WAVE is ready and set to go, we are hopping aboard the Darjeeling Carnival 2004. The carnival first took place last year and the queen of hills is all geared up to host the mega event for second year running. The dates are the same, 7- 16 Nov. but the fun times, the organizers assure, have gone up several notches.
All three-sub divisions of Darjeeling- Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik are included in the events, so the event managers are expecting to see a large number of people, mostly tourists from India and abroad.
How to get there:
The first week of the event is before Tihar, so we urge our readers to take a quick trip to the hill station and experience a festival quite unlike any other. Tourist buses offer direct service to Pashupatinagar for about Rs.550. The ride will take you approx. 15-17 hours with rest stops in between. From there you can take a taxi into Darjeeling. The ride will be a treat for the eyes, especially once you reach Ilam, the tea hills, the small houses with their fences and flowers are simply beautiful. Pashupatinagar itself is an interesting town to be in, bargain well when taking a taxi to Darjeeling. Its always better if you're traveling in groups for these trips so that you can share the costs.
Flying to the carnival is another option. Yeti Airlines is offering a special deal for flights to Biratnagar for Rs.1500 (conditions apply). You can catch a bus or hire vans to take you to Pashupatinagar as well. It's only a few hours drive to the border. Or a more convenient option might be flying to Bhadrapur. There are jeeps and taxis waiting to drive travelers to Pashupatinagar on a regular basis.
If you do plan to travel north- east for the carnival, then it would be advised to book rooms in advance. Not only is this prime tourist season, but the organizers are expecting visitors by the thousands to spend several days there.
WAVE has hand picked a few events that might be of interest for our readers:
8 Nov. : Momo eating competition.
9 Nov. : 1974 A.D in concert (Gymkhana)
10 Nov. : Rediscovering Darjeeling, A fashion show of NIFT Graduates.
11 Nov. : Aziz Ibrahim, Guitar virtuoso from London in collaboration with British Council and Rock Street Journal at Chowrasta.
Louis Banks Show.
12 Nov. : Chungi Competition at Chowrasta
13 Nov. : Soulmates,music band from Shillong
14 Nov. : Hip Pocket, popular music band from Kolkata
15 Nov. : Fuberak Fire,winner of East Zone Campus Rock Idols.
16 Nov. : 6 days Theatre Workshop, final presentation by school students
Major Fireworks
