One cannot go to Darjeeling and not see the sunrise from Tiger Hill. It is one of the most visited tourist spots in Darjeeling after all. It is the highest point in Darjeeling, located above Ghum; it offers a spectacular view of the town and the neighbouring hills. The main attraction of visiting Tiger Hill is the panoramic view of the sunrise that beautifies the colossal Mt. Khangchendzonga even more. Travellers from across the globe come to Darjeeling to see the first ray of light hit the surface of the snow-clad peak and wait patiently as the mountain changes colour: from deep pink to light, the rays descend from the top, slowly spreading across the mountain, changing to orange, then to the peaks original colour white.

But that’s not everything that Darjeeling’s splendid Tiger Hill offers. On a clear day, you can also see the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest, although it is just visible behind Khangchendzonga. Owing to the curvature of the Earth, Khangchendzonga looks slightly bigger than Everest from Darjeeling. The panoramic view of other peaks around Darjeeling like Janu, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kabru justify the riveting beauty and offers incredible photography opportunities. Just towards the south of Darjeeling, Kurseong is also visible along with four rivers streaming down, Teesta River, Balason River, Mechi River, and Mahananda River.

Khangchendzonga is fondly called, ‘The mountain that changes colour.’

Best Time to Visit Tiger Hill

If you are a newbie visiting Darjeeling and its most beloved tourist attraction, Tiger Hill, there are certain timings you need to consider. If you are visiting Tiger Hill during tourist seasons, it’s best to arrive early than intended. You can expect thousands of tourists and long queues; finding an ideal spot to watch the sunrise may be hard to find. If you wish to catch the sunlight break the dawn, best begin your travel from Darjeeling to Tiger Hill 1.5 hours before sunrise. It will take about 40 minutes to reach the parking area by car from Darjeeling and a further few minutes walk depending on the crowd.

Book Tiger Hill Package

People waiting patiently for the sun to rise from Tiger Hill, Darjeeling

Best Season to Visit Tiger Hill

You can expect thousands of tourists coming to Darjeeling every year, but the major seasons are between October to December, March and April. During the former months, Darjeeling is cold, and it also snows. During the winter season, you can see frozen snow in the mountains from Tiger Hill. Although leaving your warm bed during the wake of dawn in Darjeeling may seem torturous. But seeing the first ray of the sun touches the surface of Khangchendzonga is simply heart-lifting. March and April are slightly warmer as it is closer to the summer months. You may not see much snow on the mountains but it offers a panoramic view of Darjeeling, Kurseong, and various mountains and rivers.

Entry Fee of Tiger Hill

The entry fee of Tiger Hill in Darjeeling is INR 50

Timings

Timings for October to December: Begin your climb around 4:00 am. You may reach by 4:45 am

Timings for March and April: Begin your climb from 3:30 am, you may arrive around 4:15 am

*Stay updated with the sunrise timings before visiting Tiger Hill.

Local shared taxis in Darjeeling

How to Reach Tiger Hill

Darjeeling is the first place you will need to visit before visiting Tiger Hill. It is located at a distance of over 11 km from Darjeeling just above Ghum. The drive from Darjeeling to Tiger Hill will take approximately 40-45 minutes. If you are visiting to see the sunrise, it is best if you pre-book a taxi from your hotel. Besides this, you can also visit Tiger Hill via shared jeep. These run from the club side stand in Darjeeling. You can get shared jeeps from Nehru Road and also from Chowk Bazar.

The front-engine of the Toy Train waiting to connect with the passenger car, Darjeeling

Top 4 Attractions to Visit Near Tiger Hill

There are plenty of places to visit around Tiger Hill in Darjeeling. With the fact that Ghum is the closest place you’ll come across while visiting Tiger Hill, you can plan for a little excursion while returning to places around Darjeeling.

1. Ghum: Ghum is a Buddhist site with tons of monasteries. It is not far from the main city of Darjeeling. Samten Choeling Monastery is one of the best monasteries, which houses a huge Buddha statue. A 19th century Yiga Choeling Monastery is also a well-known Buddhist site.

2. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: Better known as Toy Train, it is one of the world heritage sites by UNESCO. You can either take a joy ride from Darjeeling itself or from Ghum Railway Station to Batasia Loop, which is another vantage point to see the stunning Khangchenzonga.

3. Ghum Museum: Another place to visit near Tiger Hill adjacent to Ghum Railway Station is Ghum Museum. You can explore the bygone day of the Himalayan Railway and Darjeeling through photographs and memorabilia. There is also the oldest railway engine, Baby Sivok, outside the museum.

*Museum admission is included in the joy-ride ticket. You can book from the Darjeeling Railway Station. The train halts for 30 minutes to allow passengers to explore the museum.

4. Kurseong: With an approx 1.5-hour drive from Darjeeling, Kurseong compels you to dwell amid nature. There is much to do here, but the things you must do is wander around the expansive tea gardens and watch the plains of West Bengal from the Eagle’s Crag viewpoint.