The short answer
Darjeeling has no airport or broad-gauge station of its own. Everyone comes up from the plains around Siliguri, about 65–70 km and 2,000 m below. The two gateways are New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station and Bagdogra airport, about 12–14 km from Siliguri on opposite sides of the city. From either, the choice is the same: a shared jeep seat, a reserved car, or, if it is running the full line, the toy train.
For most people we suggest the shared jeep up and a reserved car down, or a reserved car both ways if you are four with luggage. Fares and services change, and roads close after heavy rain, so check current status before you travel.
Where you land: NJP, Bagdogra or Siliguri
NJP is the main railhead for the hills. Overnight trains from Kolkata such as the Darjeeling Mail and Padatik Express arrive in the early morning, which suits the jeep schedule well. A daytime Vande Bharat from Howrah also runs; check its current timing, because an afternoon arrival leaves little margin for the last shared jeeps, and long-distance trains from Delhi, Guwahati and elsewhere stop here too. Outside the station you will find shared jeeps, reserved cars, taxis and shared autos to Siliguri town.
Bagdogra airport has flights from Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other cities. It is about 90 km from Darjeeling. There is a prepaid taxi counter inside the terminal and reserved cars wait outside, but shared jeeps do not leave from the airport. To ride a shared jeep, take a taxi or auto into Siliguri first.
In Siliguri itself, shared jeeps for Darjeeling leave from the stands along Hill Cart Road near the Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus. State buses also run from the terminus a few times a day; they are slower than jeeps but useful if jeeps are full.
Shared jeep or reserved car
Shared jeeps are Sumos, Boleros and similar vehicles that seat about ten. They leave when full, from early morning until around mid-afternoon, and cost ₹250–350 a seat. Bags go on the roof under a tarpaulin, so pack a small day bag for the ride. The front seat beside the driver costs the same in most cases and is the most comfortable; ask for it at the counter. In Darjeeling, jeeps arrive at and leave from the motor stand at Chowk Bazaar, below the market.
A reserved car costs ₹3,000–4,000 for a small car and ₹3,500–5,000 for an SUV from NJP or Bagdogra, and drops you at your hotel. It makes sense for families, for four people sharing, for late arrivals after the jeeps stop, and for the way down when you have a train to catch. Agree the price, the route and any stops before you set off.
If you are prone to motion sickness, the climb above Sukna has hundreds of bends. Eat lightly before you leave, sit in front or by a window, and ask the driver to stop for a few minutes at Kurseong. Drivers are used to it and do not mind.
A local planner turns it into a route for your dates.
Fares and times at a glance
Indicative fares for 2025–26. Peak weeks cost more, especially for reserved cars, and toy train fares are revised from time to time; check current status before you travel.
| Option | Fare | Time to Darjeeling | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared jeep from NJP or Siliguri | ₹250–350 a seat | 3–3.5 h | Solo, couples, light bags |
| Reserved small car from NJP | ₹3,000–4,000 a car | About 3 h | Families, groups of four |
| Reserved SUV from NJP or Bagdogra | ₹3,500–5,000 a car | 3–3.5 h | Big groups, heavy luggage |
| Taxi Bagdogra to Siliguri jeep stand | Roughly ₹400–600 | 30–40 min | Catching a shared jeep |
| Shared auto or toto NJP to Siliguri | ₹20–40 a seat | 20–30 min | Reaching the bus terminus |
| Toy train NJP to Darjeeling, first class | ₹1,400–1,700 | 7–8 h | Rail lovers with a full day |
Three roads up the hill
Drivers choose the road by traffic, landslides and repair work on the day, so you may go up one way and down another. Whichever road you take, Kurseong is the natural halfway stop for tea and a stretch, and the last climb from Sonada to Ghoom often runs in cloud. In the monsoon, landslides close stretches for hours or days; check current status before you travel.
- Hill Cart Road (NH110): the old road through Sukna, Rongtong, Tindharia, Kurseong, Sonada and Ghoom, running beside the toy train track for much of the way. The most interesting ride, with many tight bends and crossings with the railway.
- Rohini Road: climbs from the plains near Sukna through tea gardens and joins the Hill Cart Road near Kurseong. Wider and quicker, and the route most jeeps take when it is open.
- Pankhabari Road: the old, steep, narrow road up past the Makaibari side to Kurseong. Shortest on the map but the hardest drive; used mainly by locals and when other roads are blocked.
- Via Mirik: a longer alternative through Dudhia, Mirik and Sukhia Pokhari to Ghoom, used when the Kurseong side is closed, adding an hour or more.
The toy train option
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway runs 88 km from NJP to Darjeeling on a 610 mm gauge, climbing through Sukna, Rongtong, Tindharia, Kurseong and Ghum, the highest station at 2,258 m. When the full service runs it takes seven to eight hours, which is slow but is the point. It is a UNESCO World Heritage line, and the hours between Tindharia and Kurseong, with loops and reverses above the tea gardens, are the best part.
The through service from NJP has been suspended and restored more than once in recent years because of landslides and track work, while the short Darjeeling–Ghoom joyrides usually keep running. Book on IRCTC and check current status before you travel. If the full line is not running, a good compromise is a jeep up and a joyride once you arrive.
Seats sell out in October, at Christmas and in May, so book as soon as your dates are fixed. Carry water and snacks, since there are few food stops aboard, and sit on the valley side for the views.
Time to allow on the way up
On paper it is three hours. In practice we plan for four from NJP and four and a half from Bagdogra, counting the wait for a jeep to fill, a tea stop at Kurseong and slow traffic through Ghoom. If your train reaches NJP at 6 or 7 am, you will be in Darjeeling for a late lunch. If your flight lands after 2 pm, a shared jeep may not be practical; book a reserved car or stay a night in Siliguri.
Avoid driving the upper road after dark when you can. The road is lit in towns but not on the long bends between them, and fog in the evening is common from June to September. If you land or arrive late, a clean night in Siliguri near the bus terminus and an early jeep the next morning is cheaper and safer than a night drive.
Return-day traffic and catching your train
The way down is where trips go wrong. Everyone leaves Darjeeling in the morning, and there are slow points at Ghoom, Kurseong and Sukna, then city traffic into Siliguri. During Durga Puja, Christmas to New Year and long weekends, queues of jeeps can add an hour or two.
Our rule is simple: leave Darjeeling at least five to six hours before a train from NJP or a flight from Bagdogra, and six to seven in peak weeks. Book the first shared jeep down at the Chowk Bazaar counter the day before, or arrange a reserved car for 7 or 8 am. For an evening train, a relaxed breakfast is fine; for a midday flight, stay the last night in Siliguri instead.
Questions people ask
Good to know
How far is Darjeeling from NJP?
About 70 km by road, which takes 3–3.5 hours by shared jeep or reserved car in normal traffic. By the toy train the line is 88 km and the full journey takes seven to eight hours when it runs. Plan for four hours door to door by road, including the wait for a jeep to fill and a tea stop.
How do I get from Bagdogra airport to Darjeeling?
Take a reserved car from the prepaid counter or the drivers outside, about ₹3,000–4,000 for a small car and 3.5–4 hours for the roughly 90 km. On a budget, take a taxi into Siliguri, roughly ₹400–600, and ride a shared jeep from the Hill Cart Road stands for ₹250–350 a seat. Fares are indicative; check current status before you travel.
What time do shared jeeps leave for Darjeeling?
Shared jeeps leave NJP and Siliguri from early morning, often from about 6 am, and depart whenever they fill. The last ones usually go by mid-afternoon, around 3 to 4 pm, and fewer run later. Arrive before noon for the best choice of seats and less waiting. Timings change with season and demand, so check current status before you travel.
Is the toy train running from NJP to Darjeeling?
It depends on the year and season. The full NJP to Darjeeling service has been suspended and restored several times in recent years because of landslides and track repairs, while the short Darjeeling to Ghoom joyrides usually keep running. Look up current trains on IRCTC and check current status before you travel. Book early in October and May.
Can I get a shared jeep directly from Bagdogra airport?
Usually not. Shared jeeps to Darjeeling start from NJP station and the stands on Hill Cart Road in Siliguri, not from the airport. From Bagdogra, take a taxi or auto into Siliguri, about 30–40 minutes, and pick up a jeep there. If you land late in the afternoon, a reserved car is the practical choice.
Which road to Darjeeling is better, Rohini or Hill Cart Road?
Rohini Road is usually quicker and wider, and most jeeps use it when it is open. Hill Cart Road through Tindharia and Kurseong is slower but more interesting, running beside the toy train track. Drivers choose on the day according to traffic, landslides and repairs, so it is rarely your decision. Check current status before you travel in the monsoon.
How early should I leave Darjeeling to catch a flight at Bagdogra?
Leave at least five to six hours before departure, and six to seven hours in peak weeks such as Durga Puja and Christmas to New Year. Morning traffic out of Darjeeling, slow points at Ghoom, Kurseong and Sukna, and Siliguri city traffic all add up. For a midday flight, spend the last night in Siliguri instead.
Is there a bus from Siliguri to Darjeeling?
Yes. State buses run a few times a day from the Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus in Siliguri. They are slower than shared jeeps and less frequent, but they are a fallback when jeeps are full. Most travellers take the jeep because it leaves more often. Check timings at the terminus and current status before you travel.
Can I travel to Darjeeling via Kurseong or Mirik?
Yes. Kurseong lies on the main road, so a stop for tea and the Kurseong station is easy on a reserved car. The Mirik route through Dudhia, Mirik lake and Sukhia Pokhari to Ghoom is longer by an hour or more but makes a good one-way variation. Shared jeeps also run Siliguri to Mirik and Mirik to Darjeeling.