Be in Darjeeling to Celebrate Christmas This Time

How does it feel to celebrate Christmas in Victorian style? Definitely awesome! Do not think much about your next destination for the occasion and just set off to Darjeeling. This charming hill station is just the right place to be when you want to be in the olden era. The famed Planters’ Club, the gabled bungalows, and the delightful old cafés celebrate Christmas in their own way, and you will fall in love with this place all over again even if you have been here already.

The town is all decked up

Any festival feels incomplete if the surroundings are not glittering with lights and embellishments. At this time of the year, it feels incredible to see mistletoes in the hills blooming all over the trees. Every shop and house dons the look of Christmas festivities. Shopping for the beautiful things like the north stars, Christmas trees, and Santa dresses and caps is one fantastic thing to do. The hotels and restaurants are prepared to serve goose and stuffed turkeys. Their glowing and warm fireplaces are also there to keep you warm. You must not miss visiting the Mall Road as well to admire the tall Christmas tree as well.

The nativity plays and carols

Darjeeling has a wide range of cultural celebrations, and nativity plays during Christmas. Visit St. Andrews Church to spend your Christmas day well with singing Christmas carols and hymns. Attend the service at the church and spend time with your friends and family. You can find the Christian community singing carols at the famed promenade of the town where the local bands and Chowrasta host open-air recitals and performances. Adjacent to the church, the Kalimpong town arranges the Carol Festival for several days in association with various churches and organizations.

Participate in the old traditions

Since 1939, the Windamere hotel in Darjeeling has been celebrating the festival in the same manner. Even today, you can find old food choices such as Planter’s pink gin, cheese and onion pie, and roly-poly pudding. All these cuisines are a pure delight for the locals as well as travelers. The local folks of Darjeeling call the celebrations as the "good old house party straight from the ancient boarding house era of the Raj." To add more spice to the ceremonies, the hotel brings down famous entertainers and performers from the celebrated West End Theatre District of London. At the hotel, the traditional Christmas menu includes plum puddings, roasted chicken and lamb with brandy mush, and sausages and ham.

Bakeries

Darjeeling is famous for their bakeries as well where you can find the plum cakes, pies, puddings, and a vast variety of other fripperies. The Glenary’s is the most popular bakery in town where you will be mesmerized by the fragrance of fresh muffins and cakes. If you come here in the evening, you can have the Christmas breakfast including burgers, tarts, sandwiches, pies, cakes, and pastries, all with the combination of the famed Darjeeling tea. You can sit on the open terrace in the quaint air of Darjeeling and enjoy your meal.

Spread in decorations over a sharp mountain ridge enveloped by emerald colored green plantations of tea, Darjeeling is towered by the imposing Khangchendzonga peak. The gorgeous tea gardens spread on the slopes of undulating hills comprise trees like the orchids, rhododendrons, and pines. The Himalayan toy train finds its way through the towering mountains that options like sightseeing tours, shopping, food, and a lot more.

Darjeeling, being one of the most popular and majestic hill stations in India, has a lot of options of things to do and places to visit. You can rent a car from the locals, or if you come from Kolkata, you can find many options for the same. Come here during Christmas days and see the grand celebrations around you in the Victorian manner.