Heritage Tours Around Darjeeling
Heritage is not found only in monuments and museums. Across Darjeeling and Sikkim, it lives in old houses, mountain paths, trading routes, village traditions and the stories of people who have shaped the region. Walking offers a way to explore this history at a more thoughtful pace, connecting places with the people and events that give them meaning. Our heritage walks and hikes invite you to look beyond familiar landmarks and discover the layers of history woven into the Eastern Himalayas.
Hidden in the hills near Mangpu, the site of Surel Bungalow recalls a little-known chapter in the life of Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore stayed at the bungalow, which was later destroyed by fire in 1988 during the period of agitation in the hills. The walk from Mangpu to the former bungalow site follows a quieter side of the Darjeeling hills, where the landscape and its stories are as important as the destination. For those who wish to explore further, the hike can be extended towards Siksin village, adding a glimpse of everyday village life to this journey into the region’s past.
The name Silk Route evokes the historic trade that connected the Eastern Himalayas with Tibet, although the route was more closely associated with wool and other Himalayan goods than with silk. From Kalimpong, traders travelled through the hills of present-day Sikkim and crossed Jelep La into the Chumbi Valley on their way towards Gyantse and Lhasa. Today, the name is commonly used for a scenic circuit in East Sikkim, where mountain roads and high-altitude settlements offer glimpses of this trading past. Exploring the region brings together landscape, local history and the legacy of trans-Himalayan exchange. Access to some places along the modern circuit, including Zuluk and the areas beyond it, is restricted for foreign visitors, so routes must be planned according to current permit regulations.