Siliguri to Darjeeling
Your options
Ways to make the trip
3–3.5 hours
₹250–350 a seat · Shared jeeps and Sumos leave from the stand near Siliguri's Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus on Hill Cart Road, and a few from NJP station, from about 6.30 am until mid-afternoon. They go when full, usually ten passengers. Front seats cost a little more. Your bag rides on the roof under a tarpaulin.
3 hours
₹2,800–3,800 per car · Hire a whole car (Alto, Wagon R, Sumo or Innova) from the prepaid counters at NJP or Bagdogra or from the Siliguri stands. Bigger cars cost more. Agree the route, stops and price before you leave. This is the best option for families, late arrivals or anyone with heavy luggage.
7–8 hours
₹1,500–1,800 first class (indicative) · The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway runs a diesel train from NJP to Darjeeling, 88 km, usually once a day in the morning. It climbs through Sukna, Rangtong, Tindharia, Kurseong and Ghum. Book on IRCTC. Services are sometimes cut back in the monsoon after landslides. Check current status before you travel.
3.5–4 hours
₹150–200 a seat · State buses run from the Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus up the Hill Cart Road via Kurseong. They are slower and less frequent than jeeps but cheap, and usually leave in the morning. Ask at the terminus counter for the day's timings.
Worth a stop
- Kurseong town and station
- Ghum and Batasia Loop
- Rohini tea gardens
- Sukna forest edge
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Which road do jeeps take from Siliguri to Darjeeling?
Most jeeps and cars now take the Rohini road from Sukna up to Kurseong and then follow the Hill Cart Road through Tung, Sonada and Ghum to Darjeeling. The older Hill Cart Road via Tindharia runs beside the toy train line but has been damaged by landslides in some years. A third road goes via Mirik and is longer but scenic.
Is the toy train a practical way to reach Darjeeling?
For most people, no. At 7–8 hours for 88 km it is slow, and seats are limited. It is a wonderful journey for rail lovers with a full day to spare. Everyone else should drive up in three hours and take the two-hour joy ride from Darjeeling to Ghum and back, which covers the Batasia Loop and the Ghum museum.
Where is the Darjeeling jeep stand in Siliguri?
Shared jeeps for Darjeeling leave from the stand beside the Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus on Hill Cart Road, near Siliguri Junction. A smaller number leave from outside NJP station. Ask for the Darjeeling line, buy your seat from the counter or driver, and note the jeep number. Morning departures fill faster, especially in October and May.
How much is a taxi from NJP or Bagdogra to Darjeeling?
Expect around ₹2,800–3,800 for a small or mid-sized car and ₹4,000–5,000 for an Innova, one way. Prepaid counters at NJP and Bagdogra post fixed fares, which are usually fair. Prices rise in peak season and after dark. These fares are indicative for 2025–26; check current rates on arrival and always agree the price before loading bags.