Darjeeling in Winter: December to February Weather, Snow and the Toy Train

Short answer: December to February in Darjeeling is cold, dry and usually clear. Average highs are about 14 °C in December and 11 °C in January, and nights drop to around 2 to 4 °C (India Meteorological Department normals for 1991 to 2020). It hardly rains, so mornings often give clear views of Kanchenjunga. Snow in Darjeeling town is rare: the last brief snowfall was on 29 December 2021 and it did not settle. If snow is the reason for your trip, Sandakphu is the place, and even there it often comes late in the season.

How cold is Darjeeling in December and January?

Darjeeling town sits at about 2,100 m. The India Meteorological Department's 1991 to 2020 averages give a December high of 13.7 °C and low of 3.5 °C, and a January high of 11.1 °C and low of 1.7 °C. Some weather websites show much warmer nights; those use model data, so trust the IMD figures. Rooms in older hotels are often unheated, so ask whether your room has a heater or electric blanket. Pack a down or heavy jacket, a warm hat and gloves, and thermals for the evenings and the early start to Tiger Hill.

Will it snow in Darjeeling?

Probably not in town. Darjeeling has had only short snowfalls in recent years, on 26 February 2020 and 29 December 2021, and Tiger Hill last had snow in January 2022 (Sikkim Express, Millennium Post). Sandakphu, at about 3,636 m on the Singalila ridge, gets snow every year, but in the 2025–26 season its first snow came only on 22 February 2026, and heavy snow on about 20 March left more than 100 tourists stranded (All India Radio). If you want snow on a December trip, Sikkim's higher points such as Tsomgo Lake are a better bet than Darjeeling, though roads there close when snow is heavy: see Sikkim in December.

Toy train in winter 2026–27

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway runs joyrides from Darjeeling to Ghum and back, with stops at the Batasia Loop. For the festival season it added four joyrides from 1 October 2026 to 3 January 2027, for 13 a day in all, according to the railway's director (ETV Bharat, 4 September 2026). Reported fares are ₹800 for the ordinary joyride, ₹1,030 for the new Muktadhara diesel ride and ₹1,530 for the Red Panda steam ride; the two new rides run from Kurseong. Book on IRCTC or at a railway reservation counter, and book early for the Christmas and New Year weeks.

The long through train from New Jalpaiguri (NJP) to Darjeeling is a different matter. It has been suspended several times after landslides, most recently when part of the line between Kurseong and Siliguri collapsed in June 2026. We found no report that it had resumed as of 9 November 2026, so check the train on IRCTC or the National Train Enquiry System before you plan on it. The joyrides are not affected.

Tiger Hill sunrise in winter

Sunrise in winter is about 6:15 to 6:30 am, and jeeps leave Darjeeling at about 4 am to reach Tiger Hill in time. Vehicles need a police coupon, which drivers collect the day before, and cars without one are turned back at Jorebungalow, so go with a local taxi rather than your own car. In December 2025 a taxi union stopped Tiger Hill trips for several days over the lack of facilities at the top, until Christmas (Millennium Post). Small fees are charged at the top; reported amounts vary, so carry cash. Clear mornings are common in winter but not guaranteed: fog can hide Kanchenjunga on any day.

Tea gardens in winter

You can walk through Darjeeling's tea gardens in winter, but you will not see plucking or tea being made. The Tea Board orders factories in the Darjeeling hills to stop for the winter: in recent years the last leaf was taken in around 11 to 13 December and factories restarted between about 11 and 27 February (DT Next). If a factory visit matters to you, come in March or later, when the first flush starts.

Christmas and New Year in Darjeeling

The Christmas and New Year weeks are the busiest of the winter. In 2025 hoteliers reported nearly full occupancy until 6 January, and about 60% of visitors came from within West Bengal (Millennium Post, 25 December 2025). Book rooms first, then cars and toy train tickets. Flights from Kolkata to Bagdogra also cost more in those weeks. Darjeeling Police has held a Melo-Tea Fest on the Mall in December in recent years (11 to 13 December in 2025); no 2026 dates had been announced when we checked.

How to get to Darjeeling

The nearest airport is Bagdogra, about 65 to 70 km and 2.5 to 3 hours by road. From NJP railway station it is about 75 km on the Hill Cart Road (NH 110), around 3.5 hours. Shared jeeps run from NJP and Siliguri and leave when full. Hill roads here have been closed by landslides in recent seasons, so allow extra time and check the road before you set off. Winter days are short, so plan to arrive before dark, around 5 pm.

Who winter suits, and who it doesn't

Winter suits you if you want clear mountain views, quiet days outside the holiday weeks, and don't mind the cold. It suits you less if you want snow in town, tea being plucked, or warm evenings. The zoo and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute share one ticket and are closed on Thursdays, so plan around that day.