West Bengal Hill Station - Mirik

West Bengal Hill Station - Mirik in India is situated fifty-two km away from Siliguri and 55 kms from the nearest Airfield of Bagdogra. It stands at an altitude of 1,768m in the Eastern Himalayas. Mirik is wrapped in the forested hills and is surrounded by tea estates, orange orchards and cardamom plantations.




The natural beauty of this beautiful hill resort has a rejuvenating effect on the tired urban soul. All the wild flowers, enchanting lakes and flourishing forests of Cryptomaria Japonica trees make Mirik at apr with a paradise and the Kachunjanga as a backdrop adds immense beauty to the whole scenery of the place.

Tourist attractions in Mirik
Sumendu Lake
The most prominent of tourist spots in Mirik is the Sumendu Lake. It is a man made lake enveloped in a forested ridge, and surrounding it is a flower garden and there is also a floating fountain in its center. Though not for swimming, Sumendu is considered ideal for boating and Fishing.

Singha Devi
The temple of Singha Devi or the Devi Sthan is on the west bank of the river and you have to take the bridge over the lake to get there, not only is it frequented by the pious but also the nature lovers. Other temples dedicated to Hanuman, Shiva and Kali Mata can also be visited there. Bokar Gompa is another place of religious importance.





Rameetay Dara
A holiday package usually also includes a tour to the Rameetay Dara, which is ideal for watching the spectacular sunset and the sunrise. Deosi Dara is yet another vantage point in Mirik. One can also take a tour to Rai Dhap, which has a small lake that is the source of potable water in Mirik and is also an ideal picnic spot.

Plantations in Mirik
The hill station of Mirik is also quite famous for its oranges, you can move through orange orchards either on foot or hired ponies. One can also take a tour to the cardamom and tea plantations, which add even more to the beauty of the hill resort. The tea plantations can also be visited and many conducted tours to the factories are organized from time to time.

Tea Estates : There are eight tea gardens in Mirik area. Thurbo T.E., one of the best tea-estates, is only 2 kms from the lake. The factory may be visited with the permission.

Deosi Dara
It is a era point in Mirik that must be visited to catch some vistas of the plains, hills and peaks in and around Mirik.

Climatewise, Mirik is pleasant throughout the year.

One can reach Mirik in following ways-
By Air : The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport, 55 km from Mirik.
By Rail : Nearest major stations are New Jalpaiguri .
By Road : Excellent road network links Mirik with places like Bagdogra, Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kurseong.

Kalimpong - A hill station in West Bengal

Kalimpong is a small hill station between Siliguri and Gangtok. It is nestled in the Shiwalik Hills in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located at an average elevation of 4,101 ft. The road (NH 31) to Kalimpong is one of the most scenic routes in India. The swift flowing Teesta river runs by the side of the road adding to the beauty of the scenery.




The name, Kalimpong, has three different origins. One, it means the place where the local tribesmen gathered to organize field sports, second, it takes it’s name from the Bhutanese king’s minister’s stronghold and thirdly, it is named after Kaulim, a fibrous plant found in abundance in this region.

The town offers excellent views of the Mt Kanchenjunga and the other Himalayan peaks. Lava (32kms), a small village is another picturesque place. Lava is also the base for trekking to the Neora National Park. Lolegaon is 25 kms from Lava and one can see the Singalila ranges from
here.

Kalimpong has several monasteries and also a Kali temple. The Tibetan Monastery and curio center and Dr. Graham's home are important tour stops.The popular view points are Durpin Dara and Deoro Hill.

Panchgani - Five Plateau Hill Station

Only sixteen kilometers from Mahabaleshwar, the hill station of Panchgani is lesser known to tourists but no less in anyway. Swoops around bends with abandon, offering heart stopping views of the river krishna on one side & the coastal plains on the other.A key geographical feature is the table topped plateau (panch = five, gani=plateaus) shaped by flattened volcanic rock.




Panchgani with its pristine natural beauty and rejuvenating oxygen levels has a TB Sanatorium. Patients are known to get better faster at Panchgani owing to the pure environs offered at Panchgani. It can be seen in the old architecture of the old British buildings, the parsi houses, & the boarding schools that have been for a century or more.

In the evenings it turns into a makeshift fair with ferris wheels, pony rides and a variety of food stalls.Panchgani is often referred to as the 'Mecca of Maharashtra' If you want to enjoy the beauty of the hill Station Panchgani you may go for a pony ride.

The ride through the hamlets, farms and ravines with the gorgeous greens and the ravishing river Krishna of Panchgani will surely enchant you. Situated in the Western Ghats Panchgani is close to important cities like Mumbai and Pune. There are as many as twenty boarding schools in Panchgani.

Panchgani does not experience major temperature variations. Though the monsoons are rather heavy. The temperature ranges between sixteen and thirty-five degrees throughout the year.

You can commute to the beautiful place by following routes-
By Air: The airport at Pune is nearest to Panchgani at a distance of 98km.

Road & Rail: Pune is a popular railway station for tourists to Panchgani at a distance of 98 km from Panchgani. Though the railway station nearest to happens to be at Wathar. Panchgani is well linked with Mumbai and Pune through road.

Panchgani is the quintessential and a place for those seeking resort from polluted metro cities.The months from September to May are the best time to visit Panchgani.