Trip Plan Required(Kalimpong-Lava-Rishyap)[Butterfly+Birding along with common touris

Trip Plan Required(Kalimpong-Lava-Rishyap)[Butterfly+Birding along with common tourists]

we are 7 member team containing 4 adults & 3 childs ( 10yrs , 7yrs , 3yrs). We have booked train ticket & hotel as below.

13th Oct ---------> train from Sealdah UP(KanchenKanya Exp)
14th & 15th Oct-->Kalimpong , Alakananda Guest House,Upper Road
16th & 17th Oct ---> Lava - WBFDC
18th & 19th Oct ---> Rishyap - Naora Valley Resort
20th Oct -------------> DN(Padatik Exp)
21st Oct Morning Sealdah

Basically I am a nature loving person & love to photograph butterflies / birds / landscapes. Other members are having common tourist mind setup & we have 3 babies with us also.
Now I am searching for a trip plan which will serve both the teste of me & others. In Kalimpong , we are planning to visit 'Delo' along with other common sight seeing sites on 15th.On 16th , we are planning to go to Lava , may be through Phedong. Now I am confused about 16th & 17th Oct. regarding Lolegaon / sight seeing / Naora Valley / Chhangey Falls ...etc.On 18th we 'll go to Rishyap...& stay for 2 days.

Now pls advise on the following

on the way to Kalimpong from siliguri , there is Mahananda Wild Life Sanctuary , is there any scope for me ?
what will be the jeep fare from siliguri to kalimpong ?
in kalimpong , what are the sight seeings ? fare ? places ? along with 'Delo'.
on the way to Lava from Kalimpong , should we go through Phedong ? Kalimpong to Lava Jeep Fare ?
detialed trip plan for 16th-17th-18th morning ? sight seeing ? jeep fares?
about activities in Rishyap ? Lava to Rishyap Jeep Fares ?
How to reach NJP / Siliguri from Rishyap safely , in time? Rishyap to NJP fare?
A detailed idea required for 'Butterfly / Bird Sighting' places for all the places we'll travel in this 7days ? It may not be a popular sight seeing place but might come between 2 places , when we will be moving from one place to another ? It may be a short walk from where we'll stay.... ?
I cann't make this trip as a pure "Butterfly & Bird Sighting " tour , but I want to get maximum possibilities of sighting in this common tourist tour. Pls advise.

--

Thanks & Regards,

Somnath Pal Das

Happy Clicking:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/somnathpaldas2

Dear Somnath,

I am also going by Kanchankanya Exp from Sealdah on 13th oct with my family to Dooars for 4 days. I dont have plan now. but I have going to Ghoom, Lepchajagat to enjoy the chilling nature. I hope to meet you at Sealdah Stn.
Regards,
Kaushik

sure , we'll meet .... any idea about my requirements ? pls share

Here is your answer -

A. on the way to Kalimpong from siliguri , there is Mahananda Wild Life Sanctuary , is there any scope for me ?

Scope is there; You can visit Sukna - 12km from Siliguri. It is one of the entry point of MWLS. You can spot - good numbers of indian peafowl, orange breasted piegon, hill myna, jungle fowl, lapwing, pied and great hornbill etc. It will take 2 hours to explore the spot. But it is better to drive to your first location directly from NJP and on the last day - if you can reach early Siliguri from Hill, then you can make a try for Sukna..

Check this link -

http://indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=151036
http://indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=152314
http://indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=150203

B. what will be the jeep fare from siliguri to kalimpong ?

It will cost nearly 1400/--1500/

C. in kalimpong , what are the sight seeings ? fare ? places ? along with 'Delo'.

wikitravel.org/en/Kalimpong

D. on the way to Lava from Kalimpong , should we go through Phedong ? Kalimpong to Lava Jeep Fare ?

Kalimpong to Pedong - 17km
Pedong to Lava - 20-22km

Regarding Pedong birding - you can check

http://groups.google.com/group/benga...6e504a03?pli=1

I think - You need to join bengalbird google group to read this trip report of mine.

E. detialed trip plan for 16th-17th-18th morning ? sight seeing ? jeep fares?
about activities in Rishyap ? Lava to Rishyap Jeep Fares ?
How to reach NJP / Siliguri from Rishyap safely , in time? Rishyap to NJP fare?


Lava to Rishyap - 13km via road/4 km via trek (cost 400/-)
Rishyap to NJP - 2200/- nearly

Lava birding spot -

A. Near monestry
B. On the way to Changey falls
C. Neora valley National Park.

Rishyap Birding Spot -

A. Rishyap itself is a good birding spot...you can walk along the road to lava from rishyap top - it is kind of trek route.

For any other mundane - you can mail me at amitkrghosh@gmail.com

You choose a very good circuit - though your plan is hectic - but if you can manage your time properly and can watch for avifauna and butterflies in the following areas - i suggested - you will surely have some good photos.

Thanks,

Amit
Email:- amitkrghosh@gmail.com
Website:- www.bengalbirds.info
INW Link:- http://indianaturewatch.net/view_cat...it+Kumar+Ghosh

thanx a lot for the reply .... pls also give some idea of Butterfly Sighting Places in my tour route... Pls advise more on Butterfly & Bird Sighting

we are thinking to visit Mongpong from kalimpong & Pedong while going to Lava from Kalimpong. But when I'll plan for Lolegaon? from Lava ? Or on the way to Lava from Kalimpong ? Or from Lava before going to Rishyap ?

pls advise on

sight seeing of Kalimpong ?

Tour Plan of Lava ?

Fare Kalimpong to Lava via Pedong ?

only 3 days left for my trip & weather is getting worst here due to duel depression on bay of bengal .... I am waiting for final tips on butterflying & birding photography tour ......

pls see the following links .....

Rishyap

http://www.flickr.com/photos/somnath...195334/detail/

Lava

http://www.flickr.com/photos/somnath...931446/detail/

Kalimpong

http://www.flickr.com/photos/somnath...326435/detail/

Wild Encounters of the trip

http://www.flickr.com/photos/somnath...947925/detail/

--

Thanks & Regards,

Somnath Pal Das


** To create a “Butterfly Garden” at your premises , pls contact us.

Happy Clicking:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/somnathpaldas2

http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community?cmm=97250956

though the weather was very bad (rainy / foggy / cloudy) for 4days ..... we have enjoyed the show..... Rishyap is really heaven .... I think , everyone should visit Rishyap atleast once in life ...... Neora Vallley Resort (D1 & 2 and C1 & 2) is the best for rishyap ....

Kalimpong is also a good place if you stay little outside of the city (delo , Upper Hill cart rd area , Hotel Alakanada , Benfish .... etc)

In Lava , we could not see any thing .. almost anything for non-stop 48hrs rain !!!

we spend .....

car rent from NJP Rly Station to kalimpong (on durga saptami morning) = Rs. 1200/-

kalimpong sight seeing = Rs.800/-

Sumo rent from kalimpong to lava (on durga nabami morning) = Rs. 800/-

best travel agent in kalimpong : Himalayan Travel (in Kalimpong bazar - jeep stand)

4 wheel jeep rent from lava to rishyap(on durga ekadoshi morning) = Rs. 400/-

jeep rent from rishyap to NJP Rly Station < via Gorubathan >(on day before laxmi puja morning) = Rs. 2400/-

pls remember , we have traveled the whole route in top peak season .....

Hi.... We want to go Kalimpong, Lava-Lolegaon and Rishyap. We have only four days time to visit. We will reach Siliguri on saturday morning by Darjeeling mail and have to back by wednseday night to Sealdah. Can you please help us to make an effective trip plan.... thanks

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It'll be very tough ... almost impossible or you'll touch the places but not able to take essence of the places ....

however ,

saturday - start from Siliguri ASAP ... reach Kalimpong & refresh & go for sight seeing.... night stay ...

Sunday - early morning start for Lava .... through Lolegaon ... spend the whole day in Lolegaon & sight seeing .... at evening reach Lava .... night stay ...

Monday - early morning start a walk for Lava Monastery & other sight seeing.. after lunch take a "Commander Jeep " for Rishyap .. Night stay at Rishyap ...

Tuesday - wake up to see the sunrise , breakfast ... roaming in local village .. 2pm - start for siliguri " via Gorubathan " ... take the last train from NJP or night stay at siliguri & take morning train Wednesday morning ....

but ... I don't know whether , you'll be able to feel anything or not !! these are not the places for sighting seeing .. but for 2-3 days stay in every places....

you can see my photos of the tour as a reference ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/somnath...7625168402127/

Hi.... Thank you very much..... All these are really very helpful information. I have few questions. 1) How much time takes to reach Kalimpong from Siliguri/NJP. 2)If we start for NJP/Siliguri on wednesday morning, will be it good idea. how much time it will take to reach NJP/Siliguri.3) Do we need to hire any car for sight seeing in Lava and Rishyap. 4)What are the average hotel charges in Kalimpong, Lava and Rishyap. Do we need to book hotel from Kolkata.

available in Net
in my view best hotels ...

Kalimpong - Alakananda Guest House OR BENfish
Lava - WBFDC (Gorkha , Lepcha ...{not Log Cabin})
Rishyap - Neora Valley Resort (C1 / C2 / D1 / D2), Green Valley Resort ......

u must book from kolkata as very few rooms are available in Lava n Rishyap & u'll not have the time to waste in search of hotels ......

Thanks a lot for your help. All these are really great informations. I also visited lots of places in North India (Almost whole Rajasthan, Uttharakhand, Himachal, Leh-Ladakh). Thanks.

Hi, may i ask where in siliguri should i take the jeep/transport to darjeeling-Lava? Is it a taxi stand or a terminal? As i am non-indian national, and i read from all forums, everyone mentioned to go to siliguri to go to Darjeeling, Peiling and etc. But i'm worried and wondering when i reach NJP, what shld i say to the auto driver where i want to go in siliguri.
would really appreciate if you can help to clear my doubts and questions.

thank you lots

regards