Login
Facebook
YouTube
WhatsApp
Twitter
Darjeeling is famous for its tea gardens and misty ridges, yet it also has valleys alive with waterfalls in Darjeeling that shift with the seasons. These falls cross forest paths, tea plantations, and rock gardens, creating spaces for peace or for picnics. Indreni Falls is admired for the rainbow spray it creates, while Rock Garden stands out for its carefully arranged beauty. Some falls are hidden behind orange orchards, others drop right beside winding roads, and all bring the cool air that softens Darjeeling’s colonial townscape and wide mountain views.
9 Best Waterfalls To Visit In Darjeeling
Waterfalls in Darjeeling run through the green hills and create quiet corners in the landscape. People often walk the nearby trails, take photographs, or sit to enjoy the view of the Himalayas.
1. Paglajhora Waterfalls, Kurseong
Photo: Shadi Sak / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Paglajhora Waterfalls lie on the old Hill Cart Road that connects Siliguri with Darjeeling, around 8 kilometres from Kurseong. This picturesque fall is fed by streams running through the South Shibkhola Tea Garden, sending a sudden rush of white water down a backdrop of thick greenery. The waterfall is strongest in the monsoon, when rains swell the stream and mist drifts through the valley. The name Paglajhora, meaning “crazy stream,” suits it well, since at times it is only a trickle, and after a storm it can roar down the cliff. Travellers often stop at roadside viewpoints to watch the water drop past moss-covered cliffs and tea bushes.
Major Highlights: Dramatic roadside waterfall near tea gardens, best seen in monsoon.
Nearby Attractions: South Shibkhola Tea Estate, Rohini viewpoints.
Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Kurseong
2. Chunnu Summer Falls, Rock Garden
Photo: Syed Sajidul Islam / Wikimedia Commons
Chunnu Summer Falls is the main attraction of the Barbotey Rock Garden, about 10 kilometres from Darjeeling town. The water runs down a steep gorge where people have carved out terraces in the stone. There are gardens, benches, and places to stand and watch. It is different from the wild falls along the road because here, stone paths let you walk down from level to level. The sound of the stream gets heavier as it drops, bouncing back from the rock walls. Families often pair a visit here with a trip to Ganga Maya Park, which lies further downhill. Chunnu Summer Falls is not only a garden feature.
Major Highlights: Stepped waterfall in landscaped gardens with stone paths and flower beds.
Nearby Attractions: Ganga Maya Park, tea estates near Darjeeling.
3. Indreni Waterfall
Photo: cusidoh74 / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
Indreni Waterfall, also known as Rainbow Falls, is among the most photogenic waterfalls in Darjeeling, set about 7 kilometres from the town. The name “Indreni” comes from the rainbow arc that often shows in the mist when sunlight touches the spray. The fall drops over dark stone cliffs, with thick greenery that grows even denser during the rains. A short walk along winding hillside paths leads to the site, making it popular with visitors who enjoy scenic walks without the strain of long treks. The waterfall reaches its peak in the monsoon but keeps flowing through late autumn, fed by streams from the uplands.
Major Highlights: Small but scenic fall, often forms rainbows in mist.
Nearby Attractions: Kalej Valley, forest trails near Darjeeling.
Suggested Read: Things To Do In Darjeeling
4. Changey Waterfall, Kalimpong
Photo: Rathin Dey / Wikimedia Commons
Changey Waterfall lies about 12 kilometres from Lava in Kalimpong district and is one of the most striking cascades linked with the Darjeeling hills. The fall drops close to 150 feet and is reached after a short yet steep downhill walk from the nearest motorable spot. The fall crashes into a rocky gorge, ringed by pine and fir trees, and the view makes the walk worth it. The approach road winds past small villages and tea patches, adding a touch of adventure to the journey. A simple viewing platform has been built, giving good angles for photography and a clear look at the rushing stream.
Major Highlights: 150-foot fall surrounded by pine forests, reached via a short hike.
Nearby Attractions: Lava village, forest viewpoints.
5. Bhim Nala Waterfall, Darjeeling
Photo: Dee Onederer / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Bhim Nala Waterfall, near the small village of Khedum on the route to Kalimpong and Sikkim, is one of the tallest and strongest waterfalls in Darjeeling. The fall is split into three distinct tiers, each dropping sharply down the hillside before meeting in a deep gorge. The sound of the water can be heard from the road itself, pulling travellers to stop and take in its force. Around the viewing point, local tea stalls serve drinks and snacks, turning it into a natural rest stop for those on the move. The waterfall flows through the year, but it looks its best in the monsoon, when mist hangs over the slopes and the hillsides turn green.
Major Highlights: Powerful three-tiered fall, visible from the road.
Nearby Attractions: Khedum village, roadside tea stalls.
Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Darjeeling For Your Next Summer Vacations
6. Chitrey Waterfall, Kalimpong
Photo: Debojyoti Dutta / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Chitrey Waterfall sits along the winding road between Darjeeling and Kalimpong, close to the Mangber Forest Check Post, about 10 kilometres before Kalimpong town. This roadside attraction is a three-tiered cascade, where mountain streams tumble sharply over mossy cliffs before disappearing into the valley below. Because it is clearly visible from the road, travellers often stop here for a quick break, enjoying the spray and taking photographs against the forested backdrop. The fall is at its most spectacular in the monsoon, when the tiers roar with water and the hills around turn intensely green. Even during the dry months, Chitrey keeps a steady flow, bringing freshness to the winding and often dusty road.
Major Highlights: Roadside cascade with tiered drops and green cliffs.
Nearby Attractions: Mangber Forest Post, valley views en route to Kalimpong.
7. Ganga Maya Park Waterfall, Darjeeling
Photo: Pixabay / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Ganga Maya Park, a few kilometres below the Rock Garden, features a graceful cascade flowing through a landscaped valley filled with flower beds, ponds, and gazebos. The waterfall is modest in height, yet its setting is enriched by the design of the park, with footbridges crossing streams and shaded paths leading to quiet corners. A boating option is available in the central pond, while the steady sound of the fall creates a calm atmosphere throughout the grounds. Families are drawn to the park for its unique blend of natural charm and facilities, including seating areas, small food stalls, and safe play zones for children.
Major Highlights: Gentle waterfall within a landscaped park with boating.
Nearby Attractions: Rock Garden, garden pathways, picnic areas.
Suggested Read: Trekking In Darjeeling
8. Kurseong’s Sitong Waterfall
Photo: Manuela Adler / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Sitong, a small Lepcha settlement about 30 kilometres from Kurseong, is best known for its orange orchards, but it also shelters a scenic waterfall that has become popular with travellers who look for offbeat places. The Sitong Waterfall appears on a forested slope where rain-fed streams drop into a rocky basin ringed with bamboo and chestnut groves. When the rains come, the fall grows strong and throws spray across the valley. In winter, it turns quieter, trickling through the orchards and adding a steady sound to the landscape. Many travellers enjoy combining the walk with time in the hamlets nearby, where wooden houses rise above terraced plots and daily life goes on calmly.
Major Highlights: Hidden fall in a quiet orchard valley with forest trails.
Nearby Attractions: Sitong orange orchards, village walks.
9. Bakthang Waterfalls
Photo: Francesco Ungaro / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Bakthang Waterfalls is a well-known cascade, often added to Darjeeling and Sikkim travel plans. It sits on the North Sikkim Highway, and travellers see it clearly while driving up toward the Tashi View Point. Only about 3 kilometres from Gangtok town, the fall is perfectly positioned as a roadside attraction where travellers stop for photographs, refreshments, and a refreshing pause. The source of Bakthang Waterfall is the Ratey Chu River, fed by glacial streams from the high Himalayas, which gives the water a steady and pure flow through much of the year. Unlike steep vertical drops, this fall spreads into a wide curtain that glides down a rocky cliff covered in greenery, making it especially striking during the monsoon when the volume swells.
Major Highlights: Wide, curtain-like roadside fall on Sikkim highway.
Nearby Attractions: Tashi View Point, scenic stops toward North Sikkim.
Suggested Read: Hill Stations Near Darjeeling For A Marvellous Staycation
From the landscaped charm of Rock Garden and Ganga Maya to the wild flow of Bhim Nala and Changey, waterfalls in Darjeeling reveal both beauty and power. Some require short treks through rhododendron forests, while others lie along scenic hill roads. Each fall reflects the streams, valleys, and tea gardens that shape the region. Explore this natural side of Darjeeling with TripXL and plan your perfect mountain escape.
Cover Photo: Danish.ahmed81 / Wikimedia Commons
