Observatory Hill, Darjeeling Overview

Observatory Hill is a rising hill situated above Chowrasta Square, around 2 km from the Darjeeling Himalaya railway station, just above the Mall Road in the picturesque hill town of Darjeeling. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Darjeeling as it offers a panoramic view of the mountains along with the presence of various Hindu and Buddhist temples including Kanchenjunga Temple, Mahakal temple and Tibetian Memorial Shrine.

The tourist attraction is mainly visited by adventure seekers who want to enjoy a mesmerizing view of the mountains after trekking along with people having religious beliefs. It can take around 15 minutes for tourists to visit Observatory Hill from the Mall Road and in the narrow and steep uphill path, tourists have to go through a small cave which is revered by temples. The entire walk is filled with colourful flag and small yet noticeable shrines with the peaceful full sound of devotional belts. It is recommended for older people to take some rest on side benches while trekking to the tourist attraction as it can be extremely tiring.

Structures on Observatory Hill

Monastery: The Observatory Hill was built in 1765 by Lama Dorje Rinzing of the Bhutia Basti monastery, which is the oldest monastery in Darjeeling based on whom the city got its name. The monastery was devastated by the Gorkha invasion in 1815 and was rebuilt in 1861. It was again demolished by an earthquake in 1934 and currently have its existence to Raja of Sikkim.

Temple: There are various temples situated around the Observatory Hill with the ancient Mahakal temple located on the top of the hill, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There is also a small Siddhi Sai Baba temple located on the roadside and right next to it, another temple of Lord Hanuman can be seen.

Tourists centre: Apart from the Observatory Hill itself, the Mall Road and Chowrasta Square are two of the most popular tourist attractions in Darjeeling which are spread over the hill slopes at a height around 2,134 metres. The top of the hill lets the tourists see the astonishing Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world along with twelve other peaks, all of which are at an altitude of over 20,000 feet. Even with an increasing flow of tourists, the Mall and the Observatory Hill are the cleanest places in Darjeeling where they spend a peaceful time, take pictures of enchanting hills, ride ponies and collect souvenirs.

How To Reach Darjeeling Observatory Hill

The Observatory Hill is located behind Chowrasta Mall, encircled by the Mall Road which is about 100 yard of uphill walk. There are no vehicles or taxis which can take you to the top of the hill and the only way to visit the tourist attraction is by trekking. It generally takes about 15 minutes to reach the Darjeeling Observatory Hill along with the Mahakal temple.