Darjeeling Zoo

Friday, 20 April

Last day so we thought we would take a tour with Sonam, our friendly Tibetan taxi driver, starting with the zoo.

The zoo was very well maintained and rather than cram it full of every species concentrated on those indigenous to the region.

Red Panda – never knew there was such a thing

Leopard – gave everyone a fright by rushing at the fence and snarling

Behind the very clear picture of a chain link fence you might spot a tiger

Black bear – seemed to very happy posing for the cameras

Attached to the zoo is the Himalayan Mountain Institute, an Indian Army owned climbing school. Although of Nepali origin, India considers Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, who with Edmund Hillary was the first to climb Everest, as Indian and to cement this claim the HMI was founded very soon after his ascent and he was made the Chief Instructor. He spent most of the rest of his life in Darjeeling, his ashes are buried here and his son runs a local tour operator. As one might expect of a tourist attraction owned by the Indian Army, it is was pretty dull. The museum could definitely do with a makeover.
Other stops on the tour, a tea garden (factory was closed so we couldn't see the tea being processed)

Happy Valley Tea Estate

and a Buddhist monastery

Leaving for Siliguri tomorrow morning.

Cheers
Roshan