In the hill district of Darjeeling, temperatures run 8–12 degrees below the plains, and the monsoon (June–September) carries the highest landslide risk — hill roads often close then. Winter dips to 2–7°C in December–January, and Kanchenjungha shows itself clearest in October–November.
Not usually in town, but high areas above 12,000 ft such as Sandakphu and Phalut do get snow in winter.
During sustained heavy rain in July–August. Avoid hill travel in the monsoon, or strictly follow landslide warnings.
Best on dry, cloudless days in October–November; the weeks right after the monsoon have the clearest skies of the year.