If there is any place in Darjeeling, which every tourist is bound to visit, it is the Chowrasta Mall or simply the Mall. This flat piece of circular land on top of Nehru Road can safely be termed as the central point of the town.
In olden days, this was the place where the Europeans came for their walks. Today, the locals as well as the tourists come here to lounge and relax.
In a good day, one can also have a magnificent view of the Kanchenjunga or the Sewa Lungma as is known in Limbu language. Chow means four while Rasta means road, so at the Chowrasra four roads meet.
At the center of the ground, there is a huge golden color statue of the great Nepali poet Bhanubhakta Acharya who wrote the Nepali version of Ramayana translating it from Sanskrit. Bhanubhakta Acharya is also known as Adi Kavi of Nepali language. The statue was originally erected on June 17, 1949 and reinstalled on July 13, 1996 by the Nepali Sahitya Sammelan,
The other important structure located in the place is a beautifully designed an amphitheatre ,where cultural programs are performed to showcase the Gorkha Culture. It is actually an elevated stage beautifully designed to organize cultural functions. There is a huge LCD screen beside the amphitheatre in which live Sports programs and TV shows are projected.
The audience is expected to watch the programmes sitting or standing at the mall.
One side of the mall is lined with pine trees through which you get wonderful mountain vistas; the other side is lined with lovely boutique shops of different kinds.
Some of the noted shops, restaurants and eateries in the area are Habeeb Mullick & Son, Curio Corner, Nathmulls Tea & Sunset Lounge, Golden Tips, Life & Leaf, Jolly arts and Bhutan Tibet Art Shop. The Bhutia Market, which is close to Chowrasta is another attraction for shopaholics.
Next to the Nathmulls Tea & Sunset Lounge is the famous Oxford book store and Stationery. The store has been selling books for almost seventy years. They have all sort of books, but specialize on the Himalayan states such as Darjeeling Nepal Tibet and Bhutan.
As Chowrasta has restricted traffic movement, one can absorb the scenic beauty of the Kanchenjunga and take a leisurely stroll at the mall road. It's a moment you'll relish forever.
© Vineet Ramananda, Mighty Indian Gorkha 2016
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