Darjeeling Kolkata Pelling Gangtok Kalimpong
Darjeeling, West Bengal
Highlights: Darjeeling, world famous for its teas, is nested in a setting of Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest, Tibetan Monasteries, Himalayan Tribal Life, Pine Trees etc. which make her qualify as the queen of the hill stations.
When to Go: The best time to visit Darjeeling is from March-May or September-November. The rains which start by May end are heavy downpours making living conditions cold and dreary. In winter there is a drastic fall in temperature from the summer's 15 to 25 degrees centigrade to 2 to 10 degrees in winter.
Kolkata, West Bengal
Highlights: India's largest city - 10 million people live here -
Kolkata was the largely British-built, British capital, now it's the cosmopolitan capital cultural and state capital of West Bengal. It's the only city where you'll see the hand-pulled rickshaws that gave rise to City of Joy, Dominic Lapierre's novel of the lives of its poverty-ridden slum dwellers and rick pullers. The oldest form of transport in the city still plies its trade alongside a spanking new metro and nobody can quite decide whether they're the city's shame or a piece of heritage.
Kolkata is a simultaneously exciting and exasperating place, where you'll also see India's only still working tram system. Visit one of the two famous Coffee houses, in College Street or in the central business district, and you could find yourself in the middle of an "adda" - the city's regular pastime of a group of people coming together to debate or chat on everything under the sun.
Kolkata is the birthplace of an early form of pop art depicting historical figures, legends and folklore using paint and paper - kalighat pat painting has heavily influenced modern Bengali art. But
Kolkata also has a thriving all-night club scene, new multiplexes, malls and coffee bar chains.
When to Go: October - March; During Durga Puja celebrations when the whole town is at its liveliest.
Pelling, Sikkim
Highlights: Pelling, the laid back, scenic, but rapidly swelling hamlet is situated at 2,085 m above sea level about 2 km beyond Pemayangtse. Pelling is famous for the magnificent view of the snow-capped mountains of Khangchendzonga. High above the forest covered hills, in an amphitheatre of cloud, snow and rock, the entire route from Yuksam over Dzongri La to the Rathong Glacier can be seen.
When to Go: Mid - February to May & Mid - Sept to December.
Gangtok, Sikkim
Highlights: Gangtok, the "
Lofty Hill" or the "Hill made flat to build the Gangtok monastery in 1716". Gangtok is a city, which, till one sees it, one would believe exists only in picture-story books. In the mystery-laden mists prayer flags whip in the breeze; wheels spin in the hands of Lamas mumbling invocations to God, in the distance are the snows, on the streets amidst brightly painted pagoda roofed houses, lined with friendly smiling people.
When to Go: Mid - February To May End & Mid - September To December.
Kalimpong, West Bengal
Highlights: Kalimpong is a small hill station between Siliguri and Gangtok. The road is one of the most scenic routes in this part of the nation. The swift flowing Teesta river runs by the side of the road adding to the beauty of the scenery.
When to Go: Pleasantly mild climate throughout the year, because of its low elevation.