When the summer gets unbearable during the months of April to June, huge numbers of tourist flow into Darjeeling from across the globe. The weather in Darjeeling during summers pleasantly cool which is a treat for the visitors during summers.
The weather of Darjeeling is very unpredictable throughout the year. The slight drizzle can occur at any time of the year. The sun might be shining in the morning but it takes very few minutes for the day to be cloudy first and then it starts to drizzle. Monsoon in Darjeeling means a period of uncertainty. There are huge problems like landslides during the monsoon that could mean a road blockage for a few days or even months.
Luckily there are 3 road options to Darjeeling from Siliguri.
The three roadways are
- Rohini
- Pankhabari
- Hill cart road
The hill cart road from Siliguri is a good option to reach Darjeeling but the road is often damaged by landslides and remains close often. The road to Darjeeling through Hill Cart road is about 94 km.
The second road to Darjeeling is through Pankhabari, which is about 82 km till Darjeeling. The road is closed to taxis and commercial vehicles but may be used on your journey from Kurseong to Siliguri.
The Rohini road is a shortcut road which has been recently renamed as Subhash Ghising Road. The distance is just around 64 kilometres from Siliguri till Darjeeling and this is the most used road due to its beautiful swirling roads with a great view of the mountains.
The Joy of Driving till Darjeeling
The joy of driving a car through the challenging terrains of Darjeeling has just been made into a reality. There are agencies for a car rental in Siliguri, who offer you a Bagdogra airport car rental option to rent a car and bagdogra airport taxi from where you can reach Darjeeling at a budget rental cost. for sightseeing.
[caption id="attachment_79" align="alignnone" width="1143"]
Darjeeling Sight Seeing Car/Taxi Fare Rates[/caption]
The joy of self-driving to Darjeeling along the beautiful backdrop of the neighboring mountains is something which is a dream for many adventure enthusiasts. The road to Darjeeling is quite different from that of the plains and so may require a good driving skill to reach Darjeeling without any major or minor damage. Car Rental service from Siliguri to Darjeeling has been gaining huge popularity for arranging a self-drive car among younger travellers, who would like to do things differently.
Driving in the rain?
If you have decided that this time, you are surely going to ride a rented car to Darjeeling, it is advised that you must have proper knowledge of driving in a hilly terrain. The roads uphill and the steep curves can be quite risky if you are not familiar with the roadways here. Another Major difficulty that you might face is rain which can come down anytime even when the sky was clear a moments ago. You must be ready for rain and must maintain some precautions when you are driving a
[caption id="attachment_79" align="alignnone" width="1143"] Darjeeling Sight Seeing Car/Taxi Fare Rates[/caption]
a rented car to Darjeeling and it starts to rain.
Things to remember while it rains during your trip to Darjeeling
As we have already discussed you must be prepared when it rains during your road trip to Darjeeling. You might be a good driver and must have driven a various type of roads inside India but even the slightest mistake here can cost you your life. The rains can make your road trip really challenging and so here are some tips on how you can stay safe if it rains during your drive to Darjeeling in a rented car:
- Avoid heavy braking. Try to slow your vehicle by taking your foot off of the accelerator earlier than you normally would in preparation to slow down or stop.
- Even if it is a rented car, you might want to check if all the car's equipment is working fine because, in the hills, the slightest failure could even cost you your life. Old tires with the bald surface may be slippery during your braking.
- Drive at a safe speed when it is raining on a hilly road. You should drive slower than usual as the reaction time lowers when it is raining.
- The visibility can be a major issue which can sometimes cause major mishaps on the road. So it is a smart move to turn on your strong headlights during rains to increase the visibility of your car to other drivers who would be able to see you better.
- Keep a safe distance when you are driving behind another car on a rainy day. The reason for this is that sometimes your car doesn't stop in time after you apply the brakes. So you might not want to hit another car due to your braking failure.
- On a rainy day, the roads can be very tricky so unlike other days, avoid using heavy brakes during rainfall. You could take your foot off the accelerator earlier than usual to slow down without any risk.
Conclusion
There is a risk in everything we do in our daily life and in activities that we engage in. The joy of adventure is very pleasing but it must never come at the cost of any damage to you. Safety is really a must at all times. The road trip to Darjeeling is a unique experience which is something that everybody wishes to do but if you do not follow some of the above-mentioned tips when you are driving on a rainy day, you are not only risking your life but also the life of the opposite driver who might have to fall prey to your silly mistake
So, safety must be maintained at all times.
