Sale of Alcohol Banned in Darjeeling

Kangchenjunga sunset.
www.flickr.com user A.Ostrovsky

If you're visiting Darjeeling, it looks like you'll now have to be content with drinking what Darjeeling is most famous for -- tea! The Gorkha Janmukhi Morcha political party has issued a ban on the sale of alcohol in bars, restaurants, and shops in Darjeeling from November 7, 2009. The reason? To stop revenue flowing into Bengal state government coffers and thus exert pressure on the government.

If you're craving a drink to enjoy with the sunset over Kangchenjunga, there is an option -- local brew. Since it doesn't attract state government excise duty, local brew doesn't fall under the ban. The most popular type is rakshi, made from chingping and rhododendron. Many trekkers in the Sandakphu-Phalut region drink it.

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