5/5 AS C. 10 months ago on Google
Observatory
hill
is
situated
at
one
end
of
the
Mall
of
Darjeeling,
lovingly
called
the
Queen
of
the
Hills.
The
Observatory
hill
is
famous
for
some
up-end
hotels
and
some
good
view
points,
but
the
most
important
spot
there
is
a
temple
complex,
the
most
popular
of
which
is
the
Mahakal
temple
which
is
a
superb
example
of
religious
harmony.
There
are
two
paths
to
climb
the
Observatory
Hill
-
one
is
a
lengthier
motorable
road
on
the
northern
side
of
the
hill,
the
other
a
shorter
but
rather
steep
path
for
the
pedestrians
on
the
eastern
side
of
the
hill.
The
temples:
1.
Mahakal
temple
:
As
told
above,
this
is
the
most
important
temple
here,
dedicated
to
Lord
Mahakal
(a
manifestation
of
Lord
Shiva)
as
well
as
a
manifestation
of
Lord
Buddha.
In
the
sanctum
there
is
the
deity
Mahakal,
three
brass
covered
Lingam
representing
Brahma,
Vishnu
and
Maheshwar,
and
a
statue
of
Lord
Buddha.
Interestingly,
there
are
two
sets
of
priests,
one
Hindu
and
the
other
Buddhist,
and
it
is
a
custom
to
be
followed
by
the
devotees
to
offer
Puja
to
Lord
Buddha
first.
There
are
colourful
flags
all
over
the
place,
and
the
Buddhist
Prayer
Wheel.
In
front
of
the
temple,
there
is
a
statue
of
Mandi
the
Bull,
the
Vahana
of
Lord
Shiva.
2.
Ganesha
temple
:
There
is
a
small
temple
dedicated
to
Lord
Ganesha
just
in
front
of
the
main
temple.
3.
Durga
temple.
4.
Mahakali
temple.
5.
Kirateshwar
Shiva
temple.
6.
Mahakal
cave
which
is
the
abode
of
"Saat
Kanya"
(Seven
Daughters
-
actually
Sapta
Matrika
or
Seven
Mothers)
and
Mahakal
Shiva.
7.
A
temple
dedicated
to
Sai
Baba.
8.
A
temple
dedicated
to
Lord
Hanumana.
The
hill
offers
some
beautiful
view
points
from
where
excellent
views
of
the
surrounding
and
the
majestic
Kanchenjunga,
the
3rd
highest
peak
in
the
world.
In
fact,
the
Kanchenjunga
range
is
dubbed
"The
Sleeping
Buddha",
as
the
range
extending
from
Mount
Kabru
South
to
Mount
Pandim
looks
like
as
if
a
huge
man
is
reclining
in
the
supine
position.