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    <trip id="567" created="2009-09-09 21:20:52" creator_id="35" creator_name="adena" creator_status="100" default_for_user_id="" description="From Calcutta, either go to Howrah Station or Kolkata Station and buy a train ticket to Siliguri/NJP (New Jalpaijuri). Here, as soon as you get out of the station, as an auto rickshaw driver to bring you to the Darjeeling Jeeps.  It should coast around 80 rupees to be stuffed into a jeep headed to Darjeeling.

The ride is over 6 hours to the top - when I went quite a few people were motion sick...but it's worth it!

There are a lot of stops along the way, and you may even see the small toy train (that ride takes 9 hours).  Do not get out until you have reached Darjeeling, though.

From there, if you choose to go on to Sikkim and Gangtok, you must obtain a permit...more info to come on that!" marked_deleted="0" modified="2009-09-09 21:42:52.271574" modifier_id="35" privacy="1" static_map_url="http://maps.google.com/staticmap?hl=en&amp;maptype=roadmap&amp;format=png&amp;markers=22.572646,88.363895,reda%7C22.583166,88.341177,redb%7C22.601160,88.384345,redc%7C26.720249,88.424583,redd%7C27.039996,88.263603,rede%7C27.602878,88.466961,redf%7C27.329170,88.616920,redg&amp;key=ABCDABCD&amp;size=123123123x123123123&amp;path=rgb:0x0000ff,weight:5|22.572646,88.363895|22.583166,88.341177|22.601160,88.384345|26.720249,88.424583|27.039996,88.263603|27.602878,88.466961|27.329170,88.616920" status="0" sum_locations="7" sum_votes="2" title="Getting from Calcutta to Darjeeling and then Sikkim" triplocation_id="536" />
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Home to Mother Theresa’s body and her volunteer-run centers for the Dying and Destitute, many tourists come to volunteer and explore their own spirituality.  They have certainly found the right place, for the streets themselves could make anyone question the gods’ intentions.  While the majority of the population is Hindu, Muslims, Janes and Christians live and celebrate as equals here as well.  Visiting the temples and holy buildings is a must while visiting Calcutta.  In this city near to 14 million people, any holiday is a big event.  There seems to be something to be celebrated every other day, and whether the event is spiritual, traditional, or simply being alive, most of the city joins in.  If you visit Calcutta, it’s guaranteed that you will learn a lot about yourself and join many celebrations.
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    <triplocations name="Darjeeling" description="Darjeeling, translated from Tibetan to mean &quot;the land of the thunderbolt,&quot; is a priceless gem of a town in the lower Himalayas; if you consider almost 7,000 feet to be 'low.'  Six hours by jeep from nearby Siliguri, beware of motion and altitude sickness, but truthfully, it's worth a visit even if you experience both.   Mostly known for its world-renowned tea production and distribution, the hillsides surrounding Darjeeling are mostly tea plantations.  The British used Darjeeling as a hill station to escape the heat of the nether regions of India during summers.  In fact, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 1999, as the oldest steam engine still in use.  Darjeeling is also a popular jumping off point to the ancient kingdom of Sikkim to the north, but make sure you get the proper paperwork before being driven another six hours into the hills. 
    Since Darjeeling is a small town, it is having a hard time adjusting to the new influx of tourists.  Pollution is becoming an issue and economic resources are being stretched.  Water crisis are occurring more often.  In fact, you'll be lucky to get a hot bucket of water to bathe in at most hostels, though these were actually some of the most satisfying baths I took. 
    Hostels are inexpensive, and for a small town there is a lot to do, including visiting the Buddhist temple at the top of Tiger Hill.  Arriving after monsoon season promises unbelievable views of the Himalayas.  
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    <triplocations name="Gangtok" description="Sikkim is one of the northernmost states of India.  Tourists need a permit to enter this territory - since it is so close to Tibet, entry in monitored closely.  A permit can be obtained in Darjeeling.
Gangtok is one of the largest cities, and a good starting point of those looking to trek.
Momo's, a traditional Tibetan snack, are cheap and plentiful here." favorite="" full_name="Gangtok, India" googled_path="India/Gangtok" hidden="0" href="http://www.tripwolf.com/en/guide/show/290833/India/Gangtok" id="290833" inherited="0" is_poi="0" item_name="Gangtok, India" language="ENG" latitude="27.32917" longitude="88.61692" ltp_level="0" parents_name="India" rating="0" recommended="" status_description="4" status_name="1" status_tags="0" status_teaser="2" teaser="High, high in the Himalayas." teaser_or_description="&lt;b&gt;High, high in the Himalayas.&lt;/b&gt; Sikkim is one of the northernmost states of India.  Tourists need a permit to enter this territory - since it is so close to Tibet, entry in monitored closely.  A permit ca..." teaser_or_description_short="&lt;b&gt;High, high in the Himalayas.&lt;/b&gt; Sikkim is one of the northernmost states of India.  Tourists need a permit to enter this ter..." type="7" type_id="7" type_name="city / town" votes="1" zoom="10">
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