this region. Manas
my of Darjeeling hill railways that has been al evolution so that it the viewpoint of settle- mountains and the rap- National Park, Jaldapa-
areas. Darjeeling the awarded with world now serves an almost ment geography. From id river comprises the ra National Park, Buxa
"queen of the hills" a very small centre with
where nature has kept a single purpose func-
her doors wide open tion as a health sanato-
have lately become rium, it has developed
major attraction to into a multi-functional
tourists worldwide. type of settlement with
The hills are abound- a series of inter related
ing in a variety of flo- activities with over- Source: Drishtant Gope
ra and fauna from the Source: Sreejit Bhattacharjee lapping hinterlands.
alpine to the tropical. Thirdly, the changing beauty of Dooars. Tiger reserve, Goru-
Darjeeling and near- heritage status by UN- entirely Indian clien- functions of this region Located on the In- mara National Park,
by hills offer immense ESCO. Some call it a tele. This evolution possess nationalisation do-Bhutan border, it at- Chapramari Wildlife
opportunities for paradise for shopping may be regarded from and the complex pro- tracts tourists through-
trekking, rock climb- and a kaleidoscope of three vantage points. cess of modernization. out the calendar. Sanctuary, Chilapata
Forests, Singalila Na-
ing, mountain biking, Indian, Chinese and From the stand point Three factors seem to Dooars politically con- tional Park, Neora Val-
hand gliding and the Tibetan cultures and of cultural ecology, be of prime impor- stitutes the plains of ley National Park and
river Tista flowing so, no tourist would the hill station once tance with regard to Kalimpong district, the Mahananda Wildlife
through the hills at- miss the sunrise over functioned as part of the development of whole of Jalpaiguri and Sanctuary are located
tracts the young and the Mount Everest and British colonial eco- Darjeeling as a British AlipurDuar district in this region and are of
brave for white water the Kanchenjunga. system. Owing to its hill station, that is, po- and the upper region huge tourist interest.
rafting and canoeing. There are 134 spots to cool temperatures and litical considerations; of Cooch Behar district The climate being fa-
Darjeeling popularly be while on the tour. its embodiment of an height above sea level in West Bengal and the vourable, with cool
known as the “Jewel in The hill station evolved upper-class British and the chance factors district of Kokrajhar winters, moderate
the crown of the East from a high-altitude lifestyle, the British related to the personal and Bongaigaon in the summers and a good
Himalayas" is dotted settlement, original- perceived it as a neces- interests of its found- state of Assam. monsoon every year,
with world famous ly established by the sity of living in India, ers. Travel and tour- Along with the tea gar- the tourists are always
tea gardens. The hill British India to serve since Independence, ism developed further dens, rivers and moun- delighted to stay here
town, though dogging the needs of the civ- however, it has become with changes in the tains, the forests too and enjoy the beauty of
water scarcity is being il servants and sol- an integral part of an socio-economic envi- add up to the beauty of mother nature.
frequented by tour- diers of the East India indigenous ecosystem. ronment. the place. Many sanctu-

Bhutan and it's heritage

- Khushi Mansuri

istory of Bhutan Bhutan has a rich her impurities. Where its heart. These shades, the world, where you’ll chicken stew flavoured
Hin its history, and robust sense of happiness is measured. these sides, these facets encounter the cultural with garlic, tomatoes,
Bhutan has never been heritage, culture and If you’ve lost your are Bhutan’s cities. We hub of Bhutan. Take a onion, ginger, corian-
colonised. Located spirituality. Add de- smile – Bhutan will begin with Paro – home trip to Motihang Ta- der and yes, chillies.
on the Silk Road be- licious cuisine and find it. If your eye wan- to some of the oldest kin Nature Preserve, Another hearty stew
tween Tibet, the Indi- heart-breaking beauty ders, Bhutan will catch Buddhist monaster- where you’ll meet the to try is Phaksha Paa
an subcontinent and to the mix and you’ve Takin (Bhutan’s na- – slices of silky pork
the rest of Southeast got more than you can tional animal). On one stir fried with chillies,
Asia, Bhutan has al- ever bargain for. So, of your hikes, you’ll ginger and Bok Choy.
ways been known as why wait? Head to our encounter the nest- Soothe those tingling
a Buddhist country. Bhutan Holiday pack- ling grounds of Black- taste buds with Suja –
It was first headed by ages and book your necked cranes and see Bhutanese butter tea
Zhabdrung Rinpoche visit to this emerald the famous Gangtey made from fermented
and was governed as kingdom. Monastery. You can yak butter, boiled with
a theocracy (a system Tourism of Bhutan Source: Khushi Mansuri also visit Trongsa and tea leaves and milk.
of government, where Cut down the noise, Bumthang and Phuent- For all you vegetarians,
priests rule in the name slow down the rush. it. If your soul is hun- ies and temples. Paro sholing – all of which Zow Shungo made
of God). After a Civil Add a splash of green gry, Bhutan will feed it. district also boasts of bloom with Bhutanese from veggies and red
War in the 19th cen- and a dash of chil- So, why not plan your Bhutan’s only interna- stories, beautiful views rice will soothe and fill
tury, the country was lies. Dig out every next trip to this gor- tional airport. When of the mountains and your tummies. Anoth-
reunited and struck up known shade of green geous country? It’s in Paro, do as the other glorious monasteries. er great option is Jaju
a relationship with the in your paint box. Let close to us, its serene tourists do and make a Cuisine Of Bhutan Soup – a creamy dish
British Empire. Bhu- the mountains rise and every element of trip to the iconic Paro Spice, spice and more made with local spin-
tan also forged stabled high. Slip a mask on Bhutan Tourism will Taksang monastery – spice – this is the guid- ach or turnips in milk
relationships with In- and dance. Let the charm and delight. So commonly known as ing principle of Bhu- and butter. You can
dia and a troubled one flags flutter outside today, let’s take a small the Tiger’s Nest Mon- tan’s delicious cuisine. also indulge in some
with China. In 2008, the monastery. This step outside our bor- astery. Perched, 900 This is most obvious plump momos, stuffed
Bhutan went from an country is a jumble of ders after all, a king- metres high on a cliff, in the world-famous with minced pork,
absolute monarchy to impressions. A me- dom awaits. this is a hard trek, but Ema Datshi – a stew beef, chicken or cheese.
a constitutional mon- lange of sight, sound Cities In Bhutan the rewards at the end made with chillies and For a crispy snack, pick
archy, when it held its and taste. It’s where Think of Bhutan as an are worth it. Next, is cheese. If you’ve got up a helping of Khatem
first election for the time stretches out like emerald – it glitters, it’s Thimphu – the capital the taste buds to han- – crispy rings of gourd
National Assembly of a contented cat. Where green and it has many city. This is the fourth dle that spice, then try fried in butter.
Bhutan. the air shakes off all facets, many shades at highest capital city in Jasha Maroo – diced