Dow Hill Forest

Dow Hill Forest is a dense temperate forest located in Dow Hill area of Kurseong in Darjeeling district, West Bengal. Situated at an altitude of about 1,480 metres, it is known for its mist-covered pine and oak woods, colonial-era schools and tranquil walking trails. The forest surrounds Dow Hill Eco Park and offers scenic viewpoints, rich birdlife and a cool climate, making it a popular nature attraction near Darjeeling.

Visitors can expect a dense, misty forest with tall pine, oak and chestnut trees, narrow winding roads and forest trails. The area includes Dow Hill Eco Park with viewpoints and landscaped gardens, colonial buildings such as Dow Hill Girls' School and Victoria Boys' School on the forest edge, and quiet paths for nature walks, photography and birdwatching. The environment is cool, often foggy, with limited commercial development inside the forest.

Dow Hill area developed during the British colonial period as part of the Kurseong hill station. Dow Hill Girls' School was established in 1879 and Victoria Boys' School in 1879 as colonial boarding schools for British children, with the surrounding forest retained as a forested buffer. The forest and schools reflect the colonial hill-station planning of the late 19th century in the Darjeeling hills.

The forest is locally associated with folklore and stories linked to the old colonial schools and forest roads, which form part of Kurseong's cultural identity. It is valued as a natural heritage and recreational space for residents and visitors to the Darjeeling hills.