Around Darjeeling
Weather
Gap year in Darjeeling, India Being hill towns at quite high altitude - Kalimpong at 1250m (nearly 4,000 ft) and Darjeeling at 2134m (nearly 7,000 ft) have a much cooler and more pleasant climate than the very hot and humid West Bengal plains.
Darjeeling's temperate climate has 5 distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter, and the monsoon. Summers (lasting from May to June) are mild, with maximum temperatures rarely crossing 25 °C (77 °). The monsoon season from June to September is characterised by intense torrential rains occasionally causing landslides that block Darjeeling's land access to the rest of the country. In winter, temperature averages 5–7 °C (41–44 °F), occasionally the temperatures drop below freezing and snowfalls are fairly common. During the monsoon and winter seasons, Darjeeling is often shrouded in mist and fog. Kalimpong has a similar climate but is typically around 5°C warmer at each season of the year and enjoys more sunshine.
Out & About
Both Kalimpong and Darjeeling offer exceptional views of the Kanchendzonga massif (8,300 metres). There are fine monasteries and shrines located both within the towns and in the countryside around typically on high ground providing excellent viewpoints.
Notable in Kalimpong is Deolo, a park and viewpoint including a newly opened science park with many indoor and outdoor working exhibits and Durpin Dhara, a fabulous Buddhist monastery offering a panoramic view of the unspoilt countryside.
Darjeeling
Darjeeling has a well laid out and tended zoo which houses many local animals notably the red panda, clouded leopard and Bengali tiger. Next to the zoo is the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute which contains a fine museum celebrating man's conquest of the Himalayan peaks and many memorabilia especially from Everest expeditions.
From Darjeeling it is readily possible to trek the Singalila ridge which is a national park reaching above 12,000 feet and offering superb views of Kanchendzonga and a clear but distant sighting of Everest, Makalu, Lhotse and other of the major Himalayan peaks.
En route between Kalimpong and Darjeeling is the mighty Teesta river which is fast flowing and offers exciting river rafting opportunities.
From Kalimpong it is worth exploring the local villages which are strongholds of local culture and traditional ways. The Kalimpong Village Discovery Tour is a two day (or more) experience during which you eat and sleep in villagers' homes, walk between the villages through forests and unspoilt countryside and in the evening, see a display of traditional dancing performed. All the proceeds from this venture go directly to the villages involved.
Sikkim
Sikkim is a border state of India just north of Kalimpong and Darjeeling and readily accessible from each of them. It is largely high ground and has many attractive viewpoints and features. On the border between Sikkim and Nepal is Kanchenjunga and the closest views are obtainable from here. Treks can be made up to around 4,500 metres and special expeditions can be arranged for professional mountaineers to go higher.
Transport in the whole of the Darjeeling region and Sikkim is very cheap and is mostly by shared jeeps which run frequently between all the towns and villages in the district.
North East of India
North East India is a very distinct part of the country. 9 States form this region of India and they are very individual. The more southern of the states, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram for example are mainly Christian or tribal and the people look more like Thais or Burmese. Their culture is very different to that of Hindu India as is the scenery. The North Eastern states are joined to the main peninsula of India by a very thin strip of land to the north of Bangladesh and travel is relatively difficult. Permits are needed to some of the states before travel but these can be obtained in India itself.
Don't be put off by the cost of travel either. Trains are amazingly good value especially if you travel overnight as your bed is included. As an example, the fare for an air conditioned coach with a bed and - around a 9 hour journey - would be around 10 pounds.
Many journeys can be done on night bus with full sleeper cabin. A 12 hour night journey would typically cost around £5 enabling you to manage you gap year on a budget.
Internal air travel is also very good value with many lost cost airlines now operating in India.
India is a most friendly and easy country to travel in, so make sure you take advantage of it while on your gap year travels!