West Bengal

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What makes this place more pristine is the presence of two small natural lakes and the dense, green pine woods around. In fact, the word Jorpokhri comes from two local words: “jor” meaning two and “pokhri” meaning “pond.” The twin lakes are an abode of swans and are also the breeding ground for the endangered Himalayan Salamanders. If you are lucky, monsoons are the best season to spot Salamanders.

While you can see the entire Kanchenjunga range on one side, you can view the cities of Darjeeling and Kurseong on the other side. Sunrise is a beautiful experience from here. Jorpokhri falls within the Senchal Forest area.

Best time to visit Jorpokhri is from October to March (the cold season) if you desire beautiful views of Mt. Kanchenjunga and from June to August (monsoons) if you wish very, rare sightings of the Himalayan Salamanders.

Accommodation at Jorpokhri Bungalow

The only lodging option here is an exotic wooden bungalow with 2 double bed rooms and 2 double suites. There is a lobby on the first floor of the bungalow with a single balcony; from here you can get a glimpse of the gorgeous Mt. Kanchenjunga. The double bed rooms with terraces overlook the rolling plains and mountains. The suites even offer a bedroom view of mountains. A few new rooms in the annex building are now available and offer a view of the mountains. The cottage is landscaped with gardens and lawns. Food is served only in the dining room and it is essentially Indian cuisine.

Attractions around Jorpokhri

Darjeeling, Mirik, Lepchajagat and Kurseong – These are nearby towns that can be easily visited in day trips. Nearby Sukhiapokhri is the spot for taking the Sandakphu Trek, so trekkers can also stay at Jorpokhri before trek to Sandakphu. You can also visit Pashupati Nath Market (presently in Nepal) for buying some local ware. It is in the India-Nepal border area and is 30 minutes from Jorpokhri. The Senchal Forest Area and Tea Gardens are close by and can also be visited. Lepchajagat is another nearby village to visit, which is only 5.5 kilometers from Jorpokhri. This place also offers beautiful views of Mt. Kanchenjunga.

How to reach Jorpokhri Bungalow

Jorpokhri is close to the India-Nepal border. It is 21 kilometers from Darjeeling, 13.5 kilometers from Ghum, 85 kilometers from Siliguri, 23 kilometers from Mirik and 5.5 kilometers from Lepchajagat. It is located on the road from Ghum to Mirik.

The closest airport is Bagdogra and the closest rail head is New Jalpaiguri (NJP). From NJP, you can hire a prepaid taxi to Jorpokhri. You can either travel via Mirik that takes 3.5 hours or you can go via Kurseong, which takes more than 4 hours. The Mirik route is more scenic of the two. Note that there are no buses available to Jorpokhri. Buses are only available from Siliguri and Darjeeling to Sukhiapokhri, form which Jorepokhri is only 2 kilometers away.

Activities at Jorpokhri

The most enjoyable activity here is the views of Mt. Kanchenjunga. You can also take leisurely walks in the surrounding green Senchal forest area that is a natural reserve of dhupi and pine trees. You can do some marketing at Pashupati Nath market of Nepal.

You can simply sit and relax in the landscaped gardens by the lake that have seating arrangements and a water fountain in the middle of the lake. From here you can also get a superb view of the Mt. Kanchenjunga, from a shaded area on higher grounds. You can also feed the geese and swan in the pokhri.

You can also take day trips to Lepchajagat, Mirik, and Darjeeling.