Rock Garden, also known as Barbotey Rock Garden, is a tourist attraction located 10 km from Darjeeling town. The park is constructed around the Chunnu Summer Falls. Ganga Maya Park is another trending eco-friendly tourist spot just below the rock garden, established nearby the Bloomfield Tea Garden.
The surrounding hill with greenery, a stream cascading over rocks along the slope, nicely decorated flowers, plants, and shrubs, well-maintained seating areas, and a small lake make the entire rock garden beautiful.
Background
In 1980, Darjeeling tourism was disrupted by political restlessness by the movement of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), demanding Gorkhaland state to separate from West Bengal. With the formation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Autonomous Hill Council (DGAHC) in 1988, the situation started to stabilize.
To boost the tourism industry, the Gorkha Hill Council Tourism Department constructed the rock garden, which was inaugurated by the GNLF supremo Subhash Ghising. Since then, the rock garden has been a popular tourist destination among the tourists visiting Darjeeling.
Ganga Maya Park is another tourist attraction nearby the rock garden, constructed during the same period. The park was named after a victim of police firing during the Gorkhaland movement.
Attractions Of Rock Garden
The rock garden has been constructed in multi-levels, keeping the beautiful Chunnu Summer Falls in the middle. From top to bottom, the beautiful waterfall cascades all the way over the rocks. The entire area is created by cutting, shaping, and arranging rocks of various sizes at different levels.
After entering the garden, you get the first glimpse of the waterfall beside the large seating area. You can get your picture in front of the waterfalls, dip your feet in the water, and sit on the rocks for a while. It will give an enjoyable experience.
From this point, the pathway is divided into two parts and rises upwards. The right-side pathway is directed uphill by the side of the waterfall, followed by some small bridges. You can relax here, enjoy the view with the sound of the waterfalls, and reach a higher viewpoint to watch the magnificent surrounding area.
The left pathway leads to the hill’s other side, away from the waterfall. You will need to climb stairs, and ramps, and cross some small bridges to reach the top viewpoint. There are some innovative seating areas and serene gardens to rest and enjoy the view. You will find a short hiking trail that meets the other pathway by the side of Chunnu Summer Falls. From this point, you will get a fantastic view of the entire garden with waterfalls.
The rock garden in Darjeeling is worth visiting for tourists who prefer to stay out of the crowd and love the garden’s natural beauty, the waterfall with its burbling sound, and the lush greenery all around. The garden is most enjoyable during the best time to visit.
The Ganga Maya Park
If you are visiting Rock Garden, don’t forget to add Ganga Maya park to your itinerary. It is located just further down the Rock Garden at the foothill of the mountains. The park is full of flower gardens and trees, and a natural river stream inside the park also increases its attraction. Sit on the large rock beside the stream, and dip your feet in the water while enjoying the scenic beauty all around.
Small curved bridges are built over the stream to make your walk amusing. Here you can also enjoy boating in the lake surrounded by mountains. During the peak tourist seasons, local cultural programs like Gorkha folk dances are also performed here.
How To Reach?
To visit the Rock garden, first, you must visit Darjeeling town in West Bengal. Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri is well connected with major cities in India, located just 90 km from Darjeeling. If you prefer a train journey, reach New Jalpaiguri railway station or Siliguri railway station, which directly connects major cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, etc. Hire a cab from the airport or railway station and reach Darjeeling within 3 hours.
From Darjeeling town, drive along the Hillcart road, and before arriving at Ghum, turn right to reach the garden. With a sharp bend, the road descends rapidly into the valley. The tea gardens and the scenic beauty on both sides of the road make the journey fantastic. You will surely ask your driver to stop by your car to take pictures of the beautiful tea gardens and mountain range.
When you finally reach the rock garden, you will see some food stalls and souvenir shops just outside the park. You can buy tea, coffee, mouthwatering momos, chips, cold drinks, and various snacks here. After crossing these shops, you will see the ticket counter a little further to buy tickets to enter the rock garden.
Timing And Entry Ticket Fee
The rock garden is open for tourists 7 days a week from 8 AM to 6 PM. As the opening days and timings are fixed throughout the week, you can easily adjust your itinerary for the rock garden.
The entry fees are minimal too. Here are the latest entry fees for the rock garden and Ganga Maya park-
| Destination/ Attraction | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Rock garden | ₹20 |
| Ganga Maya Park | ₹20 |
| Boating (15 minutes) | ₹50 |
Tips To Remember
Rock Garden At A Glance
| Place | Rock Garden |
| Address | Bloomfield Tea Garden, WB 734102, Darjeeling, India |
| Latitude And Longitude | 27.0255° N, 88.2381° E |
| Founder | Darjeeling Gorkha Autonomous Hill Council (DGAHC) |
| Distance From Darjeeling | 10 Km |
