US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited Darjeeling on Thursday following an invitation from Rajya Sabha MP and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. The visit brought together diplomacy, local heritage and cultural engagement, with Gor describing Darjeeling as one of the most beautiful parts of India and expressing his intention to return.
Gor recalled that Shringla was among the first people to warmly welcome him after his arrival in India and had invited him to visit Darjeeling, his home town and constituency. During the visit, Shringla hosted the US envoy at his residence, Ivanhoe, overlooking the Darjeeling Mall, where they shared local Darjeeling momos and Castleton First Flush tea.
The US ambassador also visited the historic Makaibari Tea Estate, one of the region’s well-known tea estates. Gor shared images from the visit and highlighted Darjeeling tea as one of the area’s iconic traditions. His visit provided an opportunity to experience the region’s long-standing tea heritage and its distinctive hill culture.
Gor’s itinerary also included a walk along the historic Mall Road, interactions with local youth and students, and a ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, popularly known as the Toy Train. The railway is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site and remains one of Darjeeling’s most prominent cultural and tourism attractions.
Shringla said the visit was an opportunity to share Darjeeling’s heritage, welcoming people and the aspirations of its younger generation with the US ambassador. He described the experience as a reflection of the India-US friendship coming alive in the hills.
Gor also praised Darjeeling’s people, history, landscapes and food in his social media post and said, “I promise I’ll be back.” The visit comes as the ambassador continues engagements across different parts of India, combining diplomatic outreach with cultural and public interactions.
