Top Ten India Classic Adventures

Indian hill stations—places to escape the heat and madness of the plains—are dotted among the Himalayan foothills. Darjeeling is one of the best: beautiful, rugged hills covered in the light green of tea plantations, set against the backdrop of snow-covered Himalayan peaks. As is so often the case in India, half the fun is in getting there—in this case it's by narrow-gauge railroad, known locally as the Toy Train. Once you've adjusted to the gentle pace of life in the hills, pay a visit to one of the tea plantations where you'll get the full story on tea growing and production, which in this part of the world is done with almost no mechanical help. Other diversions include treks, which range from hours to days. There are plenty of accommodations and restaurants of all standards.