Lepchajagat Travel Guide

Many of us may have cherished the secret desire to travel to all the different parts of the Himalayas. For which many people from all over the world come here every year to visit different known or unknown places. Today I will talk about a place that is surrounded by lush green forests of oak, far, pine and rhododendrons, in the heart of the mountain, a small hamlet of Lepchas' who are the tribe of Eastern Himalayas, is known as Lepchajagat.

Pine Forest

This is quite a popular place now for those who want to spend a few days in seclusion in the middle of the green world. However, despite being very close to the city of Darjeeling, this place has been well hidden from tourists for a long time. The serene village is situated at an altitude of about 6959 feet and is about 19 km from Darjeeling.

How to go

From NJP station or Bagdogra airport, you can get a prepaid taxi which will take around 2.5-3 hours to reach Lepchajagat.

or if you are a budget traveler then you can go for a shared jeep. In that case, you need to change the car twice. The first time you need to catch a car from NJP station or Siliguri to Ghoom, then again take a jeep from there and it will take you down Lepchajagat Main Road.

Again, shared jeeps are available from Darjeeling chawkbazar stand to get here.

Best time to Visit

The mountains are beautiful all the time. In different seasons you can see the different sights of it. For example, in summer, when people become restless due to the heatwave in the plains, there is very comfortable weather in the mountains.

In the rainy season, the clouds come down very close to the mountains, and the trees seem much greener, the forest paths covered with fog. Who wouldn't want to wander in the lap of the mountains for two or four days in such an environment?

Mansoon time view

And for those who want a royal view of Bengal's pride Mt. Kanchenjunga in clear weather, I would recommend you to come in winter.

"The last kiss" Sunset from the viewpoint

Where to Stay

Since It’s is a small hilly village so there are very few hotels or lodges available. It would be better to book hotels in advance. We stayed in Kanchankanya. I remember seeing the beautiful Kanchenjunga from their roof and verandah.

What to See

Sunrise Point

 Lepchajagat Sunrise Point is a short climb through the jungle. Don’t worry the staff of the lodge or homestay will give you the direction if asked. It is within walking distance from most of the lodges or homestays. From this viewpoint, you will get an astounding view of snowcapped Kanchanjunga. Not only that, on a clear day, the entire Himalayan peaks can be seen standing at a distance like a huge wall. Both sunrise and sunset here are impossibly beautiful.

Sunrise

As the dark sky slowly began to lit up and the sky behind the wide mountains on the horizon gradually turned from pink to saffron at that moment the surroundings look much clearer, and finally, the golden hour comes when Kanchenjunga appears in a dazzling golden robe. This phenomenal experience will take a special place in anyone's mind for a lifetime.

Jorpokhri

There is a small village called Jodhpokhari very close to Lepchajagat which is popular for a pair of lakes. Jor means two pokhri means lake, It seems that the place has such a name for the two lakes. Many swans can be seen roaming in the water of this lake, not only that, it is surrounded by pine forest. From this place, you can get a breathtaking view of the Himalayan range.

 

Gopaldhara Tea estate

Gopaldhara Tea Estate is on the way to Mirik from Lepchajagat. This 1955's estate is located on the Mirik Valley, one of the highest tea estates in Darjeeling. The taste of the tea and nature is the epitome of  Himalayan beauty.

 

Gopaldhara Tea Estate

Mirik

Nestled in the tranquil mountain, Mirik is a small picturesque hill station known for pine forests, valleys, and lake. The most popular landmark here is Sumendu Lake which is surrounded by a small pine garden and a small rainbow bridge. Orange is one of the notable features of Mirik. Near Mirik Bazar a small village named Pahela gaon is known for orange and cardamom. You can visit that place too for some unique experience of rural Himalayan livelihood.

 

Mirik

Finally, there is much more to see from Lepchajagat to Mirik, such as Mane Bhanjang or Pashupati Market across the Nepal border. Although I did not elaborate on them this time, I hope to be able to return with those experiences soon. In fact, none of these are places to rush around, so stay connected for the next part.

We met this sweet baby at the viewpoint