[RIKUPIKU]

After the Dooars trip in November 2021, I was super eager to drive to Hills through the clouds with a better view of Mt. Kanchanjangha. For any travel enthusiastic Bengali Mt. Kanchanjangha, First Flush Tea, the mighty Himalayan Railways all these are synonymous to the queen of hills “Darjeeling”. Accordingly, in a get together on a Friday evening with two of my colleagues who happen to be my neighbour in the campus, I expressed my desire to drive to Darjeeling. They both were fascinated instantaneously and affirmed me that both of them would join the trip.
I immediately briefed the plan to make in last week of April to them which I had finalized beforehand. My both friends were very excited knowing the itinerary. My plan was to spend two nights in Darjeeling, one night in Dawaipani and forth night in Rishop. This itinerary gave us the golden opportunity to drive through ever-scenic Rishi Road.
Having gone through multiple websites, reviews and discussed with one of my friends from Birpara, I booked two nights in Hotel Himalayan Retreat in Darjeeling. The hotel manager had assured us to provide parking on extra payment basis. At Dawaipani, the Sona Homestay and the Sunakhari Sherpa Homestay in Rishop were booked.
I decided to drive to my home at Bardhhaman on Friday and start from there to Siliguri next morning. On the other hand, my friends decided to proceed to Siliguri from Jamshedpur on Saturday early morning. They were driving MS S-Cross Zeta 1.3 diesel and Ford Ecosport Titenium 1.5 petrol.
Enjoy the teaser images of the trip!


Somewhere close to 6th Mile along Rishi Road


After Kurseong along Hill Cart Road


Bengali Nostalgia: Darjeeling Mall


Dawaipani: Village with heavenly beauty

Day 1
The Silver Beauty was loaded with all the necessary luggage on the previous evening. We cranked the engine at 4.38 AM in the morning and followed the route through Dhatrigram-Nabadweep-Krishnanagar-Baharampur-Malda- Dalkhola-Kishanganj-Siliguri. We took couple of bio break in Murshidabad and had our breakfast in one of the Fuel Station. We reached Pardeshi Dhaba at 10.45AM.


Silver Beauty parked in front of Pardeshi Dhaba


The sumptuous veg thali at Pardeshi Dhaba

By 12.00 noon we resumed our drive towards Siliguri. We were excited to witness Dalkhola bypass and ROB for the first time. However, for some unknown reason the approach road towards ROB was blocked and we had to detour through narrow village road. We faced horrific traffic jam in that road since all the LMVs were diverted through that road. There were couple of instances I thought the side body of my car would be scraped by the wide carrier of the tractors coming from opposite direction. In the process we lost one hour and met the highway somewhere near Nichitpur. The rest of the drive was uneventful and by 5 in the evening we could park our car at Hotel TSA Siliguri. The other two cars reached the hotel at midnight.

Day 2
We all were ready by 9 AM and extremely excited to drive towards Darjeeling.


Our Cars are getting loaded in front of the hotel


The entire group: Sheer excitement radiating from eyes!

From Matigara we took right turn to enter Mirik Road. After just crossing the CPWD Guest house to enter the Rohini Road. By then all of us were very hungry and eager to have some hot momo and thukpa. Desperately searching for 15-20 minutes, we could get a parking place along with 6-7 food kiosks on the left side of the Rohini Road. Having parked our cars, we entered into the View Point Hotel. As the name signifies the roof top of the hotel provides mesmerizing view of the hills and Rohini Road.


Scenic Mirik Road


Enjoying Darjeeling tea from the roof top of the View Point Hotel


Chicken Momo


Chicken Thukpa


Through the bend of Rohini road just before Kurseong


Photoshoots in the cloud


We four

After reaching to the hotel, we dropped the luggage and we parked the car in the parking lot adjacent to the church. After having a sumptuous lunch with rice and chicken curry we immediately headed towards mall which was 7 minutes walking distance from the hotel.



Darjeeling Mall: nothing has changed but every time it attracts!


Towards Mahakaal Mandir


The Mandatory photo of Darjeeling

Day 3
The next morning, we rented three wagon R cabs to have a site seeing.


Peace Pagoda


Ghoom Monastery



Batasia Loop with DHR


Orange Valley Tea Estate: we purchased a lot of First Flush Tea from there.


We two at Rock Garden

[RIKUPIKU]

The nostalgic structures of Darjeeling; shooting spot of Bengali movie “Sweater”


Evening tea at Glenary’s


The hotel where we stayed for two nights


Leisure: My parents

Day 4
We started from Darjeeling at about 10 AM for Dawaipani. The weather was quite pleasant however we could not see Mt. Kanchanjangha yet.


Ghum: The highest railway station in the country

Just after crossing Ghum we took left turn from Jorebunglow to enter the Rishi Road


Hide and Seek of the clouds


After crossing 3rd Mile, we found a small eatery on the right-hand side of the road. We parked our cars and ordered some hot momos and cups of tea. The taste of momos is always surprisingly good along the hills.

The road towards Dawaipani starts within a kilometre from that eatery and the exit is before 6th Mile bazaar. Subsequently we reached to Sona Homestay after some Adrenaline rushing hill driving.





The heavenly Dawaipani!


Flowers and Innocence


Photoshoot with local children


The nest of the honey bee


Photoshoot in the dusk



The Mesmerizing morning at Dawaipani


Our Cars


Silver Beauty enjoying Hill View


Homestay where we stayed

Day 5
At about 9.30 AM, we started towards Kalimpong and thereafter Rishop.



Entering Lamahatta Park


Towards Lovers meet view point

[RIKUPIKU]

Triveni


After crossing Teesta Bridge we further continued through Rishi Road


The view of ORVM

After a few kilometres from Algarah we found the exit towards Rishop


Exit to Rishop

In a hairpin bend the Ecosport had a nasty wheel spin with smoke coming out from the tyres. The unpleasant sound made all the pasangers of the car scared. We went out from the car and escorted it. I told the team to have a photoshoot just to revive back the excitement and ecstasy.


Our grouphie!


Our cars were parked at the Sunakhari Sherpa Homestay. This homestay is situated at the highest point of Rishop. The view was breath-taking!


Jungle flowers collected by my wife




Some photoshoots


Road towards Sunakhari Sherpa Homestay

Day 6


Our cottage



Abundance of flowers


The hill view from the homestay




We two


Parting shot at Homestay Garden

This time we could not experience the view of mighty Mt. Kanchanjangha even in Rishop!


The ever-beautiful Lava

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Famous Lava Monastery: view from different angles


The team while returning from the Lava Monastery


The Pilots!



View of Lava Road


Silver Beauty: Posing


Tea Garden in Gorubathan

After having some photoshoot in the tea garden we headed towards Malda via Damdim, Odlabari and Gajoldoba. We had lunch from a roadside hotel just after Ghoshpukur.
We booked Pathasathee in Malda. The property is situated on the highway however the maintenance and service were pathetic. Fortunately, all the ACs were running and we had a decent sleep. Before that we had lip-smacking Biriyani from Pardeshi Dhaba.


All the cars in the night

Day 7
Next day we had an uneventful drive and all of us reached my home by 12.30 PM.
1400 Kilometres of experience and memories added.

[haisaikat]

Beautiful group drive to the evergreen tourist spots of Bengal which amaze us on every visit. Thanks for sharing the experience and the nice photos. Group travel is so much engaging and encouraging. Of course I do not miss checking the toy train ride every time. Which hotel did you stay in at Darjeeling?

[RIKUPIKU]

Originally Posted by haisaikat

Beautiful group drive to the evergreen tourist spots of Bengal which amaze us on every visit. Thanks for sharing the experience and the nice photos. Group travel is so much engaging and encouraging.

Many Thanks Saikatda. Group travel always gives us additional fun and enjoyment.

Originally Posted by haisaikat

Of course I do not miss checking the toy train ride every time. Which hotel did you stay in at Darjeeling?

We could not manage time for the toy train booking though. In the next trip I will have to keep that in mind.
The hotel is The Himalayan Retreat. It is very close to Bhanu Bhawan.

[edunata]

Nice writeup.
How is the road condition from Lava to Rishop ? Few years back it was pathetic. Someone told me now even a small car can easily go through. What is your take ?
Thanks in advance.

[RIKUPIKU]

Originally Posted by edunata

Nice writeup.

Thanks a lot!

Originally Posted by edunata

How is the road condition from Lava to Rishop ? Few years back it was pathetic. Someone told me now even a small car can easily go through. What is your take ?
Thanks in advance.

Actually it was average when we traveled in April end 2022. The slopes were paved well with bitumen surface course however all the bends had lost its top bitumen surface. This is where cars needed to be slowed down in the bends and turn. Fortunately, maintenance work was going on and if they would repair and rebuild the bends it would be absolutely smooth.
One can take small car easily with a bit more care.

[deep_blue]

Hope that this is the right thread to ask. I'm headed for the Sandakphu Trek in the 1st week of October. I have a spare day post the trek & would like to explore Darjeeling & Kurseong.What would be a better place to stay in & any recommendations for a good hotel & things to do etc. Would love to see a tea garden & try the authentic Darjeeling tea. Thanks!