Visit to Lepchajagat| Heaven in Darjeeling | Darjeeling trip
On 10th March 2024, we began our journey from our hotel, NRS Norling Retreat, in Darjeeling at 9 am morning to visit three of the most attractive places in Darjeeling, Mirik, Tea garden, and India-Nepal border. The driver told us that, he would take us to Lepchajagat while our way to Mirik.
I shall be writing separate blogs on Mirik, Tea Garden, and Nepal Boder respectively. However, now I am going to share you my experience on visiting one of the most amazing places in Darjeeling, Lepchajagat. Lepchajagat is a very small village located in the vicinity of Darjeeling main town and is the dwelling place of the tribals. The most breathtaking view in Lepchajagat, is the phenomenol sight of the huge pine and oak trees standing tall. It seemed as if I am sitting on the lap of the nature. The road is going down like a serpent and the panaromic view of the surrounding pine and oak trees just blew my mind. Infact Lepchajagat is approximately at a height of more than 6900 feet and only 20 kilometers away from Darjeeling main town, but at a lower height than that of Darjeeling. The driver shared his experience that he had seen leopard many times crossing the road during the nights, which excited our mood. Everytime, I was looking into the empty sky in belief that, I might see the Kanchenjunga. However, there were clouds which defered us from seeing Kanchenjunga.
Our driver stopped at Lepchajagat and asked us to have a visit inside Lepchajagat. I saw only 2-3 shops selling Momo, Chowmein, and tea on the other side of the road opposite to Lepchajagat, where our cab stopped. We have to purchase tickets amounting Rs. 20/- per person, to get inside Lepchajagat. The entire area inside Lepchajagat consisted of pine and oak trees and going high on slopy area. Just imagine the view of the place where there is complete silence except the sounds coming from various birds, and huge pine and oak trees over your head. While you move upwards inside the slopy area covering the pine and oak trees, always be careful of your balance and will suggest you not to walk wearing plane shoes, as you could fall down or get disbalanced. Also, I would suggest you not to run around the area inside Lepchajagat as the entire area is very steep. Another thing I want to say that, do not go upwards inside Lepchajagat, beyond a limit, as there might be many wild animals which you could not see very often.
Lepchajagat is a reserved forest area and it is not allowed to visit during the nights. It is one of the best places to have the panaromic view of the mighty Kanchenjunga, if weather remains clear. Some of the places which are of closer vicinity to Lepchajagat to have the stunning views of the Kanchenjunga, are Ghum Rock, Jorpokhri, and Hawa Ghar. The road where Lepchajagat lies, goes further downward, towards India-Nepal Border, and Mirik.
So after having the view of Lepchajagat, we again stepped onto our cab and we were on our way to Mirik. The atmosphere was marvelous around us with the huge pine trees on one side and tea gardens on the other side. There were many tea gardens on the way to Mirik on steep valleys and it was a wonder to watch. The splendid view of the tea gardens on the slopy valleys on both side of the roads, just sparkled our mind. I could not even take my eyes off the natural beauty and it was not less than heaven. While we were going further down towards Mirik, we came across a place where our driver told us to get off the cab and have a quick look around the place. Likewise we got off the cab and saw gigantic mountains covered with dense forest and we were said that, the area behind that mountains is Nepal. You can take the breathtaking view of the mountains, click photos, whatever you like, but, always be careful, as one careless step can take you to death, as there are many steep areas over there. We were said that we were very close to India-Nepal border as it would take hardly 15 kilometers away from Lepchajagat.
One thing I forgot to mention that, unlike Darjeeling, the weather is not so cold in the areas around Lepchajagat and India-Nepal border. The driver with whom we went was very good and he speaks in bengali too. The name of the driver was Ajay and he took Rs. 3000/- to make us visit all of the places like Lepchajagat, India-Nepal border, Pashupati Market, and Mirik. Currently I do not have the phone number of the driver, but, will share his phone number once I have it.
