Destination Lava-Lollegaon-Rishap

sagarneel

4-4.5 hours approximately (if you travel non stop)

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apurba1982

@ BT:
It will take 3.5 hours from NJP to Lava via Gorubathan, it matters which car you go by, we went there last time by Indica and the driver told us that a maruti would have taken 4 hours.Did you call Mr Chandan Roy, the driver?

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Planning.....

bengaltiger

hi apurba,
thanks.

I will contact him and hope will get good deal.

-BT

titli

hello everybody
i agree with babu sir.this tour is worth mentioning mainly because of the exquisite beauty of nature one can see in abundance.be it the changey falls or the kagyu thekchek monastery in lava or the canopy walk in lolegaon everything is so beautiful n serene not to mention the amazing view of the divine kanchenjungha in rishop.one can make a 5day tour to this place to take pure rest and spend quality time with only yourself.......NJOY all!!!!!!

csoumonil

Can you pls advice whether Rishyap, Lava Lolegaon is suitable for a trip in the month of Jan? May be second or third week of Jan?

sagarneel

Suitable and very much possible if you can bear the cold!

MamonRaktim

Hi All, i am going to make a trip to Lava-Lulegaon on 10Dec along with other two of my family. My itinerary is mentioned below :-

10 Dec - Start Journey from Kolkata by Darjeeling Mail.
11 Dec - Reach NJP at morning. Take car to Lava. Stay at Lepcha 2 Cottage of WBFDC there.
12 Dec - Stay at Lava.
13 Dec - Start for Lulegaon from Lava. Stay there at Hornbill 4 cottage of WBFDC there.
14 Dec - Stay at Lulegaon
15 Dec - Back to NJP to catch Darjeeling Mail @ 8PM.
So from this point, I have some queries. They are as follows :-
1. What are the places to visit around Lava? On 11 dec, will it be possible to make any local sight seeing there? From WBFDC at Lava, is local sight seeing arranged?
2. On 13 Dec, will it be possible to visit Rishap from Lava on way to Lulegaon? From WBFDC at Lelegaon, is local sight seeing arranged?
3. How much time it will take to reach NJP from Lulegaon? Could WBFDC@Lulagaon arrange car for NJP?

Looking forward for your kind response.

Navigator

@MamonRaktim:
Welcome to the forum.
Answers to your questions:
These places like Lava, Loleygaon are offbeat destinations - not much sightseeing points/activities.
1. a. Places nearby Lava (and easily walkable) are the Monastery and the museum, apart from the Lava bazaar (shops/restaurants alongside the main road)
These can be covered on 11th itself.
b. Since you are staying at Lava for one more day, you might as well visit Chhangey Falls (14kms from Lava) or make a trip to Rishap as well (for either sunrise or sunset)
c. WBFDC does not arrange for sight seeings, but for vehicle bookings, just walk down to the travel syndicate at Lava Bazaar and there are fixed rates to different destinations.
2. If you want to visit Rishap on your way to Loleygaon,
i. you would need to take a detour
ii. By the time you reach Rishyap, you might not be in time to do sight seeing (Mount Kanshejunga or sunrise or sunset)
So my advice, Since you are anyways staying at Lava on 12th Dec, might as well cover Rishyap on 12th and go straight to Loleygaon on 13th.

Refer to the previous posts on the sight seeing points in Loleygaon, except the sunrise point, all are walkable. (WBFDC does not arrange for sight seeings)

3. Loleygaon to NJP - around 4.5 hrs via Gorubathan (default route). If you have not visited Delo, I would suggest return via Kalimpong with an hour of Delo sightseeing, and return via Kalimpong with the Teesta flowing alongside.
Again, the syndicate would be the best place to book the vehicle.

Cheers,
~Navigator

MamonRaktim

Thanks Navigator for your suggestions. Will there be cold in Lava or Lulegaon during that time?

Navigator

Full sleeved Tees and jackets should suffice. But carry heavy woolens for children

kolkata1982

Hi Navigator ! How r you??

kolkata1982

Hi Navigator! How r you??

As per suggetion I visited WB tourism department and planning to book my cottage at Lava, Lolegaon and Rishap in next week for Feb’2010. But still I have some doubts in my mind. Those are as follows.

1. What should be my route—Lolegaon, Lava,Rishap or Lava,Rishap,Lolegaon.
2. Which cottage is better at Rishap – Lovely Resort or Neora Valley Resort and any room or cottage no.
3. What about fooding and safety at both the mentioned cottages?
4. We will be on a honeymoon tour, is it safe to visit and stay at nigh at that place. I am doubting just because these cottages are not under WBFDC control.
5. Where you stay at Rishap and what about your experience their?
6. Is potter / carrier is avilable from lava to Rishap and vice versa for carrying our luggage if we choose to trek.
7. What about the trek route?
8. Is car easily available from lava, Lolegaon and rishap?
9. Can you share any drivers or travel agent or syndicate’s name whom I can contact in advance for information and booking also.
10. Whether mobile works there and electricity is available there?
11. Lastly any suggetion or advice you want to share with me!!!

Eagerly waiting for your reply and I will take my final decision after receiving your reply only.

Thanking you,

kolkata1982

Hi Apurba1982 ! How r you??

As per suggetion I visited WB tourism department and planning to book my cottage at Lava, Lolegaon and Rishap in next week for Feb’2010. But still I have some doubts in my mind. Those are as follows.

1. What should be my route—Lolegaon, Lava,Rishap or Lava,Rishap,Lolegaon.
2. Which cottage is better at Rishap – Lovely Resort or Neora Valley Resort and any Room no or Cottage no.
3. What about fooding and safety at both the mentioned cottages?
4. We will be on a honeymoon tour, is it safe to visit and stay at nigh at that place. I am doubting just because these cottages are not under WBFDC control.
5. Where you stay at Rishap and what about your experience their?
6. Is potter / carrier is avilable from lava to Rishap and vice versa for carrying our luggage if we choose to trek.
7. What about the trek route?
8. Is car easily available from lava, Lolegaon and rishap?
9. Can you share any drivers or travel agent or syndicate’s name whom I can contact in advance for information and booking also.
10. Whether mobile works there and electricity is available there?
11. Lastly any suggetion or advice you want to share with me!!!

Eagerly waiting for your reply and I will take my final decision after receiving your reply only.

Thanking you,

Navigator

My opinion

1. Personally I would go for Option 1 : Lolegaon, Lava,Rishap
2. Neora Valley Resort - anytime. There is one cottage, dont remember the number but has a swing in the courtyard, but right on the edge of the hill, from which there is a direct view of Kanchenjunga.
3. Dont expect exotic food in Rishyap, it is better to be on chicken (or egg) throughout, veg dishes are limited - Overall food cost is more than that at Lava or Lolegaon.The place is safe, havent heard of any untoward incident.
4. The place is safe, as I said, havent heard of any untoward incident.
Yes, they are not under WBFDC control, but the difference shows up not in security, but more on the hospitaility front.
But again, if you so chose, WBFDC has an excellent complaint system - should you have or face any issue and report them, concerned persons do give you a call and get things rectified.
I dont think you have cause to worry about your safety.
In fact, it is one of the best places to be on your honeymoon.
5. Please refer to my previous post about Lovely Resort - again, as I said, the hospitality etc is in stark difference to what you get at WBFDC.
6 and 7. I have heard about porters but havent seen any. They should be there, but am not sure how much they charge.
8. Again refer to my previous posts on conveyance (yes they are easily available at the "syndicates" at Lava/Loleygaon and Rishap)
9. I dont have any driver's contact number - syndicates will be easy to spot, these are small places.
10. Mobile works, electricity mostly, though I had a privilege of having candle lit dinner one night at Rishyap. Would you really care, if you were on a honeymoon
11. I have shared my experiences in my previous posts, in fact Apurba has excellent insights as well. Request you to go through the same (will take a wee bit of time), but sure will be useful

In Loleygaon, go for Hornbill and in Lava, Lepcha 1

cheers,
Navigator

roj,roy

What about the Red Panda. The forest bungalow inside Neora valley forest?