How much does it cost to travel to Darjiling?
You should plan to spend around $35 (₨2,907) per day on your vacation in Darjiling. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $14 (₨1,168) on meals
- $7.55 (₨626) on local transportation
- $26 (₨2,177) on hotels
A one week trip to Darjiling for two people costs, on average, $491 (₨40,694). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Darjiling has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Darjiling expensive to visit?
Darjiling is a very affordable place to visit. Located in India, which is a very affordable country, visitors will appreciate the lower prices of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. Budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring Darjiling in depth.
Within Asia, Darjiling is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Asia for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Luang Prabang, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Taipei.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Darjiling Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Darjiling?
The average Darjiling trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Darjiling travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
₨2,177
($26)
|
Local Transportation 1
|
₨626
($8)
|
Food 2
|
₨1,168
($14)
|
Entertainment 1
|
₨1,007
($12)
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
₨6 -
19
($0 - 0)
|
Alcohol 2
|
₨367 -
1,100
($4 - 13)
|
Accommodation Budget in Darjiling
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Darjiling is $13 (₨1,088). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Darjiling is $26 (₨2,177). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Darjiling
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Darjiling is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $7.55 (₨626) per person, per day, on local transportation in Darjiling.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$7.55
₨626
How much does it cost to go to Darjiling? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Darjiling will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Darjiling
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Darjiling can vary, the average cost of food in Darjiling is $14 (₨1,168) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Darjiling should cost around $5.64 (₨467) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Darjiling is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$14
₨1,168
Entertainment Budget in Darjiling
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Darjiling typically cost an average of $12 (₨1,007) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$12
₨1,007
Tips and Handouts Budget in Darjiling
Calculated from travelers like you
Alcohol Budget in Darjiling
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $8.85 (₨733) on alcoholic beverages in Darjiling per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$8.85
₨733
Water Budget in Darjiling
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $0.61 (₨50) on bottled water in Darjiling per day. The public water in Darjiling is not usually considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$0.61
₨50
Darjiling On a Budget
Darjeeling, India
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or
Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
Sights
Mount Kanchenjunga, one of the world's highest peaks, steals the show of Darjeeling's backdrop. Tiger Hill is a favorite location to view the mountain, especially at sunrise when the first rays of the sun touch the snow-capped peaks. For additional information on Kanchenjunga and the surrounding mountains, visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. Founded by the late Tenzing Norgay who conquered Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953, it now has on display records of the major expeditions undertaken. Nearby is the Everest Museum which traces the history of different attempts on the world's highest peak. The institute also offers mountaineering courses for all levels. Sharing the premises with the institute is the Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park, featuring a habitat of animals found in the Himalayan region.
As far as cultural significance goes, the Japanese Peace Pagoda represents a place of unity for people of all races and religions to gather in search of world peace. It is one of 30 located around the globe. Other impressive sights include the Batasia Loop where the famous
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (known as the "toy train") makes a loop, the Barbotey Rock Garden landscaped with flowers and waterfalls, the Mahakal Temple, and many other monasteries, temples, and cultural attractions.
Neighborhoods
Darjeeling is a small town, making it very easy to navigate on foot. For longer journeys outside of the main area, taxis are available at stands near the entrance to the mall, Chowrasta. This place is pretty much the center of Darjeeling, surrounded by shops, eateries, and hotels. It is a great place to
purchase local Darjeeling teas and other specialties, get caught up in the bustle, or sit back and people-watch while enjoying some tasty street food. Nearby towns worth visiting include Mirik, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Siliguri, and Gangtok.
Activities
In addition to visiting the sights within town, it is also common for visitors to gravitate towards the surrounding mountain landscape. Trekking and mountain biking are especially popular, often with Singalila National Park as the final destination. The park is located in the far northwest corner of West Bengal state with Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak, visible for much of the trek to the north.
Visitors also enjoy taking scenic rides on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, nicknamed the "toy train," which was built between 1879 and 1881 and is today known as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Food and Dining
The cooking of Darjeeling largely consists of North Indian, Tibetan, and Nepali influences. Some of the most popular local specialties include things like momos, thukpa, aloo dum, sael roti, naga platter, Nepali thali, tongba, and chang. Momos are steamed or fried dumplings filled with meat or vegetables, while thukpa is a hearty noodle soup also with vegetables or meat-both are common Tibetan dishes. Aloo dum is an Indian specialty made with fried potatoes in a gravy rich with spices, while sael roti is a kind of traditional Nepali homemade sweet rice donut. Naga platter and Nepali thali are both traditional meals made up of a selection of dishes, while tongba and chang are both local alcoholic beverages-tongba being a millet-based alcohol, and chang, a light Tibetan beer made of barley. Kunga's is often recommended for Tibetan food, especially the momos, and it is important to keep in mind that most restaurants will close fairly early in the evening with most of the town going to sleep by 9pm. Additionally, Darjeeling is famous around the world for its teas, which are very aromatic and have a delicate taste.
Transportation
The nearest airport is 96 kilometers from Darjeeling, located near the city of Siliguri and is called Bagdogra Airport. It is about 2.5 hours by road from Darjeeling, 2 hours by air from Delhi, and 50 minutes by air from Kolkata. Air India and Jet Airways both operate flights from Delhi, Guwahati, and Kolkata. Other airlines include Spice Jet, Indigo, and Go Air. From the airport to Darjeeling, the most popular modes of transport include taxi and shared jeep. A regular bus service from Silguri to Darjeeling also runs - however, the journey is much slower.
By train, the nearest station is New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri. It connects the city to most other parts of the country including Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, and Kochi. From this station, the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway completes the journey to Darjeeling.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.