10 Best Shopping Destinations in Darjeeling to Self-Indulge (2024)
Located at the height of 2,042 meters above sea level, Darjeeling is one of India’s most glorious hill stations. This Regency-era town has captured the hearts of millions of tourists from all over the world. Even though most people are acquainted with Darjeeling tea’s popularity, there are other commodities produced in the town, too, which are pretty exquisite. When it comes to shopping in Darjeeling, most people tend to buy the famous tea but Darjeeling is also quite popular for woollen garments, junk jewelry, handicraft items, small trinkets, and other things. As the city of Darjeeling is visited by thousands of travelers every year, it is pretty natural that several shops are popping up.
If you are a shopping-enthusiast and visit Darjeeling, you should know about the best places to shop in Darjeeling. As the hill station is pretty extensive, you might not be able to locate the main areas known for marketing without having a clear idea. That is why this article is going to help you a lot. Here, you will get to know about the primary shopping destinations in Darjeeling. The shops in these markets are not only cheap, but they sell high-quality commodities.
10 Best Shopping Destinations in Darjeeling to Self-Indulge
The markets included in the list are quite popular among tourists and the local people of Darjeeling. So, bookmark this blog for future reference if you love to shop.
1. Nehru Road
From Tibetan handicraft items like Khukree or Thanka to woolen garments, you will be able to find anything in the shops in Nehru Road, Darjeeling. The entire road is filled with so many different categories of shops that maintaining your budget for the trip will become difficult. Most of the shops were previously started for the local people of Darjeeling, but soon the number of tourists increased, and so did the stores. Now, the West Bengal government has also opened an emporium to offer you the brilliant crafts made by talented artists of the locality. There are several branded stores on the road, and you will be able to find almost anything you need. If you are an art-lover, you will discover Nehru road quite interesting as there are some lovely art galleries located over there.
Photo by shankar s. Image Source
Address: Mal Road, Chowk Bazar, Darjeeling.
Timings: 8 AM to 7 PM.
2. Ghoom Monastery Market
Located not that far away from Darjeeling, Ghoom is deeply enchanting. To reach the gorgeous locality, you will have to take a toy train ride, which is unique. After you explore the Ghoom monastery, you are bound to notice the small market located over there. The market is pretty beautiful not because of the commodities it sells but because of the mesmerizingly lovely ambiance surrounding it. If you are interested in buying Tibetan artifacts and souvenirs, the Ghoom monastery market is one of the best places to shop in Darjeeling. You will also find Tibetan prayer wheels, singing bowls, Thangkas, and other local items. There are some shops in the market which sell Tibetan paintings created by the local artist over there. You should check them out as well.
Address: Ghoom, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734102.
Timings: 9 AM to 7 PM.
3. Pashupatinagar Market
Even though there is another Pashupatinagar Market located in Nepal, but this one is located in Mirik. Mirik is another famous hill station which is located quite close to Darjeeling. The reason we have included the Pashupatinagar market in this list is that it is the only place near Darjeeling where you will find electronic and woolen garments at heavily discounted rates. As the market is located quite close to Nepal, most of the items sold over there are from Nepal. You could also buy makeup items from the market at amazingly affordable prices. If you are good at bargaining, you may be able to lower the costs even more. The market also has a lot of second-hand book stores.
As the market is pretty popular, it is quite crowded. So keep some time in your hands before visiting the area.
Address: Darjeeling-Mirik road.
Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM.
4. Chowk Bazar
Chowk Bazar is the heart of Darjeeling. Not only is the market famous among travelers but also the local people living there. Chowk Bazar is filled with stores that sell hand-woven textiles, fur caps, premium-grade tea, vegetables, and other commodities. So, you can figure it out that Chowk Bazar is pretty versatile. Most people prefer to buy rugs and brassware from there as the shops over there sell the said items at extremely affordable prices. In case you love antique jewelry, Chowk Bazar will make you pretty happy as it is filled with shops that sell silver jewelry. Moreover, as the market is open till nine at night, you will be able to shop for a long time. In between shopping, you can also grab a steaming plate of street-side Momo over there.
Address: Chowk Bazar, Darjeeling.
Timings: 9 AM to 9 PM.
5. The Rink Mall
Even a few years back, Darjeeling did not have any shopping malls. But now there are a couple of them. The Rink Mall is one such Mall in the hill station, which is pretty fabulous for you if you want to shop for some branded apparel. As the market has renowned franchise shops like Reliance Trendz or Big Bazar, you will be able to find anything you want quite easily. There are some massage parlors located in the Mall as well. You can relax over there for a few hours and get rejuvenated for the rest of your trip. The best part about the Rink mall is that it has Nathmull’s tea bar located over there. It is one of the most excellent tea stores in the town. You can get tea-tasting training from the store as well.
Address: The Rink Mall, 19, Laden la Rd, Opposite GPO, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734104.
Timings: 9 AM to 9 PM.
6. Batasia Loop Market
Even though the Batasia Loop Market is not one of the best places to shop in Darjeeling, it is gorgeous for its geographical location. Almost all the sellers of the market sell their commodities on the toy train track, and the view surrounding the entire area is breathtakingly beautiful. You can buy a wide array of things, including woolen clothes, accessories, home-decorating items, and others. Usually, people explore the market when you go to Batasia Loop. You will be able to shop a lot of different things from there without blowing off your entire budget. The best part about the shopping trip is that you will get back to Darjeeling by riding the fantastic toy train.
Address: Batasia Loop, Darjeeling.
Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM.
7. Teesta Bazar
Teesta Bazar is another market located close to both Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The market is mainly based on authentic Tibetan handicraft items. Apart from the commodities, the market is also pretty famous for its location. The glorious views of the mountains surround the entire area. If you are interested in hunting, you will find the right gear in this market. Most people love to buy the majestic Thangkas from the different shops in the area. The best part about the shops in the market is that they sell the items comparatively lower than Darjeeling’s shops. You would be able to locate the place quite quickly as it is situated on the Siliguri-Gangtok highway.
Address: Siliguri-Gangtok Highway.
Timings: 8 AM to 6 PM.
8. The Mall Road
The Mall is genuinely the soul of Darjeeling. Not only is it visually appealing, but it is thriving with culture and heritage. Even though most people love to spend their time in the Mall by grabbing a snack or by hiking, but there are a high number of shops situated there too. Although the shops in the Mall do not allow bargaining, you will find high-quality commodities from there. The Mall has shops selling different items, including jewelry, handmade gift items, Tibetan masks, and others. You will be entirely submerged with shopping if you visit there as all the shops are pretty colorful and tasteful.
Photo by Abhishek Kumar Image Source
Address: The Mall, Darjeeling.
Timings: 8 AM to 7 PM.
9. Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center
As the name suggests, the Tibetan refugee center was founded to give refuge to Tibetan immigrants in 1959. Now, the refugee center’s inhabitants sell a wide variety of Tibetan items to tourists at a low rate. By buying anything from the center, you will be making yourself happy and helping the inhabitants. All the items over there are quite well-made because skilled artists created them with patience and care. You will find woollen clothes, footwear, Tibetan carpets, woodwork decoration items, and others quite abundantly in the store. As the center closes at five in the evening, you should visit there before the afternoon to explore the area in depth.
Address: Havelock Villa, 119/B, Gandhi Road, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734101.
Timings: 8 AM to 5 PM.
10. Bhutia Market
If you are only looking for woollen items to buy in Darjeeling, then the Bhutia Market is one of the best places to shop in Darjeeling. From hand-knitted shawls to scarves, from gorgeous sweaters to fashionable cardigans, this market is filled with shops that sell everything woollen. All the items are pretty moderately priced. You will be able to buy a bag full of fashionable woollen clothes without burning through your budget.
Address: College Para, Darjeeling.
Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM.
The shopping places included in the list are quite famous in Darjeeling. You will be able to find everything you want in the town in any of the aforementioned sites.
