hostel · Darjeeling
Tenzing Norgay Youth Hostel
A government youth hostel on Dr Zakir Hussain Road, high above the Mall, with a 44-bed dormitory and a handful of rooms. Basic, cheap and well placed for students and backpackers, with some of the best free mountain views in town. Managed under the GTA.
The youth hostel is a large three-storey building on Dr Zakir Hussain Road, the ridge-top lane that has drawn backpackers to Darjeeling for decades. It is about a quarter of an hour on foot from the Mall, mostly uphill, and that height is the point: on clear mornings the Kanchenjunga range sits across the window. It is named after Tenzing Norgay, who made Darjeeling his home. Tenzing lived in the town for decades and trained climbers at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute from 1954.
It is built for students and low-budget travellers: a 44-bed dormitory, two double rooms and one larger room, with shared bathrooms and no frills. Families wanting private rooms will do better elsewhere. Bring a sleeping-bag liner and a warm layer in winter. The hostel is managed under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, and booking rules, membership requirements and tariffs can change, so check current status before you travel. Cheap cafés and small lodges line the same lane.
Why we suggest it
- Among the cheapest beds in Darjeeling
- Ridge-top position with mountain views on clear days
- Surrounded by the budget cafés and lodges of Zakir Hussain Road
We list rates as indicative ranges. We do not take commission from this property for being listed here. Check current status before you travel.
Questions people ask
Good to know
Does the Darjeeling youth hostel have private rooms?
Only a few. The Tenzing Norgay Youth Hostel is mainly a 44-bed dormitory, with two double rooms and one larger room. It suits students, school groups and solo backpackers. Couples and families who want privacy should book early for the doubles or choose a budget hotel near Clubside or a government lodge instead.
How far is the youth hostel from the Mall?
About 15 minutes on foot, mostly uphill along Dr Zakir Hussain Road. The climb is the price of the view: the hostel sits high on the ridge. Taxis can reach the road, but the lanes are narrow. Walking back after dinner in the dark is fine on the main lane; carry a torch.
Who runs the Tenzing Norgay Youth Hostel?
It is a government youth hostel, now managed under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). That means low fixed tariffs but also changing booking rules: at times beds have been bookable only in person or by phone. Check current status before you travel, and arrive early in the day in peak season.
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