Darjeeling, town, extreme northern West Bengal state, northeastern India. Darjeeling lies 305 miles (491 km) north of Calcutta. The town is situated on a long, narrow mountain ridge of the Sikkim Himalayas that descends abruptly to the bed of the Great Rangit River. The town lies at an elevation of about 7,000 feet (2,100 m).
On a clear day Darjeeling affords a magnificent view of Kanchenjunga (28,169 feet [8,586 m]), and Mount Everest can just be seen. The name of the town means “place of the thunderbolt.” Darjeeling is a noted hill resort that has major road, rail, and air connections with Calcutta.