🇮🇳 Darjiling, India
Backpacker's Den Hostel
📍 Dhupidara, Behind High Secondary. School, Darjiling, 737101
Your stay — Backpacker's Den Hostel
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The Property — Backpacker's Den Hostel
Approach up a steep Darjiling lane and you’ll find a cheerful yellow building with dorm windows offering snatched views of the Kanchenjunga range. The lobby is cramped, with a noticeboard covered in trekking maps and train times, and the air smells of tea and damp hiking boots. It’s aimed squarely at the backpacker who wants a clean bed, hot water, and a social area to compare notes with other travellers — not pampering or quiet.
Chronicles of Darjiling
Darjiling was officially founded in 1835 when the British East India Company leased the area from the kingdom of Sikkim to build a sanatorium and a hill station. The town grew around tea plantations established in the 1840s, and the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway – a UNESCO World Heritage site – arrived in 1881 to connect the hills with the plains. Architecturally, the town retains a British-era jumble of wooden cottages, tin-roofed bungalows, and crumbling colonial hotels stacked up steep switchback roads. Today, it’s a working hill town of roughly 130,000 people, still a base for trekkers and tea tourists, but under pressure from overtourism and creaking infrastructure.
Best Time to Visit
Full Darjiling guide →Best months
October and November: clear skies, crisp air, stable mountain views, and manageable crowds after the monsoon.
Peak / festival surge
April–May and October–November are peak months, driven by school holidays and the best visibility of Kanchenjunga. During Christmas–New Year and March–April (Easter/spring break), prices for dorms and private rooms can double from the off-peak rate of ₹800 to ₹1,500. The Darjeeling Tea & Tourism Festival (late May/early June) also boosts occupancy.
Budget shoulder season
December and February offer notable discounts (30–40% off high-season rates), fewer tourists, and still-decent weather, though cloud cover and occasional snow flurries can obscure the peaks for a day or two.
Weather & packing
In early July you’re right in the monsoon: expect daily rain, thick cloud, and temperatures of 12–18°C. Pack waterproof trousers and a dry-bag for electronics; even the best umbrella is useless against sideways rain on the Mall.
Live City Briefing — Darjiling
- The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is currently running a reduced service (2 steam and 2 diesel trips daily) due to track repairs after a 2025 landslide near Ghoom; check timetables at Darjeeling station before booking.
- New plastic-bag ban in Darjeeling municipality (enforced since March 2026) means shopkeepers may refuse single-use bags; carry a cloth or jute bag for purchases.
- The town’s water supply remains intermittent in July – the hostel warns guests to fill their bottles when water is available and to expect occasional short-notice tanker deliveries.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Backpacker's Den Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Upper floors (2nd and 3rd) facing away from Dhupidara road. Less street noise and better views of the hills.
Rooms to avoid
Ground-floor rooms at the front, backing onto the school. School noise from morning assembly and sports periods; street dust from the busy road.
Best views
From upper rooms on the side opposite the school – likely looks toward the hills or valley, given Darjiling's topography.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3, especially rooms away from the stairwell and common areas.
🔊 Noise notes
The hostel is on a main road behind a high secondary school. Expect traffic rumble (taxis, buses) during 7-9am and 4-7pm. School bell and students during term time (peak 10am-3pm). Early-morning deliveries to nearby shops possible.
Insider tips
1. Request a room on the rear upper floor when booking – quieter and a chance of a view. 2. Bring earplugs: wood-frame buildings here creak, and sound carries between floors.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Backpacker's Den Hostel
Free Wi-Fi in common areas only (lobby and rooftop café); speed about 5 Mbps down; login via printed daily code
No lift – three-storey building with stairs only (no historic sections, just original layout)
One complimentary print copy of The Telegraph at reception; no digital newsstand
12:00 to 22:00 standard; early bag-drop allowed from 08:00; late check-out until 14:00 costs ₹200; after 14:00 charged half-night rate
Free luggage room open 08:00–22:00; no overnight storage
No step-free access – entrance has two steps and no ramp; no wheelchair-adapted rooms or toilets
No on-site parking – free street parking along Dhupidara road; nearest paid lot is Chowk Bazaar Car Park (₹50/night, 600 m downhill, vehicle recommended for steep walk back)
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no mandatory tourist tax for hostels in Darjeeling)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; ₹500 cash hold on arrival for key deposit and incidentals
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indian Rupee, INR
Most travellers exchange cash at local banks or authorised money changers in Darjeeling town; avoid the airport or tourist bureaux for poor rates.
Cards are accepted at mid-range and upmarket hotels and some larger stores, but most local shops, taxis, and small eateries expect cash.
Tipping is appreciated but not required; 10% is fine in restaurants (if no service charge), small change for taxis, and ₹100-200 for hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small black tea or coffee from a roadside stall costs around ₹10-20.
A thali meal at a basic eatery costs ₹80-150.
A main course of momos or noodles with a side at a local restaurant is ₹120-200.
The Chowrasta and Nehru Road area have plenty of stalls selling momos, kathi rolls, and others for ₹20-50 per item.
Local grocery shops (kirana stores) are everywhere; there is no big supermarket chain, but you'll find essentials at Rathnagiri or similar general stores on Laden La Road.
Affordable clothing is available at local markets like the Chowk Bazaar or street stalls near Mall Road, with t-shirts starting around ₹200.
The cheapest way around is walking; for longer trips, shared jeeps run along the main roads for ₹10-30 per ride. From Bagdogra Airport, the most budget option is a shared jeep to Darjeeling town for around ₹300-400.
Always use shared jeeps instead of private taxis; eat at local thali joints rather than tourist restaurants; buy tea directly from the tea gardens for bulk discounts.
Good to know — Darjiling
Type C/D/M · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ₹95.55 · INR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Darjiling, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Backpacker's Den Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Siliguri Junction Bus Stand → Rangpo Bazaar stop
💡 Get off at Rangpo Bazaar, then walk 5 minutes uphill to the lodge. Buses can be crowded; sit on the left side for valley views.
Bagdogra Airport (IXB) → Rangpo Tourist Lodge
💡 Arrange a shared taxi from the prepaid counter to save ₹500-800; the road via Sevoke has sharp bends, so ask for a driver familiar with the route.
Siliguri Junction → Rangpo Tourist Lodge
💡 Sumos leave when full – arrive early morning to wait less. Ask to be dropped at the lodge gate, not the main road, as the driveway is steep.
New Jalpaiguri Station (NJP) → Rangpo Railway Station
💡 Book the 'Joy Ride' ticket in advance (IRCTC). Rangpo station is a whistle-stop; the lodge is a 10-minute walk downhill after alighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Backpacker's Den Hostel?
Upper floors (2nd and 3rd) facing away from Dhupidara road. Less street noise and better views of the hills.
Which rooms should I avoid at Backpacker's Den Hostel?
Ground-floor rooms at the front, backing onto the school. School noise from morning assembly and sports periods; street dust from the busy road.
Is Backpacker's Den Hostel noisy?
The hostel is on a main road behind a high secondary school. Expect traffic rumble (taxis, buses) during 7-9am and 4-7pm. School bell and students during term time (peak 10am-3pm). Early-morning deliveries to nearby shops possible.
Which rooms have the best views at Backpacker's Den Hostel?
From upper rooms on the side opposite the school – likely looks toward the hills or valley, given Darjiling's topography.
What are insider tips for staying at Backpacker's Den Hostel?
1. Request a room on the rear upper floor when booking – quieter and a chance of a view. 2. Bring earplugs: wood-frame buildings here creak, and sound carries between floors.
What time is check-in at Backpacker's Den Hostel?
Check-in at Backpacker's Den Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Backpacker's Den Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in common areas only (lobby and rooftop café); speed about 5 Mbps down; login via printed daily code
Is there a city or tourist tax at Backpacker's Den Hostel?
None (no mandatory tourist tax for hostels in Darjeeling)
Where can I eat cheaply near Backpacker's Den Hostel?
A thali meal at a basic eatery costs ₹80-150.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Backpacker's Den Hostel?
The cheapest way around is walking; for longer trips, shared jeeps run along the main roads for ₹10-30 per ride. From Bagdogra Airport, the most budget option is a shared jeep to Darjeeling town for around ₹300-400.
When is the best time to visit Darjiling?
October and November: clear skies, crisp air, stable mountain views, and manageable crowds after the monsoon.
Top Attractions in Darjiling
💡 Go just before sunrise to see the monks lighting butter lamps at the Mahakal temple. The crowd from Chowrasta hasn't arrived yet.
💡 Walk to the far end past the Gandhi statue for a quieter view of the valley. Avoid the pony ride touts near the entrance.
💡 The orchid house is best visited between March and May. Most tourists skip the back section with Himalayan rhododendrons.
💡 Visit early at 8:30 AM when the animals are fed and active. The red panda enclosure has a hidden viewing spot behind the warden's hut.
💡 The room with Tenzing Norgay's personal artefacts is easy to miss—ask the guard. Plan 45 minutes; it's detailed but not huge.