Tourist destination in Kalimpong

Lolegaon/Kaffer : In Nature’s Lap

                                                                                   - Anup Moktan

Anup Moktan

Want to get off the beaten path??? Then Lolegaon is the perfect destination for you.  Away from the din and bustle of cities and towns, virgin forests and a pristine ambience await you in Lolegaon. Lose yourself in the spectacular sunrise and sunset views seen from vantage points or the view of the entire Khangchendzonga range from anywhere in Lolegaon. Thrill yourselves with a hike in the forests or enjoy the local beverages available in its purest form. Come visit Lolegan/Kaffer.

Loley Gaon

About the place : Kaffer, also known by it’s more famous name, Lolegaon, is a hot destination for tourists in North Bengal. It is located in the Kalimpong sub-division in the Darjeeling District and perfecly placed in the ridge overlooking Kalimpong town with the Relli river in between. It’s altitude is about 5600 feet.

Places of interest :  Lolegaon has a rich cover of coniferous and mixed vegetation. The major attraction is the Sunrise, from Jhandi Dara, 3.5 kms from the bus stand, which is known to be the best that can be seen from anywhere. Ramitey Dara, which is at a walking distance, also is an excellent vantage point that offers spectacular views of the setting sun. One can view the 180 range of Kanchanjuinga from Lolegaon. Another major draw is the Heritage Forest, which includes the Canopy Walk, where one can walk among the century-old trees. Apart from these, Lolegaon is perfect starting point for organised hikes to upcoming eco-tourism hotspots like Charkhol and Samthar. The majority population follow Buddhism and there is a Gumba for people with religious inclinations. Lolegaon also offers a pristine environment for educational tours and institutions, and the place boasts of an English medium co-ed school, St. Stephen’s Academy, which offers classes till the ICSE level. Visitors can also witness regional flowers in some privately owned flowers nurseries.

How to reach : Lolegaon can be reached from Siliguri with a 4 hrs drive covering 124 kms via Kalimpong and Lava. Kalimpong, the nearest town, is 30 kms from Lolegaon via Relli.

The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport, which is situated outside the town of Siliguri. The place is well connected and it receives international flights as well.

The New Jalpaiguri Station is the only one railway head in the region and if you are planning to arrive by rail, this is the most feasible option. The station is well connected to places such as Kolkata, New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Dibrugarh. Taxis are available at the station as well.

Best seasons : The most favourable time to visit this tourist hub is March to June and October to December.

Temperature : Mercury drops down to 4-5 0C during the Winter.

Clothings : Warm clothings are advisable during the visit to this spot.

Lingua-franca : Nepali is the lingua-franca of Lolegaon.

Accomodation : Private hotels and lodges are available at very reasonable rates for budget tourists. Apart from this, the Forest Department and DGHC also accomodate the visitors in respective rest houses.

Food : Here the tourist can taste the delicious ethnic foods like kinema, gundruk, masem daal, thukpa, momo etc. on demand.