Darjeeling is the main town of the Sadar subdivision and also the headquarters of the district.

The range is Y-shaped with the base resting at Katapahar and Jalapahar and two arms diverging north of the Observatory Hill.

• The hills of Darjeeling are part of the Lesser Himalaya.
• The soil is chiefly composed of sandstone and conglomerate formations, which are the solidified and upheaved detritus of the great range of Himalaya.
• The area has steep slopes and loose topsoil, leading to frequent landslides during the monsoons.

• Tourist inflow into Darjeeling had been affected by the political instability in the region, and agitations in the 1980s and 2000s hit the tourism industry hard.
• Darjeeling has once again witnessed a steady inflow of both domestic and international tourists.
• Presently, around 50,000 foreign and 500,000 domestic tourists visit Darjeeling each year,and its repute as the 'Queen of the Hills' remains unaltered.
• According to an India Today survey published on 23 December 2015, Darjeeling is the third most googled travel destination among all the tourist spots in India.