Gor’s visit came following a personal invitation from Shringla, who is also a former Indian Ambassador to the US.

The two visited the historic Mall Road, interacted with local youth and students and took a ride on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

The US envoy also visited the historic Makaibari Tea Estate, one of Darjeeling’s oldest tea gardens, where he sampled the region’s famous tea.

At Shringla’s residence, Ivanhoe, overlooking the Darjeeling Mall, the two shared Darjeeling momo and Castleton First Flush tea.

“It was a great pleasure and a personal honour to welcome H.E. Sergio Gor to Darjeeling and to my residence, Ivanhoe, overlooking the Darjeeling Mall. It was a special joy to welcome him with the warmth of Darjeeling, sharing our beloved Darjeeling momo and a cup of Castleton First Flush tea,” Shringla said.

For Gor, the visit also offered a chance to see a part of India he had been invited to experience soon after taking up his post.

“When I first arrived in India, one of the first people to warmly welcome me was @harshvshringla. He also invited me to visit his home and constituency in Darjeeling. Today I finally had the chance to spend the day with him in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. If you’ve never been, add it to your list — the people are warm, the history is remarkable, the landscapes are stunning, and the food is unforgettable. I promise I’ll be back,” Gor wrote.

Shringla said the visit brought the India-US relationship closer to the people and culture of the hills.