General Information About Lepchajagat
If we break the word in two ‘Jagat’ actually means ‘the world’, and Lepcha is tribe name so together word means World of The Lepchas. Lepcha people are originally from Sikkim. But now spread over in Bhutan, Tibet, Nepal, Darjeeling hills. Lepchajagat is a small village located in the wilderness at an altitude of 6,956 ft (i.e. 2123 meters) and only 19kms away from Darjeeling hill town. Although it’s quite close to Darjeeling’s main hub and takes only about 45 minutes by taxi, it has a world of its own.
If you are a nature lover or looking for a romantic stay for a couple of days, then Lepchajagat is the place for you. I know of many who actually association a short stay in Lepchajagat with their visits to Darjeeling just to blend the vacation with an offbeat stay amidst nature. Subsequently, it was taken over by the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation (WBFDC) and now a reserved forest area.
Best Time To Visit Lepchajagat
October to April is a great time to enjoy nature in Lepchajagat. However, note that nights and early mornings in winter can be very cold. Avoid monsoon (June - September) as it can rain almost anytime and the trails won't be suitable for treks or walks.
Some nearby sightseeing areas include
Jorpokhri (only about 5kms away), well known for its serene beauty and views of Kanchenjunga, a beautiful pond and the rare Himalayan Salamanders.Ghum Monastery is about 10kms.
Pashupati Market located at the Indo Nepal border (about 15kms away) and is well known for the foreign goods at cheap prices. Be careful about the Chinese makes and the fakes. Only Indians are allowed entry and with valid Id proof.
Mirik - Famous for its lake fringed by forests on one side. About 27kms away from Lepchajagat and further down from Pahupati Market along the same route.
Manebhanjan, which is the base for Sandakphu trek is about 15kms and takes about 45 minutes to reach.
By taxi/shared jeep Siliguri is the nearest town connected to the mainline rail network. Ample transport is available to Lepchajagat from here. The route to Lepchajagat veers away to the left after you reach Ghoom. The most popular modes of transport are taxi (usually shared by three to four passengers). If you have arrived by train at New Jalpaiguri, you can take a taxi to reach Lepchajagat from the booking counter at the taxi stand in front of the railway station. There is also a prepaid taxi stand in front of the train station. Lepchajagat is 19 km. away from Darjeeling and approximately 8 km. from Ghoom Rly. Station or Ghoom Mirik Road.
By train New Jalpaiguri (NJP) near Siliguri is the nearest station on the main inter-city line. Direct trains to NJP run from Delhi (approx. 27 hours) several times a day. If you are traveling from Kolkata (Sealdah Station) the best train for you will be Darjeeling Mail (circa 12 hours) running nightly at 10:05PM. There is also a train from Howrah Station called Paharia Express, which departs Howrah Station at 21:55 and arrives New Jalpaiguri at 8:45. From there, the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), known to all as the 'Toy Train' completes the journey to Darjeeling. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was the first, and is still the most outstanding, example of a hill passenger railway. It is now listed as a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO.
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