Kurseong, Mirik & the tea valleys · Shoestring trip

Kurseong: toy train, Netaji and tea

A two-night long weekend in Kurseong on shared jeeps and a homestay. See Netaji's house at Giddapahar and Eagle's Crag, walk the bazaar where the toy train runs down the street, and spend a morning at Makaibari tea estate. From about ₹5,500 per person.

Fare₹5,500 Nights2 Per day₹1,850 Highest2,000m PaceBalanced

Photo: Mayukh Ghose · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Kurseong · 2N

Kurseong is the easiest hill town to reach from Siliguri, and the cheapest to enjoy. This trip keeps you in one place for two nights, which saves money and time on the road, and gives you two full mornings: one for the town's history, one for its tea.

You travel up and down by shared jeep, sleep in a family homestay with dinner and breakfast, and walk most of the sights. The only car you hire is a short one up to Giddapahar if you do not want to walk. If the toy train is running between Kurseong and Darjeeling, we show you how to add a short ride.

Why this trip

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's house at Giddapahar
Sunrise from Eagle's Crag
The toy train in Kurseong bazaar
Makaibari tea estate and its 1859 factory
Momos and milk tea by the station

Day by day

NJP railway station or Bagdogra airport to NJP railway station or Bagdogra airport · Shared jeeps

Day01

Siliguri to Kurseong by shared jeep

Kurseong≈ 35–50 km · 1.5–2 h by shared jeepDinner

Reach NJP or Bagdogra and go to the Hill Cart Road jeep stands in Siliguri. Take a shared jeep to Kurseong, usually via Rohini road, arriving by lunchtime. Check into your homestay, eat, and walk down to the bazaar in the afternoon. Ask at the station whether a train is due and stand back on the road edge to watch it squeeze between the shops. End the day with momos and tea near the jeep stand; most stalls close by 8 pm.

Spend today: ₹200 jeep seat + ₹150 lunch + ₹150 snacks

Day02

Eagle's Crag, Giddapahar and Makaibari

KurseongLocal car ₹400–600 shared, or walkBreakfast, Dinner

Climb Eagle's Crag at dawn for the view over the plains and the tea gardens. After breakfast, go up to Giddapahar, by local car or on foot in about an hour, to see the house where Subhas Chandra Bose was held under house arrest in 1936. Check the museum's opening days first. After lunch, take a local jeep down the Pankhabari road to Makaibari, walk the edge of the garden and, if the factory is working, ask about a short visit and a tasting.

Spend today: ₹300 car share + ₹150 lunch + ₹200–300 tasting

Day03

Back to Siliguri

≈ 35–50 km · 1.5–2 h by shared jeepBreakfast

Have an early breakfast and take a morning jeep back to Siliguri. If you have time and the train is running, ride the toy train a short way first, or take the slower Hill Cart Road down past Tindharia and the Pagla Jhora landslide stretch. Leave a buffer of at least three hours before an evening train or flight, as traffic around Siliguri can be slow.

Spend today: ₹200 jeep seat + ₹150 lunch

Included

Shared jeep seats between NJP/Siliguri and the hills
Homestay or budget rooms on twin sharing
Dinner and breakfast at homestays
Our day-by-day plan with fares and contacts

Not included

Flights and trains to NJP or Bagdogra
Lunches unless stated
Toy train tickets unless stated
Tips, porters and personal shopping
Anything not listed under includes

Three ways to spend less

Take Rohini road jeeps both ways; they are cheaper in time and the fare is the same.
Walk to Eagle's Crag and down from Giddapahar instead of hiring a car for both.
Eat in the bazaar near the station, where a full plate of momos costs ₹60–120.

Good to know

Toy train services change with the season and landslide repairs; check current status before you travel.
The Netaji Museum closes on some days; check hours first.
Kurseong nights fall to about 5 °C in winter; bring a warm layer.

The route

Where the trip goes

1Kurseong 2 nights

Drawn by Darjeeling Himalayas from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

Where you sleep

Stays on this trip

government lodgeKurseong Kurseong Tourist Lodge (WBTDC) ₹2,500–4,500 a room with breakfast (indicative)

Questions people ask

Questions about this trip

Is the price per person?

Yes. ₹5,500 is per person on twin sharing for Indian nationals, from NJP or Bagdogra and back, as an indicative 2025–26 figure. Solo travellers pay more for rooms and cars; groups of four sharing a car pay less. We round to the nearest ₹500.

Can we start from Bagdogra airport instead of NJP?

Yes. Bagdogra is about 30 minutes from Siliguri and a little further from NJP. Shared autos and taxis link the airport to the Siliguri jeep stands. With a reserved car, the fare from Bagdogra is about the same as from NJP.

Can we change the number of nights?

Yes. Add a night where you want more time, usually in the village stops, or drop one on a tight schedule. Keep at least two nights in any place where you want a clear dawn view, since weather can spoil one morning.

Is two nights enough for Kurseong?

Yes for the main sights: Eagle's Crag, Netaji's house, the toy train bazaar and Makaibari. You will be busy but not rushed. Add a third night for the Dow Hill forest walk to Chimney or a day trip to Sittong.

Can I ride the toy train on this trip?

If services are running between Kurseong and Darjeeling or on the lower line, you can add a short ride. Book on IRCTC in advance, as seats are limited, and check current status before you travel. The trip works without the train too.

Is this trip suitable for solo travellers?

Yes. Shared jeeps are the normal way to travel, homestays take single guests, and Kurseong is a calm town. Expect to pay a little more for a single room, around ₹1,800–2,200 with meals instead of ₹1,500 per person.

Which homestay do you suggest in Kurseong?

Homestays change often, so we suggest checking recent reviews for family homestays on Hill Cart Road or towards Dow Hill. If you want a known government option, the WBTDC Kurseong Tourist Lodge costs more but is reliable.

What should I pack for Kurseong?

Layers: a fleece or warm jacket for evenings, a light rain jacket, good walking shoes for the steep lanes, a torch for early mornings and a reusable water bottle. Carry some cash for jeeps and stalls.

Can I do this trip in the monsoon?

You can, with care. From late June to August expect heavy rain, landslides on the Hill Cart Road and few views. Keep an extra day in hand before your train or flight and check road status each morning.

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