We all are accustomed with the names of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Karshiyang, Lava- Lolegaon side of North Bengal. But the places, I would narrate today in this blog are totally new and unventured. But still many or few people are familiar with the names of those places.
To start with our first destination- it will be Lepcha Jagat. It is a small village located in wilderness and only 19 kms away from Darjeeling hill town. Although it is quite close to Darjeeling's main hub and takes only 45 mins by taxi and it has a world of its own. Lepcha Jagat is a combination of vacation with an off-beat stay amidst nature.
It is a quaint hamlet near Darjeeling surrounded by fir, pines and oaks. People who want to escape from the mundane city life can enjoy solace in the lap of the nature. It is one of the famous weekend destinations from Kolkata. People can enjoy the majestic views of the Kanchenjunga ranges. Various Himalayan birds are found in these forests.
The option of staying at homestays is there but we didn't get the chance to stay there. The chirping of birds is one of the sounds that you will continuously hear in Lepcha Jagat. It is indeed a place where you can simply relax and enjoy nature - a place of total tranquility and nature.
Crossing Lepcha Jagat, we moved forward to our next destination, named as Sittong. It is a secluded yet picturesque place perched in the beautiful eastern Himalayas. It is an ideal destination for rejuvenating the mind and soul. The Himalayan peak, the valley full of mist and cloud, the small river, the chirping of birds, the orange orchards and the surrounding of greenery everything here in Sittong is invigorating. Far away from pollution and hustle - bustle of the urban chaos, the place is the ultimate expression of the prestine beauty of nature.
Sittong is famous for orange cultivation. The orange orchards here are a visual treat for the tourists. While walking in the villages, we enjoyed the orange gardens in the backdrop of eye- catching natural beauty.
Apart from orange garden, another famous spot in Sittong is Mungpoo. Mungpoo is around 8 km from Sittong. It is famous for beautifully built Tagore house where the famous noble laureate Rabindranath Tagore stayed. Tagore house is extremely well- maintained and a must - visit place here.
BEST TIME TO VISIT:
This place can be visited throughout the year but as the orange orchid grows in full bloom during the winter time so its best to visit during that time if one wants to enjoy the orange cultivation. During summer time the weather feels cool and breezy. The weather is also crystal clear as well.
HOW TO REACH THERE:
Sittong is close to the main airport Bagdogra and the rail station of NJP. The drive to Sittong village from the Airport or the rail station is about 2 hours duration and the distance is about 60 to 65km. But we went there via Darjeeling and then Lepcha Jagat so it took more than 2hours.
There are some homestays options available at Sittong both at reasonable price, good lodging, fooding and great scenic beauty. Online sites are also available for making the bookings. Its a good option for venturing the unknown.
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