Darjeeling was ceded by the raja of Sikkim to the British in 1835 and was developed as a sanatorium for British troops. It was constituted a municipality in 1850. The Chaurastha (“Four Roads”) district encompasses the Mall, where the roads converge; it is the city’s main shopping centre and the most attractive promenade. Observatory Hill, Darjeeling’s highest point (7,137 feet [2,175 metres]), is crowned by Mahakal Temple, which is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists. Birch Hill contains a natural park and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. The Lloyd Botanic Gardens, well known for their varieties of Himalayan flora, were laid out in 1865. Besides those attractions, Darjeeling has a zoo, a natural history museum, and a racecourse. It is well known for its residential schools, and there are several colleges affiliated with the University of North Bengal (founded 1962) in and around the city.

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