Jul 13, 2010 01:45 PM
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The Padmaja Naidu Zoological park, Darjeeling inhabits wild animals, birds etc. in natural surroundings where they can wind their ways freely. It is about 10 kms from Darjeeling town. This is combined as what the tour programmers call as 'mixed point' where lot of local places of interests are mixed. The park and the Himalayan mountaineering Institute are housed in the same campus. An entry fee of Rs.40 (Rs, .20 plus Rs.20) for both is charged. Himalayan mountaineering institute is the first place one would notice on entering the threshold of the campus where training is imparted for climbing various peaks in Himalayas.
It also has a museum containing various equipment like dress, sleeping bed, shoes used by the veterans who have scaled the Mount Everest including that of Mr.Tensing Norgay and Edmund Hillary and subsequently those who have scaled Mt. Everest. The body of Mr. Tensing has been laid to rest in the same campus as desired by him and a plaque has been opened by his dearest friend Sir Edmund Hillary. The museum also exhibits honors conferred on these veterans.
After visiting the museum one can enter the zoological park where various animals and species are treat to watch in healthy surrounding. Unlike other zoos in Alipore or Mysore the animals (probably due to the climate and less pollution} look stuffy and healthy beaming with their natural grandeur. The Red Panda a rare species available only at high altitudes is pleasant to watch wafting their way through tree branches which great speed. There are also black leopard, Bengal tiger, Lion, pretty tall Himalayan bear, many number of peacocks , antelopes and birds. we were fortunate to capture on video a Tiger prowling up and down. The Panda was so swift in its movement that we found it difficult to snap them on video or camera. On return from the Zoological park one can find number of shops selling spices on the road down. They are really cheap. One can buy dry fruits, saffron, pepper, clover which are sold per a small measure ( i.e 100ml tumbler) at Rs.10 to Rs.20 and saffron in a small container at Rs.10/-. which we get here at about Rs.150/-. The quality is good. One has to however bargain hardly to peg the price. On the way to Darjeeling one is taken to the Tenzing rock where Tensing is supposed to have practised climbing before venturing on his Mt. Everest expedition. On payment of fee one is allowed to try climbing with the support of ropes and two assistants. That is a wonderful experience.
