Darjeeling is the most popular place for summer escapades for the tourists. This popular tourist destination is blessed with spectacular natural opulence and stunning weather. However, do you know that this place has an elaborate and elusive history? Let’s take a step back in time and explore the fascinating history of Darjeeling:
1. This place was actually known as “Dorje Ling” and was named after the Lama who had a vision of this place and later established his shrine is the places currently known as the Observatory Hill. The lama made his pilgrimage from Pemeyangste Monastery, Sikkim, to this hill, which at that time was also in Sikkim.
2. During the Colonial era, the British were looking to build sanitoriums for their wounded soldiers. They leased this area from the King of Sikkim ( oka “TheChogyal”) for their sick soldiers. It was when they re-christened this place as Darjeeling and moved their Bengal State administrative offices here (during the hot, sticky summers)
3. The climate of this place suited the British and soon, many Britishers flocked from the city of Calcutta. To accommodate this great influx of people, boarding houses were developed that served as a “home away from home” for the British people.
4. Windamere Hotel (formerly known as ‘Ada Villa’) was one such place that served as a boarding house for the British Planters and other Raj types who were working on contracts. Ada Villa was built in 1841 and was turned into a boarding house during the 1880s. This place was later turned into a heritage hotel and is currently, one of the oldest colonial-era hotels in the Darjeeling Hills. In case you want to relive the colonial charm, stay at Windamere Hotel, the only truly authentic Colonial hotels in Darjeeling.
1. This place was actually known as “Dorje Ling” and was named after the Lama who had a vision of this place and later established his shrine is the places currently known as the Observatory Hill. The lama made his pilgrimage from Pemeyangste Monastery, Sikkim, to this hill, which at that time was also in Sikkim.
2. During the Colonial era, the British were looking to build sanitoriums for their wounded soldiers. They leased this area from the King of Sikkim ( oka “TheChogyal”) for their sick soldiers. It was when they re-christened this place as Darjeeling and moved their Bengal State administrative offices here (during the hot, sticky summers)
3. The climate of this place suited the British and soon, many Britishers flocked from the city of Calcutta. To accommodate this great influx of people, boarding houses were developed that served as a “home away from home” for the British people.
4. Windamere Hotel (formerly known as ‘Ada Villa’) was one such place that served as a boarding house for the British Planters and other Raj types who were working on contracts. Ada Villa was built in 1841 and was turned into a boarding house during the 1880s. This place was later turned into a heritage hotel and is currently, one of the oldest colonial-era hotels in the Darjeeling Hills. In case you want to relive the colonial charm, stay at Windamere Hotel, the only truly authentic Colonial hotels in Darjeeling.
5. The narrow gauge railway, that runs through the nerves of Darjeeling, was originally a steam engine connecting different parts of Darjeeling. It is said that Mother Theresa gained her enlightenment during her journey from Calcultta to Darjeeling. She never completed that journey. While travelling to The Loreto Convent, Darjeeling for her summer leave, she got off the train midway and went back to Calcutta to serve the poor.
6. Darjeeling was originally a part of Sikkim. The Lepchas inhabited this land before it was invaded by the Gorkhas in the 1790s. The British prevented the Gorkhas from capturing the land, resulting in the Anglo-Gorkha war in 1814. This was followed by the Treaty of Sugauli in1815 where the territories annexed by the Gorkhas were surrendered to the East India Company.
7. In 1817, with the Treaty of Titalia, the East India Company reinstituted the King of Sikkim and guaranteed his sovereignty.
8. In 1841, the British brought Chinese Tea seeds (oka as “the bud and two leaves’) and established tea plantations in Darjeeling. Many Britishers followed suit and soon, a number of tea estates started operating in the hills.
9. After the independence of India, Darjeeling was incorporated in the State of Bengal in 1947. A separate district was established. This included towns such as Kurseong, Terai regions of Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
10. When the People’s Liberation Army conquered Tibet in 1950’s, many Tibetan refugees took shelter in different places in Darjeeling.
6. Darjeeling was originally a part of Sikkim. The Lepchas inhabited this land before it was invaded by the Gorkhas in the 1790s. The British prevented the Gorkhas from capturing the land, resulting in the Anglo-Gorkha war in 1814. This was followed by the Treaty of Sugauli in1815 where the territories annexed by the Gorkhas were surrendered to the East India Company.
7. In 1817, with the Treaty of Titalia, the East India Company reinstituted the King of Sikkim and guaranteed his sovereignty.
8. In 1841, the British brought Chinese Tea seeds (oka as “the bud and two leaves’) and established tea plantations in Darjeeling. Many Britishers followed suit and soon, a number of tea estates started operating in the hills.
9. After the independence of India, Darjeeling was incorporated in the State of Bengal in 1947. A separate district was established. This included towns such as Kurseong, Terai regions of Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
10. When the People’s Liberation Army conquered Tibet in 1950’s, many Tibetan refugees took shelter in different places in Darjeeling.
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