Kharka Gaon, Sangsay, Kalimpong
Offbeat village destination near Kalimpong
If you are looking for an unobstructed view of the Kanchenjunga range, then the offbeat destination of Kharka Gaon is a must on your list. 25 km away from the hustle and bustle of Kalimpong lies the quaint village of Kharka Gaon, nestled in pine, sal and oak trees. The winding mountain road towards the Kharka Valley is beautifully ornate, with flowers blooming on either side. The entire village of Kharka can be easily covered on foot, and if you’re lucky, you might have a local villager accompanying you in your leisurely exploration. The friendly residents here love to talk about the hamlet, their daily life, and especially their thriving home gardens where zucchini, radish, green leafy vegetables, and flowers are grown. There are very few hotels or homestays here, but the best part is that most of the Kharka Valley homestays are maintained by the local residents, and you are bound to find yourself at home while on your stay here.
How to reach Kharka Gaon:
Nearest Airport: The Bagdogra Airport (IXB) is located 80 km away and has good road connectivity.
Nearest Railway Station: The New Jalpaiguri railway station is about 78.9 km away from Kharka Gaon
Nearest Bus Terminal: The Kalimpong bus terminal is around 25 km from Kharka Gaon.
What to see in Kharka Gaon:
Kharka Valley Viewpoint: A little trek can take you up a hill, from where a deep gorge descends into a beautiful valley. You would not want to miss out on the view of the sun rising through the Kanchenjunga range from here.
Deolo Hills: From this peak, you can see the West Sikkim mountains laden with snow. A botanical park with exotic flowers established for leisure activities at the top of this hill is an ideal picnic spot, so don’t forget to carry your picnic basket. Deolo offers a comprehensive 360-degree panorama of Kalimpong city, the nearby hills, Mount Kanchenjunga and the River Teesta, which makes this a must-visit spot.
Lolegaon: Few miles upwards from Kharka Gaon lies the beautiful hamlet of Lolegaon. Enveloped by evergreens, wildflowers, and coniferous forests, the natural beauty of Lolegaon is a delight for the senses. There are several locations in Lolegaon that have piqued tourists’ curiosity, but the Canopy Walk, the Heritage Forest, the Jhandidara ViewPoint, and the Eco Park are among the most well-known.
Lava: Lava, which is encircled by thick deciduous forests, serves as both the starting point and the entrance to the well-known Neora Valley National Park. The lush woodlands surrounding this charming town are well-liked for hiking, camping, and bird-watching. It is a fantastic experience just to travel to this peaceful location from Kharka Gaon.
Ramdhura: Ramdhura means the village of Lord Rama, which actually implies that the hamlet has a combination of earthly and divine beauty. The location’s undeniable attractiveness may be explored during any season. Ramdhura will always surprise you with a magnificent dawn over the slopes of mount Kanchenjunga from your homestay while drifting clouds glide across your room. Other places to visit here are the Manendara viewpoint, Panchami falls, Pedong and Durpin Monastery, Sillery Gaon and many more.
Best Time to visit :
Kharkagaon can be explored throughout the year except the time of landslide in heavy monsoon. For being located not in very high altitude, this place is accessible for people of all ages. March to Middle of the June and November to February are the best time to visit Kharkagaon.
Where to stay in Kharka Gaon/ Accommodation in Kharka Gaon:
This place has fewer options to stay at; however, we have carefully crafted a list of homestays for you to experience the clouds floating across your room as you wake up to the view of the lordly mountains. So dear traveller, don’t put it off any longer and visit Kharka Gaon immediately!
This is one of the most beautiful homestay in Kharkagaon with great view of Mt. Khanchenjunga. The most interesting place in this homestay is the vast balcony where you can sit for the entire day and enjoy the lovely time.
A camera can accompany you at that time if you are alone or love to spend your holiday with very few loving ones. Mrs. Rakhi Subba, a lady with sweet smile, is the host of this homesta
Golden Pine Homestay & Farmstay
This is one of the best homestay in Kharkagaon with wooden cottage rooms. There is a small pond and garden inside the premise which can be a peaceful retreat for your offbeat tour plan in north bengal. All the rooms come with a Balcony and from the balconies Kanchanjungha is directly visible. The property is run by Mr.Naveen Rai who is a local resident. You will get bengali style food here along with mouth watering momo, chilli chicken etc.
y