Himalayan Scenic Walking Trails
Miles of un-spoilt countryside, tea gardens and wild flowers in spring create the setting for Elgin. Let the region work its magic on you, as you explore little known paths and follow tracks into the forest. We have mapped out trails that suit everyone, so you could go on a challenging walk, stroll along woodland lanes or take a route that offers a glimpse of colonial history. Not bound by clock or calendar, the world will be yours alone
THE ELGIN, DARJEELING
Trail 1 - The Darjeeling Birch-Hill Walk
Distance: 3 km
Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Grade: Easy
This is an easy-paced, 45 minutes walk that skirts Birch Hill with the Raj Bhavan (Governors House) – a beautiful colonial bungalow used by the Governor as a summer retreat. The trail descends from a hill adjacent Shrubbery Nightingale Park and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Darjeeling Zoo, which offers a wonderful view of the surrounding mountains, deep tea valleys and Darjeeling Town. It then winds back through oak forests and tea gardens dotted with colonial cottages.
Trail 2 - The Darjeeling Mall Walk
Distance: 2 km
Duration: 30 to 45 minutes
Grade: Easy
A pleasant walk covering two kilometers, skirting. The trail loops around below the Observatory hill and the Darjeeling Gymkhana club through a lush green forest reserve and is suitable for the elderly on account of its gentle gradient. This trail is also a wonderful introduction to the flora of the Himalayas and offers some great views of the Lebong cantonment area, tea gardens, the Snow capped Himalayan ranges and Mt. Kanchendzonga – “the 3rd highest peak in the world”.
Trail 1 - The Gangtok Tashi View Point Walk
Distance: 3 km
Duration: 1 hour
Grade: Easy
This is an easy-paced, one hour walk that wind through oak forests dotted with cottages. The hill trail offers a wonderful view of the Mt Kanchenjunga on a sunny clear day and the surrounding mountains, deep valleys and Gangtok Town.
Trail 2 - The Gangtok M. G. Road Walk
Distance: 2 km
Duration: 35 to 40 minutes
Grade: Easy
A pleasant walk covering one and half kilometers. A straight walking trail in the middle of Gangtok’s bustling shops, cafes and bars. The trail then loops around and brings you back to where you started your walk.
Trail 1 - The Pelling Pemayangtse Monastery Walk
Distance: 1 km
Duration: 35 to 40 minutes
Grade: Easy
This is an easy-paced, 45 minutes level walk that skirts around just below the Pemayangtse Monastery – a beautiful 300 year monastery. The trail ends with an abrupt end, at a point from where you have to turn around, the trail offers a wonderful view of the Mt. Kanchenjunga the 3rd highest peak in the world and surrounding mountains deep valleys.
Trail 2 - The Pelling Pemayangtse Rabdentse Ruins Walk
Distance: 2 km
Duration: 1 hour to 1 hour 45 minutes
Grade: Moderate to Easy
A pleasant walk covering two kilometers, skirting. Rabdentse was an earlier capital of Sikkim. Passing through the gateway to this former capital, it takes a nice walk to reach the ruins themselves. To encourage the visitors to continue their walk some texts are displayed on signs along the footpath like: “Do not get tired. Great excitement is waiting”.
The trail loops around and slopes upwards below the ruins, through a lush green forest reserve and is suitable for the elderly on account of its gentle gradient. This trail is also a wonderful introduction to the flora of the Himalayas and offers some great views of the Pemayangtse area, the snow-capped Himalayan ranges and Mt. Kanchenjunga – “the 3rd highest peak in the world”.
Trail 1 - The Kalimpong Market Walk
Distance: 1.5 km
Duration: 35 to 40 minutes
Grade: Easy
This is an easy-paced, 45 minutes level walk that skirts straight and then around the Kalimpong market place. The trail offers a glimpse of the shops, trade and daily life business of the local people of the hill.
Trail 2 - The Kalimpong Golf Course Walk
Distance: 2 km
Duration: 1 hour to 1 hour 45 minutes
Grade: Moderate to Easy
A pleasant walk covering two kilometers, skirting. The trail is a straight and slopes slightly upwards, through lush green forests and is also suitable for the elderly on account of its gentle gradient. This trail is also a wonderful introduction to the flora of the Himalayas and offers some great views of the snow-capped Himalayan ranges and Mt. Kanchenjunga – “the 3rd highest peak in the world” on a clear sunny day. On reaching the top of the hill the trail is a level straight walk with a magnificent view of the Kalimpong golf course on one side.
