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[[File:Darjeeling Kangchenjunga.jpg|right|thumb|View to [[Kangchenjunga]] from the eastern side of Observatory Hill]]
'''Observatory Hill''' is a hill near [[Chowrasta (Darjeeling)|Chowrasta square]], or The Mall as it is popularly known, in [[Darjeeling]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]. Views of snow-clad peaks, including Mount [[Kanchenjunga]], are visible from the Observatory Hill. The [[Bhutia Busty monastery]] was originally located here. Now the hill has the [[Mahakal Temple (Darjeeling)|temple of Mahakal]]. Two important arteries of the town, Nehru Road and Bhanubhakta Sarani, meet at Chowrasta.<ref name = "Guide">Agarwala, A.P. (editor), ''Guide to Darjeeling Area'', 27th edition, p. 68, {{ISBN|81-87592-00-1}}.</ref> Another school of thought suggests that the presence of the megalithic core to have been a place of worship of the Rongs, representing a sacred location of the classic Long Chok (erect stones) type. The term 'Dotsug' was thus a literal translation of 'Long Chok'

==Monastery==
The Bhutia Busty monastery, the oldest [[monastery]] in Darjeeling, was first located on Observatory Hill. It was built in 1765 by Lama Dorje-Rinzing. The name Darjeeling is believed to have originated when monks of the monastery referred to the region as "Dorje-ling", meaning the land of the thunderbolt. Another school of thought believes that it was named after Dorje-Rinzing. The monastery was sacked by a [[Gurkha|Gorkha]] invasion in 1815. It was rebuilt in 1861 and was moved to its present location in Bhutia Busty in 1879.<ref name="Frontline">{{cite web | url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2201/stories/20050114006111400.htm | title = Return of the Queen | access-date = 2 July 2007 | last = Chattopadhyay | first = Suhrid Sankar | work = Focus on Darjeeling | publisher = Frontline, 1-14 Jan 2005 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926212540/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2201/stories/20050114006111400.htm | archive-date = 26 September 2007 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The ill-fated monastery was again destroyed by a 1934 earthquake and owes its present existence to the [[Chogyal|Raja of Sikkim]].<ref name = "Guide"/>{{rp|78}}

==Temple==
[[File:Temple, Observatory Hill, Darjeeling.jpg|thumb|File:Temple, Observatory Hill, Darjeeling.]]

Rising abruptly from [[Chowrasta (Darjeeling)|Chowrasta]] is the hilltop. Situated atop is the ancient temple of Mahakal, a form of Lord [[Shiva]].<ref name = "Guide"/> There is a cave sacred to worshippers in the temple. In [[Sanskrit]], the word "Durjay Ling", means "Shiva of invincible prowess, who rules the Himalayas." There is a suggestion that the name Darjeeling could have emanated from this name.<ref name = "webindia">{{cite web
| url = http://www.webindia123.com/tourism/hillstations/darjeeling.htm | title = Darjeeling | access-date = 2 July 2007 | work = Hill Stations | publisher = webindia123 }}</ref> The place where the Mahakal Temple stands was once occupied by the Buddhist monastery. It is still a place of great sanctity for the [[Bhutia]]s. Bells ring in the midst of fluttering flags,<ref name = "Guide"/> which are used to pray in the shrine. Monkeys are seen in plenty at the Observatory Hill.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fr.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/india/darjeeling/sightseeing-in-darjeeling/observatory-hill-in-darjeeling.html | title = Observatory Hill in Darjeeling | access-date = 2 July 2007 | work = Sight seeing in Darjeeling | publisher = asiarooms.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927103107/http://www.fr.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/india/darjeeling/sightseeing-in-darjeeling/observatory-hill-in-darjeeling.html | archive-date = 27 September 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

==Tourist centre==
Chowrasta and The Mall around Observatory Hill are among the main centres of tourist attraction in Darjeeling. They spread on hill slopes at an altitude of 2,134 metres (7,000 feet). In clear weather, one can see Mount [[Kangchenjunga|Kanchenjungha]] and twelve other peaks, all above 20,000 feet.<ref name = "Guide"/> The view is clear during October to November. At other times of the year, clouds sometimes engulf the area and some portions of the view available only at opportune moments.{{tone inline|date=October 2017}} Some people, similar to the characters in [[Satyajit Ray]]'s ''[[Kanchenjungha]]'', wait for long periods of time for the mist to clear so that they may have a view of third highest peak in the world.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.satyajitray.org/films/kanchen.htm | title = Kanchenjungha | access-date = 2 July 2007 | work = Life and filmmaking of Satyajit Ray | publisher = satyajitray.org | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070616222334/http://www.satyajitray.org/films/kanchen.htm | archive-date = 16 June 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

In spite of the high tourist flow, The Mall is the cleanest area in Darjeeling.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}} Apart from the mountain views, tourists come to the Chowrasta for pony rides (mostly by children) and collecting souvenirs.<ref name = "Frontline"/>

==Around the hill==
There are several places around Observatory Hill. Birch Hill, or Jawahar Parbat, an offshoot from The Mall, is a residential section where the [[Raj Bhavan, Darjeeling|Raj Bhavan]] is situated.<ref>''A Road Guide to Darjiling'', p. 9, TTK Healthcare Ltd, Publications Division, {{ISBN|81-7053-173-X}}..</ref> The [[Himalayan Mountaineering Institute]] is located on the western spur of Jawahar Parbat, about a kilometre and half from Observatory Hill.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.darjeelingnews.net/himalayan_mountaineering_institute.html | title = Himalayan Moutaineering Institute | access-date = 2 July 2007 | publisher = darjeelingnews.net | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070703023003/http://www.darjeelingnews.net/himalayan_mountaineering_institute.html | archive-date = 3 July 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The [[Windamere Hotel]] and West Bengal Government's Tourist Lodge stand above The Mall. Windamere, a cozy boarding area of the bachelor English and Scottish tea planters, was converted into a hotel in 1939.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.windamerehotel.com | title = Hotel Windamere, Darjeeling
| access-date = 2 July 2007 | work = Heritage hotel in Darjeeling | publisher = himalayan-adventure.com }}</ref> There are a number of hotels and restaurants in and around Chowrasta or The Mall. A road from The Mall leads to "Step Aside" - the house of the eminent freedom fighter [[Chittaranjan Das]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.bhraman.com/places_to_go/hillside/darjeeling.html | title = Darjeeling | access-date = 2 July 2007 | work = Places to go – hillside | publisher = Swarnakshar Prakasani Pvt. Ltd 2004 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070611202519/http://www.bhraman.com/places_to_go/hillside/darjeeling.html  |archive-date = 11 June 2007}}</ref> He died in Darjeeling on 16 June 1925.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.lokpriya.com/personalities/political/past/deshbandhu.html | title = Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das (1870 - 1925) | access-date = 26 April 2010 | work = political figures | publisher = Lokpriya | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090614064454/http://www.lokpriya.com/personalities/political/past/deshbandhu.html | archive-date = 14 June 2009 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The latest addition coming up is a large "Ranga Manch" (theatre) overlooking the Chowrasta.

The range on which Darjeeling is located is Y-shaped with the base resting at [[Katapahar]] and [[Jalapahar]] and two arms diverging north from Observatory Hill. The northeastern arm dips suddenly and ends in the [[Lebong]] spur, while the northwestern arm passes through North Point and ends in the valley near [[Tukver Tea Estate]].<ref>{{cite web | last = Khawas | first = Vimal | year = 2003 | url = http://www.mtnforum.org/resources/library/khawv03e.htm | title = Urban Management in Darjeeling Himalaya: A Case Study of Darjeeling Municipality. | publisher = The Mountain Forum | access-date = 2 July 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041020031749/http://www.mtnforum.org/resources/library/khawv03e.htm | archive-date = 20 October 2004 | df = dmy-all }} Now available in the [[Internet Archive]] in this (accessed on 2 July 2007)</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>image:Darjeeling_Chowrasta.jpg|Children getting ready for a pony ride on Chowrasta
image:Darjeeling_Windermere_Hotel.jpg| [[Windamere Hotel]] Darjeeling
image:Darjeeling_View_from_The Mall.jpg| A view from The Mall
File:31a Darjeeling Tempeleingang.JPG|Entrance to the temple complex
image:Darjeeling_View-point_on_The_Mall.jpg| A view-point on The Mall </gallery>

==See also==
[[Chowrasta (Darjeeling)|Chowrasta Darjeeling]]

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Darjeeling}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Darjeeling]]

Observatory Hill, Darjeeling - Revision history

imported>Monkbot: Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 9 templates: hyphenate params (15×);