Umbrella Tops and Cheesecake Stops: Day 1 in Darjeeling’s Embrace

-Sneha Khanwelkar, Writer and Adventra User.

Our long drive from the hot plains in Siliguri to the hills in Darjeeling was interspersed with lots of chatter. One of the gentlemen knew a lot about the various shrubs, tea gardens, and trees that we passed by during the drive.

Fog started gathering on the hills. The windshield became opaque. The young driver was adept at driving through the fog. The fog became thicker as we wound up the ghats.

Suddenly, the car stopped and the driver said this is a view point. You can click photos here. We were at the epic Gidda Pahar View Point. We saw a flight of steps leading to a cute umbrella top. We started clicking photos at each step! At the top we clicked group photos. We admired the dense fog in its entire beauty.

We came down and I noticed costumes on the side and enquired about it. A quiet girl at the stall told me that they are traditional Nepali costumes for a bride. I wanted to wear one. For a meagre amount she dressed me up and said you have to click your own photos. I looked at one of my group member and he knew what he had to do. He happily clicked away giving good suggestions.

The break/stop rejuvenated us, and we excitedly continued our drive

Exploring Mall Road in Darjeeling

After checking into our hotel and refreshing ourselves my tour manager, and I decided to explore the famous Mall Road. The road, situated on a higher level of the ghats, offered a unique experience. As we strolled along the winding path, the lights and bustling street captivated our attention. The lane was lined with a diverse range of stores on both sides, and we navigated through the crowd with care

At the end of the road, we came across a small fountain structure and paused to take in the surroundings. We clicked a few photos, and I was struck by the fact that this point was a junction where four roads merged. We then took another road that opened up into a vast plateau area, offering a welcome respite from the narrow, crowded roads.

As the evening wore on, we walked down to the renowned Glenary's Bakery. The entrance was bustling with people taking photos, and we joined in, capturing some memorable moments. Inside the bakery, the aroma of freshly baked cakes filled the air, and we were greeted by a crowd of people enjoying snacks. We met a few fellow travellers from our group and joined them, savouring cheesecake, puffs, and black coffee while sharing stories of our travels.

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