Friends, travellers & nomads! Lend me your itineraries, and I will show you few of the best offbeat hamlets in the North of Bengal. Being the bridge between the high Himalayas and the plains, North Bengal boasts of an impressive landscape, coupled with stunningly diverse weather conditions.
Ramdhura
Forests, rivers and the foothills of Himalayas, the landscape here is anything but boring. It is a multifaceted tourist attraction, pulling hundreds and thousands of travellers from every corner of the nation.
The town Siliguri acts as the base from where travellers choose their destinations in the mountains. Being accessible via rail and flight, reaching the hills are straightforward from here. You can take either of the transportation options and then drive to your chosen spots.
I have been to North Bengal many times. Owing to its proximity to Kolkata, it is a welcome escape from the relentless heat and humidity here. There are countless hill stations, forests and river retreats to see. One needs a few dozen lifetimes to completely explore this beautiful land.
I have been privileged to experience peaceful nature in some of the best off the grid destinations in the lower and upper Himalayas. On this blog post, I will elaborate my experience in three such amazing little hamlets, tucked deep in the forest cover of this never-ending mountain range.
Kolakham
Our first stop in this mountain voyage will be the charming, little village of Kolakham. Situated at a height of 6500 ft, it is a small cluster of settlements about 107 kms from Siliguri. Adjacent to the hill of Rishop, this relatively unknown spot is hidden near the Neora valley national Park.
Neora Valley Eco Huts
Being tucked away from the conventional route, traffic here is almost non-existent and the silence of nature amongst rolling hills is something you should experience. Most of the accommodation here are homestays run by very friendly and cooperative locals.
Travelling through this place you can partake in a lot of unconventional sight seeing and experiences. Owing to its closeness to the Neora Valley National Park, tourists often go on the famous jungle trek from here.
Wildlife that are regularly spotted here, includes a diverse cohort of mountain birds, the elusive red panda and a slew of rich flora that is unique to the region. On clear weather days, you can see the entire Kanchenjunga massif from your homestay window in Kolakham. We were not that lucky; our views were dominated by thick cloud covers to the North.
Ramdhura
Moving further into the mountains, our next stop will be the little cluster of homes forming up the village of Ramdhura in the Kalimpong district. At an altitude of 5000 ft, it provides an amazing view of the surrounding mountain ranges.
There are trekking routes in and around the area that attract adventure enthusiasts year-round. The quiet village life and the heavily forested hiking routes make for a peaceful weekend in the hills. Sightseeing here includes the vintage Jalsa Bunglow that was established in the 1930s.
Icchegaon, lies a little further up the slopes from Ramdhura. You can take a short hike up the steep, winding, picturesque route through the woods to visit this little cluster of homestays perched on the clouds.
Kokomendho Homestay
Sillerygaon is also quite close and if you have the time, I will highly recommend giving this place a visit; it has some of the best views of the far-flung snow-capped peaks of Higher Himalayas.
At Ramdhura, you can choose between a diverse assortment of homestays. Each of them offers their own, unique and stunning vistas of the highlands. The locals here a very cooperative and rest assured your hosts will the most warm and welcoming folks you meet there.
Bara Mangwa
The little village of Bara Mangwa is a small cluster of homestays that you will come across while you go up the mountain towards Tinchuley. It is not a high-altitude spot and weather here is warm during the day but gets mildly cold during the night.
The place is dotted with beautiful orchards, gardens and a landscape dominated by the green slopes of lower Himalayas. Situated at 35 km from Darjeeling, Bara Mangwa is quaint slice of nature; hidden from the onslaught of commercial tourism.
Tourists here are attracted to the views of the confluence of river Teesta and River Rangeet, a stunning view of Kalimpong hill and some spectacular night skies. The village is famous for its successful implementation of ecological agriculture and an elaborate network of terraced farming.
The Orange orchards here are a must see for anyone passing through the region. Tinchuley is also close at hand and there is a beautiful viewpoint of Mt. Kanchenjunga (if the weather is good that is). I would highly recommend visiting this charming hamlet during the winter months.
It is easily accessible by road and is not too far from any of the major locations in the area.
North Bengal is a gift that keeps on giving. There are countless places apart from the three that are mentioned here which must be experienced and explored. Life is short and this world is an abundantly beautiful place.
There is no point in dwelling on things that do not bring joy to life. So, buckle up, pack your bags and hit the road; your next great adventure waits for you down the road.
Accommodation recommendation;
Kolakham- Neora Valley Eco Huts
Ramdhura- Kokomendho Homestay
Bara Mangwa- Bara Mangwa Farmhouse
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