Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Zoo

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India /West Bengal /Darjeeling /Darjeeling

Sight Address : Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Zoo is 35, R. N. Sinha Road, Darjeeling, India Edit

Detail InformationEdit

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Zoo and the two museums, Everest Museum and Mountaineering Museum; are run by the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. Located adjacent to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Himalayan Zoo is a unique Zoo situated at an altitude of 2133.5 meters against the glorious background of Kanchenjunga. This is the only zoo in the world to breed Tibetan wolf in captivity and the first south Asian zoo to breed snow leopard. The zoo specializes in breeding animals adapted to alpine conditions, and has successfully bred the Snow leopard, the critically endangered Himalayan wolf and Red Panda while in captivity. The high altitude wild life park is home to the Siberian Tiger, Himalayan Black Bear, gorals, deer, panther, llama and a variety of endangered birds Spread over an area of 44 hectares, the zoo attracts over three lakh visitors every year. The mighty Himalayas are every mountaineer’s ultimate dream. If you have the courage, the stamina and you want to try something different, you must check out the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) at Darjeeling. The HMI is one of the oldest mountaineering institutes of the country and has played a pivotal role in training mountaineers across the country.The institute is situated on the western spur of Birch Hill and has a commanding view of Darjeeling’s tea gardens as well as the snow clad peaks of the mighty Kanchenjunga.To give impetus to mountaineering as an organized sport in India and commemorate Norgay and Hillary’s historic conquest of the Everest, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) was founded in Darjeeling with the personal initiative of Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. The HMI is renowned for its competent and star-studded faculty that included luminaries like Tenzing Norgay and winners of the nation’s highest adventure award winners. The Institute offers courses at highly subsidized rates along with excellent training and boarding facilities. Courses range from the basics to advance techniques of mountaineering.The Institute has a good collection of historically significant photographs including some great mountaineering films, which are a treat to watch. The mountaineering museum is the primary Arrraction to visitors here. The adventurous will love the international standard outdoor artificial climbing wall that has a pavilion for spectators.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Zoo

HistoryEdit

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) was founded in Darjeeling with the personal initiative of Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. Darjeeling has all the natural creations that make it a like a paradise. East India has been gifted with this town and people have always thanked that this region is still a part of India. Thousands of visitors come here so that they can witness the magnificent sunrise that happens on famous Tiger Hills. Several groups like to meditate in the presence of sun. The Sightseeing tours in Darjeeling are filled with joy and fun. The foreigners who have travelled in other parts of India as well find it hard to believe that India has so much structural and cultural diversity. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is a special institute for mountaineers so that they can get acquainted with the climatic conditions that they may face on the mountains and the complete journey. In the same campus, there is a fine museum that has many historical artefacts that were used or part of the journeys made by several peak climbers. There is a zoological park, which is favourite of the kids. The women love to go to botanical garden to witness some rare species of flowers and plants. LLOYD BOTANICAL GARDEN along with P. Naidu Himalayan Zoo are some famous hubs that attract the most attention.

Must SeeEdit

Popular

Visiting TimeEdit

9:00 A.M to 4:00 P.M (Wed-to-Fri open)

Closed OnEdit

Thursday

Best Season to VisitEdit

Winter (December to January)
Spring (February to March)
Summer (April to June)
Autumn (September to November)

Best Time To VisitEdit

Morning , Afternoon .

Time Required for SightseeingEdit

N.A.

Ticket Required : Yes Edit

Individual National Adult Rs. : Rs.40

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. : Rs.100

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Still Photo Camera Rs. : N.A.

Video Camera Rs. : N.A.

Guide Required : No Edit

Approximate cost: N.A.

Dress Code (If Any) : No Edit

Dress Require: N.A.

Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit

N.A. ; N.A. ; Ph/M – N.A. ; Food Serve – N.A.

How to ReachEdit

Taxi : Intra-city transport is mostly by hired taxis. The private taxis or cars are essentially of two types – small cars like Maruti Vans or Santros, and large ones like Scorpio, Tata Sumo etc. While you can always take a private taxi/car from outside the station or airport, negotiate the rates and move for Darjeeling, it is always advisable to take one from the Pre-Paid taxi counters located inside the station and the airport.

Bus : You will get buses only from the Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus located on Hill Cart Road in Siliguri. It is about 8kms from NJP station. The usual route is by Hill Cart Road and the travel duration is about 4 hours. Bus fare from Siliguri to Darjeeling Via Hill Cart Road: Rs. 50.00 per person Bus fare from Siliguri to Darjeeling Via Mongpu: Rs. 80.00 per person. The Mongpu route is taken in case the Hill Cart Road is closed. After getting down at the bus stop, you can take an auto-rickshaw, or hire a taxi to reach the destination within the city.

Train : New Jalpaiguri is the nearest major railway station. New Jalpaiguri is well connected to major Indian cities, especially Kolkata. The diesel engine hauled toy train leaves NJP station at 9am and takes about 7 hours 15 minutes to reach Darjeeling. You can also board the train from Siliguri Town Station or Siliguri Junction Station that are 5kms and 8kms away from NJP respectively. There are also toy trains available from Siliguri Junction and Darjeeling for joy rides. These are steam engine hauled toy trains. Check out Darjeeling Toy Train Services for current status and schedules.
NJP to Darjeeling (1st Class): Not operational since Sept 2010 due to track damage
NJP to Darjeeling (2nd Class): Not operational since Sept 2010 due to track damage
Darjeeling to Ghoom & back Joy Ride (First Class): Rs. 270.00 per person if booked through IRCTC website. This two hours ride includes entry fee for the DHR Museum at Ghoom.
Siliguri Junction Station to Tindharia & back Joy Ride: Rs. 496.00 per person. After getting down at the railway station, you can take an auto-rickshaw, bus or hire a taxi to reach the destination within the city.

Air : Darjeeling does not have an airstrip. The nearest airport is Bagdogra airport (IXB), near Siliguri, which is a 3-hour (approx. 90 km) drive from Darjeeling. Indian, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines are the three major carriers that fly to Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati from Bagdogra. Indian Airlines (2254230; Chowrasta) (10am-5.30pm Mon-Sat). Pineridge Travels (2253912; pineridge@mail.com; Nehru Rd; h10am-5pm Mon-Sat) For domestic and international flight tickets. After getting down at the airport, you can take an auto-rickshaw, bus or hire a taxi to reach the destination within the city.

Others : Toy train are also available for this destination.

Things to CarryEdit

Carry bottle of drinking water.Sun-screen, sun glasses, tissue-rolls, roll of duct-tape, extra batteries, torchlight, water, energy-bars are ‘must-carry’ along with a First-aid kit.
•Medicines to carry when you are travelling to a new place or when you’re away from home town (which must be approved and prescribed by your physician or medical practitioner) are:
• Painkillers
• Anti-inflammatory
• Wide-spectrum antibiotic
• Anti-diarrhea
• Anti-constipation pills
• Mild sleeping pills – just in case you feel very overwhelmed by the altitude and atmosphere because of which you are unable to sleep.