Siliguri to Darjeeling: taxi fare, shared jeep, distance and the best road

Shared jeep from NJP or Siliguri

This is how most locals go up the hill. The jeeps are usually Sumos or Boleros that carry about ten people, and they leave from two places:

• outside NJP railway station, near the main exit
• next to the Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus on Hill Cart Road in Siliguri

A seat costs a few hundred rupees. Older guides quote ₹275 to ₹300, and it has crept up since, with a bump during the Puja rush. The jeep leaves when every seat is full, so go in the morning. After about 2 or 3 pm, departures thin out and you can wait a long time. If you have big bags, or you get carsick and want the front seat, you can pay for an extra seat.

There is no regular shared jeep from Bagdogra airport. Most people take a taxi to Siliguri (around half an hour) and pick up a jeep there.

The state buses from the Tenzing Norgay terminus are the cheapest option, at a little over ₹100. They are also the slowest, at close to four hours, and they only run in the daytime.

Bagdogra airport to Darjeeling

From the airport it is about 70 km, roughly three hours. You will find a prepaid taxi counter in the arrivals area and plenty of drivers waiting outside. Most of them go via Rohini Road to Kurseong, which skips Siliguri's traffic.

If your flight lands in the afternoon, try to be on the road by 3 pm. The hill road is far nicer in daylight, and in winter the fog comes in early.

Which road should you take?

Hill Cart Road (NH110)

This is the old road through Sukna, Tindharia and Kurseong. The toy train tracks run alongside it for long stretches, and it is the prettiest way up. It also goes through every town on the way, so it is slow.

Rohini Road

It branches off near Simulbari, climbs hard and joins the main road below Kurseong. It is usually the fastest from Siliguri or Bagdogra, which is why most taxi drivers pick it.

Pankhabari Road

Steep, narrow and full of hairpins. Drivers use it mainly when the other two are blocked by a landslide or repair work.

Via Mirik

About an hour longer, but you get Mirik Lake, tea gardens and orange orchards on the way. If you are not in a hurry, it is the nicest way to arrive. Our Darjeeling, Mirik and Tiger Hill tour goes up this way.

What about the toy train?

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway runs from NJP all the way to Darjeeling: about 88 km, seven to eight hours. It is lovely for an hour and slow for the other six. Most people we know drive up and ride the short joy ride between Darjeeling and Ghoom instead, which loops around Batasia. Book on IRCTC, and book early, because joy rides sell out in October and May.

A few tips from us

• Leave early. Before 9 am the roads are clear and the light on the tea gardens is better.
• Pack a warm layer even in May. Darjeeling is roughly ten degrees colder than Siliguri, and evenings get cold quickly.
• The last hour is all bends. Eat something light before you set off and ask for the front seat if you get queasy.
• In the monsoon, July to September, the main road sometimes shuts for a few hours. Drivers switch to Rohini or Pankhabari Road, which adds time but gets you there.
• Doing Kalimpong as well? It is two to two and a half hours from Darjeeling, so go up to one town and come down from the other.

Want us to sort out the car?

Our Darjeeling tour package starts with a pickup at Bagdogra airport or NJP station and includes the car, hotel and sightseeing. If you only need the drop, send us your date, pickup point and number of bags on WhatsApp and we will send you a fixed price. Also worth a look: the Darjeeling and Kalimpong tour, our Darjeeling destination guide and the longer Darjeeling travel guide.