West Bengal

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If you have ever dreamt of staying in a 106 year-old bungalow perched on a hilltop surrounded by orange orchards and forests with a panoramic view of Mt. Kanchenjungha, then it is time you should visit Dara Gaon Bungalow. Located in a remote region over Teesta in the foothills of Eastern Himalayas, this village is truly one of the last refuges for those who seek a silent corner, free from the din of the civilized world.

From the bungalow’s lush lawn, you can enjoy a magnificent view of Mt. Kanchenjungha, Kalimpong hills and the snaking River Teesta in the distance. Apart from bird watching, trekking and enjoying a nature walk along the forest trails to the nearby Chortens on the hill top, you can also visit nearby Kalimpong town. Sightseeing trips to the various attractions of Kalimpong like Durpin Monastery, Golf course, Delo Park, Cactus garden and tea plantations like Lopchu and Peshok can also be arranged.

Accommodation at Dara Gaon Bungalow

This 106 year-old wooden house still has the traditional local wood-works in its doors, windows, staircases, Khirkis and arches. With an orange orchard in its backyard and a sprawling lawn in its front overlooking Mt. Kanchenjungha, this heritage bungalow is quite different in structure and appearance from the colonial British bungalows spread across the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. There is also a traditional kitchen with mud oven where food is cooked on wood burners (still functional). You can also try kicking a Dheki (a wooden device for husking rice). Some recent renovation done to this century-old heritage house has spruced it up with amenities like western bathrooms with hot water geysers, televisions and electricity. Now, the regular kitchen is also in-house and runs on LPG for the guests. Occasionally, the traditional kitchen is used for the guests too. The vegetables are locally sourced and organic and the food is home-cooked and fresh. Traditional Indian cuisine is served with some local delicacies.

How to reach Dara Gaon Bungalow

This bungalow is connected by a 08 km dirt road from Teesta. You can reach Teesta Bazar on NH-31A from New Jalpaiguri Railway station, Siliguri Bus Stop or Bagdogra Airport (IXB) in local cars. However, from Teesta, a pick-up is arranged by Dara Gaon Bungalow.

Attractions of Dara Gaon Bungalow

Apart from enjoying the panoramic view of Mt. Kanchenjungha, the rolling Kalimpong hills and the meandering Teesta River from the bungalow, you can visit nearby Kalimpong town for some sightseeing at the Durpin Dara Monastery, Delo Park, Cactus garden and few other places. If you are fond of visiting some offbeat destinations, then local villages like Chota Mangwa, Bara Mangwa, Tinchuley can be on your cards. You can also go downhill for 12 kms or so to reach the confluence of River Rangit and River Teesta.

Activities at Dara Gaon Bungalow

You can trek along the forests to reach some Buddhist Stupas (Chortens) on the nearby hilltop and savour a spectacular view of Mt. Kanchenjungha. You can also take a village walk and watch the daily lives of the villagers unfolding around you – the farmers tilling their terraced fields, children yelling out their Math Tables in chorus in the village school and women busy in plucking vegetables from kitchen gardens. There are some secluded spots high on the hilltops where you can practice meditation too. If bird watching and landscape photography are your ‘areas of interest’, then a few days at the heritage bungalow of Dara Gaon can be very rewarding too. You can arrange picnic in the riverside or plan a reading vacation at this bungalow too. Just carry your favourite novels and enjoy reading them in the lawn overlooked by Mt. Kanchenjungha and kissed by the soft sunshine of the mornings.

At Dara Gaon Bungalow, you are sure to discover the sound of silence and peace.