Soak in the Joy of Volunteering in Darjeeling

1. Day 1: Volunteer at the Happy Valley Tea Estate
   10 minutes (2 km) from Darjeeling

   Begin your journey of giving back by volunteering at the Happy Valley Tea Estate. Participate in the plucking, processing, and packaging of tea leaves while learning about Nilgiri tea.

2. Day 2: Help the Underprivileged at a Local NGO
   20 minutes (3 km) from Happy Valley Tea Estate

   Join a local NGO to help the underprivileged by teaching, organizing extracurricular activities and health camps. Lead the change in the lives of the children and experience satisfaction like no other.

3. Day 3: Volunteer at Lloyd's Botanical Garden
   30 minutes (6 km) from the NGO

   Head to Lloyd's Botanical Garden and offer to help in the maintenance of Darjeeling's lush flora. With over 150 varieties of flora and fauna, you can learn horticulture, research plant conservation, and help preserve the garden's eco-system.

4. Day 4: Serve at Kripasaran Buddhist Mission
   15 minutes (2 km) from Lloyd's Botanical Garden

   Visit Kripasaran Buddhist Mission and offer your services by cooking and serving food to the monks and visitors. The mission also offers a chance to teach English and computer courses to the young monks.

5. Day 5: Assist at the Darjeeling Animal Shelter
   5 minutes (1 km) from Kripasaran Buddhist Mission

   Spend a day at the Darjeeling Animal Shelter, taking care of animals and getting a chance to assist in vet services. Help the team in educating the locals about animal care and welfare.

6. Day 6: Contribute at the Malnutrition Elimination Program
   20 minutes (5 km) from Darjeeling Animal Shelter

   Contribute to society by joining the Malnutrition Elimination Program, working with malnourished children in government hospitals in Darjeeling. Offer support by organizing games and fun activities and motivate children to recover.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Happy Valley Tea Estate (2 hours, no cost)
• Local NGO (4 hours, no cost)
• Lloyd's Botanical Garden (3 hours, INR 30)
• Kripasaran Buddhist Mission (4 hours, no cost)
• Darjeeling Animal Shelter (4 hours, INR 500)
• Malnutrition Elimination Program (4 hours, no cost)
• Total Estimated Costs (INR): 530

Useful Tips

If you have extra time, visit other places in Darjeeling like the Tiger Hill, Ghoom Monastery, and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. If you have lesser time, skip the animal shelter and head straight to the Malnutrition Elimination Program.