As South Bengal continues to experience a severe heat wave with temperatures averaging 40 degrees Celsius and reaching up to 45 degrees in places like Bankura, the hill town of Darjeeling in North Bengal is seeing a surge in tourist arrivals. Hotels are fully booked, and cab services are overwhelmed with bookings as visitors flock to the cooler climate.

Darjeeling’s tourist season kicked off in April, but hotel bookings have seen a significant increase in the last week as the summer heat in Kolkata and other districts of South Bengal became unbearable. While the plains are sweltering, Darjeeling offers a refreshing escape with temperatures ranging from a comfortable 12 to 13 degrees Celsius at night to a maximum of 22 to 23 degrees Celsius during the day.

Popular spots like the Chowrasta or Mall Road are bustling with activity, and it’s common to see a significant number of domestic tourists from across the state. Cafes and bakeries, like the popular Glenary’s, are buzzing with visitors, while tea shops, roadside vendors, and cab drivers are all benefiting from the increased foot traffic. Many tourists, eager to escape the oppressive heat, have made impromptu plans to reach Darjeeling, even taking alternative routes when train tickets were unavailable.

Local businesses are thriving with the influx of tourists. Cab drivers report that they are constantly busy with no trips made without passengers, and vendors are finding unexpected demand for warmer clothing as visitors adjust to the cooler temperatures. The current surge in tourism is a welcome boost for the local economy and is expected to continue as people seek refuge from the heat in the hills of Darjeeling.