Darjeeling is a storied yet relatively small region tucked between India’s borders with Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Many of the area’s 87 tea gardens are at altitudes above 4,000 feet, which play a role in the distinctive character of the orthodox tea. The mountainous terrain makes access challenging, as roads are narrow and feature steep, hairpin turns. But its natural beauty is breathtaking, with views often including the peaks of Mount Kanchenjunga, one of the three highest mountains in the Himalayas.
