Kurseong or Kharsang, which means the Land of White Orchids in lepcha language, is a beautiful dreamy hill-station situated almost mid-way between Siliguri and Darjeeling. The town is believed to have an eerie side to it as well, lending a mysterious angle to the picturesque place. Tourists flock to this place not only to enjoy the sheer beauty of the place but also to get a feel of the uncanny activities that are reportedly witnessed here.

Last time I was in Siliguri (December 2018), we planned for a day trip to Kurseong. It is located 47 Kms from Siliguri and takes roughly between 1.5 to 2 hours, for us it took a little longer as we decided to stop for breakfast alongside the road.

Famous heritage schools: Dow Hills Girl’ School& Victoria Boys’ School

​Dow Hills school is more than a century old (founded in 1879) and is a heritage property. Initially started as a co-ed school, boys’ section was later shifted to Victoria Boys’ School in 1888, a km away from Dow Hills Girls’ school. The colonial British structures, line of pine trees and the foggy weather added to the ethereal beauty of the place. The entire stretch and the adjoining forest area is said to be haunted. People recount the stories of a headless ghost wandering in the road between Dow Hills and the Forest Office, infamously known as the death road. Then there are stories of the typical feeling of being watched in the forest area, loud footsteps and sounds of laughter in Victoria School especially when the school is closed from December to March.Some believe and some don’t but almost all will agree that these spooky tales are crowd pullers and do trigger a different sense of interest in travelers.

Dow Hills Deer Park

The park also functions as a breeding center for barking deer. Luckily enough, we could spot a few here. The entire park is beautifully maintained and definitely worth a visit.

Eagle’s Craig

The observation tower cannot be missed when you are visiting Kurseong. The place offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the mighty Kanchendzonga range, the famous Makaibari tea gardens and the valleys, needless to say that the beauty amplifies manifold during a sunrise or a sunset.

After Eagle’s Craig, it was time for some good food as we all were famished. The next point was thereby Kurseong Tourist Lodge, a guesthouse maintained by WB Tourism.I loved the lobby and the dining area, the entire space had wooden paneling making it look cozy and comfortable. The view outside was just beautiful, the food was tasty and reasonable priced as well.

Margaret’s Deck Tea Lounge

​The final stop was at the famous and exotic tea lounge, Margaret’s Deck. It is a suspended structure built on Margaret Hope Tea Garden, an initiative by Goodricke Group. The top down view of the tea garden is captivating. You will get the finest variety of Darjeeling tea here and as for us; we ordered two pots of first flush Darjeeling tea and purchased some more too. A tea person or not, the place deserves a visit just for the pure visual delight.

There is a heart-wrenching story, which explains how Margaret’s Hope got its name. Margaret, an 8 years old daughter of the plantation owner Mr. Cruikshank, came to visit her father and fell in love with the estate. Before she went back to England, she promised to come back, but sadly, the wish remained unfulfilled as the little girl fell ill on her return journey and passed away. A grieving father renamed the garden as Margaret’s Hope in 1927 in the memory of his daughter. Rumors has it that the spirit of Margaret still visits the estate.

A place so hypnotic and mesmerizing, Kurseong is definitely worth a visit, be it a standalone trip or as a part of a package trip.