Darjeeling Part 8: A Visit To The Himalayan Zoological Park And Mountaineering Institute.

The Himalayan Zoological Park and Mountaineering Institute are located at the same place.

You'll just have to buy 1 ticket to visit both places. Entrance fee is 40Rs/person  for a local but 100Rs/person for a foreigner. [100Rs = approx RM5)

The zoological park features mostly animals of the Himalayas but it is not that impessive.

The Mountaineering Institute is located at the end of the zoological park. Like most other venues it is a steep climb up. You'll really need a lot of energy if you want to walk about in Darjeeling.

The mountaineering institute was established in 1954 to encourage mountaineering as an organised sport in India. This followed the first successful ascent to the summit of Mount Everest by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and a Nepalese sherpa, Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

Tenzing Norgay became the first director of field training for this institute. The picture above is the Memorial of Tenzing Norgay.

A statue of Tenzing Norgay is also erected outside the institute museum.

Just outside the Himalayan Zoological Park and Mountaineering Institute, petty traders display their wares. This stall sells a variety of nuts and murukku (aka chakli).

A stall selling Indian spices.

This woman selling momos, buns and local cakes happily posed for a snapshot.

Related Posts:
Darjeeling Travel Part 1: The Nauseous Journey From Bagdogra To Darjeeling
Darjeeling Travel Part 2: Elgin Darjeeling , A Choice Hotel
Darjeeling Travel Part 3: Sunrise At Tiger Hill But Where's The Sun?

Darjeeling Travel Part 4: A Brief Stop At Samten Choling Buddhist Monastery

Darjeeling Travel Part 5: Batasia Loop, The Famous Railway Loop In Darjeeling

Darjeeling Travel Part 6: Tibetan Self-Help Centre

Darjeeling Travel Part 7: Visiting A Tea Garden

Darjeeling Travel Part 9: The Toy Train Is Not A Toy Train

Darjeeling Travel Part 10: Glimpses Of Darjeeling