Darjeeling

Darjeeling
Town
Left to right from top: Darjeeling with Kangchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, rising behind it; a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train en route to the main train station; a tea garden, or tea plantation
Interactive map of Darjeeling
Coordinates: 27°02′15″N 88°15′47″E / 27.03750°N 88.26306°E / 27.03750; 88.26306
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Darjeeling
Settled	Leased in 1835 from Tsugphud Namgyal, the Chogyal of the Kingdom of Sikkim, and annexed in 1849.[1][2][3] Municipality, 1 July 1850.[4][5]
Founded by	British East India Company, during Company rule in India[6][7]
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Body	Darjeeling Municipality
• Chairman	Dipen Thakuri[8]
Area [a]
• Total	7.43 km2 (2.87 sq mi)
Elevation [b]	2,045 m (6,709 ft)
Population  (2011)[c][d][e]
• Total	118,805
• Density	15,990/km2 (41,400/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Bengali and Nepali[13]
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)

Darjeeling (/dɑːrˈdʒiːlɪŋ/,^[14] Nepali: [ˈdard͡ziliŋ], Bengali: [ˈdarˌdʒiliŋ]) is a city located in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal, in the Eastern Himalayas. It has an average elevation of 2,045 meters (6,709 feet).^[10] To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal, while to the east is the Kingdom of Bhutan, To the north, it borders the Indian state of Sikkim and, farther north, the Tibet Autonomous Region region of China. Bangladesh is situated to the south and southeast, with the majority of West Bengal lying to the south and southwest, connected to the Darjeeling region by a narrow corridor. Kangchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, towers to the north and is prominently visible on clear days..^[f][16]

In the early 19th century, during East India Company rule in India, Darjeeling was identified as a potential summer retreat for British officials, soldiers, and their families. The narrow mountain ridge was leased from the Kingdom of Sikkim and eventually annexed to British India. Experiments in cultivating tea on the slopes surrounding Darjeeling proved highly successful. Thousands of laborers, primarily from Nepal, were recruited to clear forests, construct European-style cottages, and work in the tea plantations. This widespread deforestation displaced the region's indigenous peoples. Residential schools were established in and around Darjeeling to educate the children of domiciled British families in India. By the late 19th century, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a novel narrow-gauge mountain railway, began transporting summer residents to the town and exporting tea worldwide. After India's independence in 1947, as the British departed, Darjeeling's cottages were purchased by wealthy Indians from the plains, while its tea plantations were acquired by Indian business owners and conglomerates.

Darjeeling's population today largely consists of descendants of the indigenous people and immigrant laborers who contributed to the town's development. Although Nepali, their common language, has been granted official recognition at both state and federal levels in India, this recognition has not translated into significant employment opportunities or greater political representation for its speakers. The town's economy primarily relies on the tea industry and tourism. Post-independence deforestation in the region has caused severe environmental damage, impacting the perennial springs that supply Darjeeling with water. Over the years, the town's population has surged, leading to unregulated construction, traffic congestion, and chronic water shortages. Many young locals, educated in government schools, migrate in search of jobs that match their skills. However, like migrants from other northeastern Indian regions, they often face discrimination and racism in some Indian cities.

Darjeeling's culture is notably cosmopolitan, shaped by the intermingling of diverse ethnic groups and their evolution away from historical roots. The region's indigenous cuisine is characterized by its rich array of fermented foods and beverages. Tourists have been drawn to Darjeeling since the mid-19th century, further enriching its cultural tapestry. In 1999, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site following an international campaign for its recognition. In 2005, Darjeeling tea was granted a geographical indication by the World Trade Organization, both to protect its brand and to support the development of the region that produces it.

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