Darjeeling City Map Poster

About Darjeeling

The name "Darjeeling" is derived from the Tibetan words "darcha" ("door") and "ling" ("place"), which literally mean 'Gateway to the Hills'. The history of Darjeeling has been intertwined with that of Sikkim, Nepal, British India and Bhutan. Until 1835, Darjeeling was a hamlet in the kingdom of Sikkim with few hundred inhabitants. In 1780 it became part of East India Company-controlled Bengal as per Anglo-Bengal treaties signed between Lord Cornwallis (Governor General) and Rajeshwar Singha (King). From 1793 onwards there began settlers from northern Bengali districts migrated into lands granted by King Chogyal to retired soldiers near present day Siliguri area in North Bengal region including Darjeeling district; they were followed by migrants who came for trade purposes from other parts such as Kolkata/Calcutta.