Chowrasta Mall
चौरस्ता
A pedestrian square on the ridge and Darjeeling's social hub, surrounded by old bookshops, tea shops and colonial-era buildings.
Chowrasta, meaning crossroads of four roads, is an open square on Darjeeling's main ridge where motor vehicles are banned. It is surrounded by colonial-style buildings, old bookshops, tea shops, clothing stores and cafes. The square has benches and an open-air stage, which often hosts performances on holidays. Locals and visitors alike enjoy strolling, drinking tea and watching the sunset here. On clear days, you can see Kanchenjunga from the viewpoint at the edge of the square. The Mall loop, which starts from the square, circles Observatory Hill in about 30 minutes. Along the way you can reach Mahakal Temple on the summit, where prayer flags flutter and both Hindus and Buddhists worship. Nearby, Glenary's and Keventer's are century-old restaurants where you can enjoy afternoon tea and breakfast. There are many tea shops around the square, so look for the Darjeeling Tea Board logo when you buy.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Glenary's
- St. Andrew's Church
- Lloyd's Botanical Garden
- Bhutia Busty Monastery
- Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre
- Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
- Happy Valley Tea Estate
- Japanese Peace Pagoda