Tourists in Darjeeling to Face Restrictions on June 4 Due to Election Counting
Darjeeling, May 23, 2024 — Tourists planning to visit Darjeeling on June 4 will need to adjust their itineraries. The district administration has issued orders to close several popular tourist spots in the hill town on that day to prevent traffic congestion during the counting of votes for the general election.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will continue to operate its joy rides, but visitors won’t have access to other attractions. The affected locations include the Gorkha War Memorial at Batasia Loop, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (commonly known as the zoo), Tiger Hill, and the Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Ropeway.
The decision was prompted by the need to facilitate smooth vote counting for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat, which will take place at Darjeeling Government College. District Magistrate Ananya Das explained, “To avoid traffic congestion on that day, we have sent letters to the authorities of these tourist spots.”
The regional transport officer of Darjeeling also reached out to nine associations representing cab owners and drivers. The goal is to ensure that transporters can make necessary arrangements. Even cab associations based at the New Jalpaiguri railway station and Bagdogra airport, both common transit points for tourists, have been informed.
However, this decision has created challenges for stakeholders in the tourism industry. Debasis Chakraborty, the general secretary of the Eastern Himalaya Travel & Tour Operators Association, expressed concern. “Several tourists have already booked trips and are scheduled to arrive in Darjeeling during the first week of June,” he said. “We’ll need to revise their itineraries due to the closures.”
As the election day approaches, tourists and local businesses alike will need to adapt to these restrictions. While Chowrasta, the popular promenade, remains accessible, other iconic spots will remain off-limits for a day to ensure the smooth functioning of the democratic process.
