Introduction
“I see every person as a mountain of sorts; we can see how they look from afar,
but will never know them until we explore.”- We Dream of Travel
One of the perks of being a bengali is that crave to travel the world is seeded from the moment you are born. But it is not possible for every one to literally travel the world. However, to overcome this issue bangalis are always looked upto their favorite dada for the solution "DIPUDA" (not the other favorite dada). DIPUDA means Digha, Puri and Darjeeling, yes the three most sought after places by a bangali to satisfy their want to travel the world. Today we are going to talk about Darjeeling, The queen of hills and I am obsessed with her. No matter how many times you visit there will be always something new and exciting to explore.
Now when it comes to Darjeeling we always think about the main town and its attractions. But we all know that the city is becoming crowded day by day, which bring with it the problems like traffic jams, noise & pollution etc like any other metro cities in the country. So, the objective of going to hills for the peace of minds and to run away from the hustle & bustle of a metro city is ruining day by day. However if you look beyond the city of Darjeeling you will find many places which are still untouched and by this irritating city style. These places are popularly known today as "OFF BEAT". This so called off beat places offers comfort of nature and the much needed peace of mind. These places may not offer you the well developed transport facilities or the comfort of a five star hotel. What they can offer you is the personalized hospitality of the local people through which you can truly connect with the place, their culture and traditions.
And in this year we have visited one such place "Takdah-Tinchulleh". So pack your bags and lets explore with us.
Takdah-Tinchulleh
If you love nature at its raw form and to enjoy the mountains to their full potential within budget then this place is one of the finest in the lapse of Darjeeling. Located on lower himalayas of Bengal Takdah-Tinchulleh is a small village town of the Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Surrounded by the magical Himalayas this small connected with the district towns Silliguri & Darjeeling.
(Teesta Valley Viewpoint)
Away from all the hustle and chaos of Darjeeling, Takdah offers breath taking views of the surrounding Teesta valley and the pristine Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. One of the finest hairpin curved roads running through the lush green tea gardens on the steep Himalayan slopes, the clear blue waters of Teesta and the purest mountain air makes this place a must visit for every travel enthusiast.
This place has something in its store for everyone. If you want to just take yourself or your family away from the chaotic city life, spend a good time in peace and recharge yourself then Takdah is one of the best places within your reach. There are plenty of Homestays which offers you comfort of your home with the local hospitality. If you are a adventure sports lover then this place offers you river rafting in the white waters of Teesta which is an altogether once in a lifetime experience, that too in a budget.
How to Reach?
Takdah has an excellent road communication with all the major towns of the district such as Silliguri, Darjeeling. To reach here one can take a train from anywhere from India to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station which is nearest railway station from Takdah. NJP is one of the major railway stations of the Indian railway system. One can also take a flight to Bagdogra International airport. It is the nearest airport and well connected with all the major cities of India. From NJP or airport one either reserve a car or taxi which are readily available at the station. The cost is around Rs.2500-4000* depending on the season. You can also take local taxis from there too. If you don't want the harassments of arguing with multiple drivers to book a car then ask the homestay where you have made your staying arrangements, they will help you out in this at a reasonable price. I would suggest to choose the later option for your comfort.
What to do?
There are plenty places to visit in Takdah. Lamahatta eco park, Teesta Valley view point, Teesta bazar, Tribeny sangam where you can do river rafting and riverside camping and many viewpoints which comes along the way. Teesta dam, Takdah bazar. Teesta Valley and river rafting are two most popular attraction of Takdah. The river rafting will cost you around Rs.4000 to 5000* depending of the distance of rafting (short/long) for 4 to 5 people. The other major attraction is the Lamahatta Eco Park. This is beautiful park surrounding a pine forest. The special attraction of this park is clouded like at the mountain top (about at a height of 750 meters from the base of the park). One has to trek to reach the lake situated at the middle of the pine forest which looks like its coming straight out of a Harry Potter movie. The trekking trail is quite good.
(Tribeni Sangam)
(Teesta Riverside Camp site at Tribeni)
(Lamahatta Eco Park)
(Lamahatta Lake)
Where to stay?
There are plenty of homestays available at Takdah. They all offer the finest rooms and cottages, with delicious local and national cuisine and the outstanding local hospitality like warmth of your own house. You can book them in online through major websites or on call. Most of all offer packages which starts around Rs1000 to 1500* per person per night (meals included). The rates may vary depending on the season.
We stayed at the Sinkawli Homestay at Takdah. They provide the best homestay experience. The cottages are quite spacious and well maintained. The owner alongwith his family runs the facility. The homely abode on the mountain top with breathtaking views is just impeccable. This homestay provides one of the best sunrise views. The food, the behavior are all top notch. They treat you like their own family member not just a guest. As we stayed there on Dusshera which celebratee widely amongst the local, they welcomed us whole heartedly and give us wonderful opportunity to take part in the festivities as per their culture which is altogether a different experience. When we visited this facility it cost us around Rs1200* per person per day including full meals. They also arrange barbeque and bonfire which is charged separately. Bookings can be done easily via offline or online method.
(Sunrise from Sinkawli Homestay)
When to visit?
Excluding the monsoon season (July to August) you can visit this place at any month around the year, However Jan to May & September to early December are the best time to visit keeping in mind the April to May & September to October are the peak seasons.
So pack your bags, take a good camera and explore the breathtaking vicinity of Takdah-Tinchulleh.
(*The fares as mentioned was for the time when we have visited in October 2021. They may have changed. Reader's discretion is advised)
For more photos check out the Photo Gallery page.
Also do check out my other blog: Bortir Bill- A evanescent gateway brought to you by Facebook
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