Tiger Hill, Darjeeling
A 2,590 m hilltop about 11 km from Darjeeling, visited before dawn for sunrise over Kanchenjunga and, on clear days, Mount Everest.
Overview
Tiger Hill is the classic sunrise stop near Darjeeling, with Kanchenjunga lit before dawn and Everest visible on clear mornings. This guide to Tiger Hill covers access, charges that sources disagree on, and the best months.
Tiger Hill rises to 2,590 metres in the Senchal range, about 11 km from Darjeeling town in West Bengal. It is the district's best-known sunrise point: Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain at 8,598 m, catches the first light before the sun is visible at lower elevations. On clear days the view also takes in Mount Everest, Makalu and Lhotse, and to the south the Teesta valley and the plains around Kurseong.
Because Kanchenjunga stands much closer than Everest, it looks taller from here. Most visitors leave Darjeeling by jeep in the small hours; a guide site advises leaving by about 3:30 am (4:15 am in winter) to arrive by 4:15 am, and notes that a quota of 600 vehicles per day has applied since September 2019 with taxi coupons obtained from the Sadar Traffic Office the previous day.
The summit has an open viewing platform and a paid observatory-style tower with seating on several floors. Tiger Hill lies within the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, which also holds the Senchal lakes that supply Darjeeling's water. Mist and cloud are common, so sunrise views are never guaranteed; October to November and March to May are the most reliable periods, and the monsoon months of mid-June to September are best avoided.
Warm clothing is essential before dawn even in summer.
Entry fees
Entry
All visitors
The Telegraph (India) headline reports Rs 50 per tourist because Tiger Hill lies in Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary; seen in search results only, undated, page could not be loaded, so no amount is stored.
Source: The Telegraph (India) – 'Pay Rs 50 each to visit Tiger Hill'
Amount needs verification
Activities
Telescope
Telescope use per Darjeeling-Tourism.com (unit not stated).
Amount needs verification
Vehicle
Per vehicle
Vehicle entry fee per Darjeeling-Tourism.com (undated, unofficial); not confirmed by any official source.
Amount needs verification
Other charges
Observatory tower seating
Observatory seating is quoted as Rs 20-40 depending on floor; a range is not stored.
Amount needs verification
Open viewing platform
Open viewing platform is described as free.
Free
Needs verification
No official tariff was found. The official district page lists no fees. Jeep fares for the sunrise run are negotiated or fixed by taxi unions and are not stored.
We only show an amount when a source backs it. Prices change, so confirm locally before you go.
Opening hours
Opening hours have not been confirmed by a reliable source yet.
Visited mainly for sunrise; one guide site says open daily from early morning until sunset. No official timings found.
Official district page lists no timings. Sunrise time changes through the year.
Visitor information
- Best time to visit
- October to November and March to May
- Best time of day
- Before sunrise, arriving about 4:15 am (earlier timing suggested for winter)
- How long to spend
- 2–3 hours including the drive
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Families
- Suitable for families
Good to know
- Carry warm clothing; it is cold before dawn
- Self-driven and rental cars are reportedly not permitted; sunrise visits go by taxi
- Tiger Hill is inside Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary; do not litter or disturb wildlife
Location
Tiger Hill, Senchal, Darjeeling district, West Bengal
Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
26.99472, 88.28556
Get directionsPhotos
Kanchenjunga range from Tiger Hill. Photo: Jejsiguoa / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Mount Everest seen from Tiger Hill. Photo: DaLoetz / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 Prayer flags and visitors at the viewpoint. Photo: DaLoetz / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 Tiger Hill summit area. Photo: Shahnoor Habib Munmun / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Frequently asked questions
How far is Tiger Hill from Darjeeling?
About 11 km from Darjeeling town (Wikipedia). It is reached by jeep or taxi, or on foot via Chowrasta, Alubari or Jorebangla.
Can you see Mount Everest from Tiger Hill?
On clear days, yes. Everest, Makalu and Lhotse are visible alongside Kanchenjunga, though cloud often hides them.
Is there an entry fee at Tiger Hill?
No official figure was found. A Telegraph headline reports Rs 50 per tourist and a guide site lists a Rs 200 vehicle fee, but neither could be confirmed; check on arrival.
Information sources
Where the facts on this page come from, and what still needs confirming.
Information last checked 7 October 2026
Not yet confirmed
- entry/vehicle/observatory charges (secondary or snippet only)
- timings
Not available yet
- official entry tariff
- official opening hours
- Darjeeling-Tourism.com – Tiger Hill · Travel site
- Wikipedia – Tiger Hill, Darjeeling · Encyclopedia
- The Telegraph (India) – 'Pay Rs 50 each to visit Tiger Hill' · News
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