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Naresh Jain's Random Thoughts on Software Development and Adventure Sports
     
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What can tourism do to a place!

Scenic beauty locked between four countries

Recently I had been to a hill station located between four countries. Yes you have guessed it right. I‘m talking about the world famous hill station Darjeeling. It lies in northern West Bengal, between Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan.

Comprising mainly of mountain terrain, Darjeeling stands at a height of 2134m (7053 ft) at the base of the almighty Himalayan mountain range. The name Darjeeling is a composition of ‘dorje‘ meaning ‘thunderbolt‘ and ‘ling‘ meaning ‘place‘ … ‘the Land of Thunderbolt‘. Darjeeling is often referred to as the ‘Queen of hill stations‘. There are countless things (both natural and man made) that make Darjeeling what it is today.

Being introduced to a place on such a high note, everyone would be eager to visit this heaven on earth. Darjeeling is a living example of how tourism can screw up a place. I was very disappointed with the zillion humans and the mess they created out of Darjeeling. Most of the beautiful forests have been replaced with tea plantations and houses. And if you think on the same lines, then certainly Darjeeling is not a place to visit. Instead try out this small hill station called Mirik, which is located mid way between Siliguri and Darjeeling.

Being promoted as a new hill station, Mirik is just a small valley in the Sing-lila hills region, about 50 Km from both Siliguri and Darjeeling; at an altitude of 1767 m. Weather is very pleasant here. The town is centered around the Sumendu Lake. The lake is the main attraction here and there is a 3.5 Km. path around it. You can go boating and house riding here. The dense forest of pine, cardamom and the orange will definitely captivate your heart. Another attraction of Mirik is Pashupatinagar market at the border of India and Nepal.

Accommodation in Mirik is good and cheap with hotels concentrated near the Mirik Lake. Jagjeet hotel is the most famous hotel in this place. Sadly this place does not have a school and most of the kids from this place have to go to Siliguri or Darjeeling in the search of good schools. There are no discos, pubs, theaters or any other means of entertainment in this place apart from Mother Nature.

While I might be changing a lot of people‘s mind, I hope you would take care of the place and make sure this does not become the next Darjeeling.


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