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Darjeeling: Darjeeling has seen a large number of domestic and foreign tourists this winter after last month's tsunami hampered tourism to the warmer locations in south India. Situated at an altitude of 2,310 metres, Darjeeling, in the hills of West Bengal, has always been a favourite destination of tourists because of its snowcapped mountains, including a breathtaking view of Kanchenjunga peak and the pristine beauty of the Himalayas. Darjeeling, also famous for its tea gardens, normally witnesses tourist influx during summers but trade and allied sectors data show that many tourists opted for the hill resort after tsunamis struck coastal areas and Andaman and Nicobar islands, among the hot tourist destinations during winters. "Actually,
we had planned to go to south India but because of the tsunami, we changed
our plan and came to Darjeeling. It is very nice and pleasant here. We
are enjoying very much," said Moumita Choudhury, a tourist. Hoteliers
are surprised with the large number of bookings this season. "One thing
could be the tsunami disaster in which many people did not go to south
India or abroad. Last year, there was snowfall in Darjeeling, which was
a big news. People took a chance this year and everybody who came have
been waiting for snowfall," said Dinesh Sharma, General Manager of a hotel
here. Darjeeling is heavily dependent on tourism. More than four million
tourists visit West Bengal every year. |
