Darjeeling vs Shimla — colonial hill-station
Both British-era summer capitals. Very different.
| Darjeeling | Shimla | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | West Bengal / Sikkim border, tea | Himachal Pradesh, pine forest |
| Toy train | Yes — UNESCO Darjeeling Himalayan Railway | Yes — Kalka-Shimla Railway |
| Signature view | Kanchenjunga at sunrise from Tiger Hill | Ridge sunset + Christ Church |
| Tea | Everywhere — plantations, factory tours | Not really — apple orchards instead |
| Onward | Sikkim + Bhutan | Manali + Spiti |
Verdict
Darjeeling if tea + mountains rank; Shimla if colonial architecture + walking rank. Both do the toy train well.
One dispatch a month