Tour guidance: LAVA-LOLEGAON-RISHOP

About the place
LAVA-LOLEGAON-RISHOP these three places are belonging to Darjeeling district in West Bengal. They are basically three distinct remote villages surrounded by ultimate dense forests stretching over hills and silence. The villages are small and having very less number of tourists and villagers. I passed 5 full days there with my family enjoying full among ourselves. I never felt rush in my own because there were nothing to do as such; even if no worth seeing tourist spots that were normally expected. I walked long and long followed by ups & down hill roads and took pleasure in nature - full of different flowers, orchids, birds, clouds and nice pine trees etc.
LAVA is the main centre of business and communication. Rishop is having higher altitude than LAVA. I observed good cultivations are going on steps of hills in Rishop. The people over there are well behaved and soft spoken. A 300˚ view of Mt Kanchanjangha with Nathula and other ranges are visible from there. Lolegaon is more remotely located than LAVA. There were different flowers in Lolegaon mainly rhododendrons were blooming. A full view of Mt. Kanchanjangha range comprising of 12 picks is visible from that place.
How to reach
Any of these three places can be reached either from NJP or Silliguri hiring private vehicles and I say, it is the only good option as there are no such dependable public transports to these places. So moving cost is high as it is demanded. Even normal sharing journey is not well thought-out. In this regard it is always advisable - belonging to a group. Still I observed two small buses, one was for Silliguri at 7AM and other for Kalimpong at 8AM, left from LAVA. Another important is the itinerary that should always start by Lolegaon and complete by LAVA. As I mentioned LAVA is the only good communicating place among these three.
Best time to visit
According to me the best season is post monsoon i.e. October and November while north-wind begins to flow. In this season it is expected to have a clear sky, bright sun light, huge greeneries and clear view of hills; but it must not be a season of flowers.
Accommodation
Forest is an attraction of these three places, so best idea to spend leisure time booking accommodation provided by WBFDC. I booked Log Cabin-I, Lovely Resort and Orchid-I in LAVA, Rishop and Lolegaon respectively. Those were good from all respect. Booking is also done by WBTDC. My suggestion is to book little bit high range accommodations because I observed that were being maintained properly. There are several private hotels/lodges; “Journeyy Mart” might be one of a good holiday planner for these places.
Getting around
One enjoyable activity is the trekking that any tourist has to perform to see sun rise & set from a particular top of hill. Other getting around are the following.
LAVA (2100 mt)
Gumbadara - Tibetian Buddhist Monastery and a graceful statue of Buddha, 6km by road and 1km by narrow up hill trek
Neora – Valley National park
Chhangey falls; Lava is an ideal place to get acquainted with the medicinal plants.
Rishop (4310 mt):
Tiffindara – spectacular view of sunrise over Kanchenjunga range
Lolegaon (1524 mt):
Canopy Walk - hanging wooden footbridge amidst the huge pines and oaks
Jhandi Dara sunrise or sunset from the nearby hilltop of Jhandi Dara is an experience of the lifetime
Travel tips

1. Always end journey visiting LAVA
2. Accommodation WBFDC
3. Avoid monsoon season
4. Be fit and friendly that you can enjoy trekking through forest
5. Carry torch, insect killing spray, mosquito liquid coil, umbrella and medicine (if required as there is no health care unit or shop)
6. One day advance order of breakfast/lunch/tiffin/dinner

Web Links
http://www.wbfdc.com/
http://rishyap.com/

it is good

The best route to Lava is via New Mal Junction (NMZ). The station is only 62-KM from Lava and it takes only 2 hrs 30 mins from NMZ to Lava by car.

Also the scenery of this route is much better than NJP-Kalimpong-Lava route.

From Kolkata only Kanchankanya Express goes via NMZ station.

The transport options in this route are limited (only exclusively booked vehicles) but the charge is relatively very low (Rs. 1300 approx) compared to NJP-Kalimpong-Lava route (Rs. 2400 approx).

For more details see the conversations

Malbazar

Also the Lovely resort in Rishyap doesn't have such good feedbacks compared to Sonal Bangla and Neora Valley Resort.

Hi, Would you please tell me some more details regarding the Lovely resorts, why you don't like that. We are planning to book one, so it is better to have some more detail. Also let me know if there is any website for the Sonar Bangla, Rishop. Where I can see few more detail of Sonar Bangla and some pictures. Tell me how to book the hotel Sonar Bangla form Kolkata, any office they have at Kolkata. Thanks in Advance. Regards.

I would give a very strong feedback on Lovely Resorts. Have been to Rishyap thrice and stayed there and the services, accomodation, food everything is excellent.

nice info.

will be going to darjeeling soon

Friends can you tell me from lava to rishop,if i walk through forest do i have to apply for permission?if yes,where?thank you very much

Friends can you tell me..if i want to trek through the forest,do i need any permission?Thank you

No, you do not need any permission.

Dear Mr. Partha,

Would you please tell me any requirement of advance booking for transport for New Mal junction to Lava Or car is available in number at NMZ.

Regards,

Kalyan

Thank you very much.So sorry for late reply.

I'm planning to tour Lava-Lolegaon-Rishop along with my wife. Please go through my travel plan and let me know whether it's correct or not.
Day 1: Train Kolkata-NJP
Day 2: NJP to Lolegaon by car. night stay at Lolegaon.canopy walk.
Day 3: Lolegaon site seeing. travel by car to Lava. visit Lava monastery. night stay at Lava (WBFDC cottage)
Day 4: Lava to Rishop (Trek 4 K.M).Rishop site seeing.night stay at Rishop(Lovely resort)
Day 5: sunrise at Tiffindara.trek back to Lava. take a car to visit Pedong and then back to NJP.At night train to Kolkata
Day 6: Morining Kolkata

My queries are:
1.where to stay in Lolegaon?
2.is canopy walk possible or it's closed nowadays?
3.what would be the car charges as per above plan?
4. will it be possible to cover day 5 tour and reach NJP by evening to catch train for kolkata?

Hi friends,

I have planned to visit Darjeeling-Lava-Lolegaon-Rishyap in November 22-28, 2012.

I am not being able to decide on the route to take. Where should I go first? I shall be reaching NJP on 22nd by Darjeeling Mail. So from there where to go - Darjeeling or Rishyap?

Also would request you all for a few suggestions on the transport and mid-range hotels in all these places. Can I just go and get a hotel during that time or should I book here and then go?

Lots of questions, but would really appreciate if you guys can put in your suggestions from your experience.

Thanks

Santanu

you can start with rishyab and end your tour with darjeeling........barring darjeeling accomodation is quite limited so it will be better to have bookings for rishyab and loleygaon at the earliest.

My unsolicitated opinions are the following :
1. All attractions of Lolegaon are gone - the wonderful canopy walk, awesome tourist cottages of Forest Department are all destroyed in senseless acts of violance during hill agitations. You can safely skip the place. In other thrreads here people have lamented their Lolegaon experience.
2. Instead, you can go to a) Pedong or b)Charkhole - both on same Kalimpong hills. Both are extremely quiet places (not touristy type) with good views.
3. Whether to start the trip from Darjileeing side or K'Pong side is a matter of perception, but then, return journey from d"ling will be a shorter one. At Rishyap, We always stay in Hotel Sonar Bangla, specifically in room Nos. 1 & 2. These rooms have best views. A mid range hotel, the food is good and rooms are cosy. Google a bit, and you will get all booking details. Last time Sonar Bangla was booked for us from their HO at Chatterjee Int'l Centre.
4. To the best of my knowledge, there is only one worthwhile place to stay at Charkhole and the place is very good. Personally, I have never been to Pedong, but people have stayed there and enjoyed. At Lava try to book Forest Deptt. cottage.