Drajeeling Flora and fauna

The dense forests in and around Darjeeling are adorned with myriads of flora and fauna. The hill station houses four thousand species of flowering plants, three hundred varieties of ferns, which unclude tree fern and innumerable varieties of flowerless plants, mosses, algae, fungi, birches, the prize orchids, wild and cultivated. Some other famous residents are tress which include oaks, chestnuts, cherry, maple, birch and large trees. The upper hills areas and the alpine zone are decorated with the magnolias, buck-landias, pyrus and conifers such as Himalayan firs, English yews, Sikkim spruces, larch.

Home to plenty of fauna that include wild cats, tigers, leopards, civets, jackals, wild dogs, bears, otters, martons, weasels, squirrels(, porcupines, hares, sambhurs, chitals and the very rare pangolin.

Darjeeling is the chosen abode of six hundred varieties of lovely birds like fairy bluebirds, orioles, sunbirds, long-tailed broadbills, woodpeckers, rufous piculets, emerald cuckoos, three-toed kingfishers, long-legged falcons, emerald doves, along with a wide array of seasonal migratory birds.

The picturesque town having a strong colonial flavour is certainly not glamourous. There are no malls, no frilly restaurants not even plush houses still no one can match up to the natural beauty of this hill resort.

Stroll and take a look at the thick bushes of tea. Take a deep breath and enjoy the silence of nature surrounding it. Listen to the melody of cascading river. Indulge in a leisurely scenic walk while sipping the famous 'darjeeling tea', peep into the unique culture of the resort - a beautiful mixture of Tibet, Nepal and China. Ride on the 'toy train' and hold your breath when it passes through the awe-inspiring ranges with clouds floating over it.

Darjeeling is nature's gift to every troubled soul with a promise of an ever lasting bond!