Lepchajagat is a small village located in wilderness at an
altitude of 6,956 ft (i.e. 2123 meters) and only 19kms away from Darjeeling
hill town. Although it's quite close to Darjeeling's main hub and takes only
about 45 minutes by taxi, it has a world of its own.
If you are a nature lover or looking for a romantic stay for
couple of days, then Lepchajagat is the place for you. I know of many who
actually combine a short stay in Lepchajagat with their visits to Darjeeling
just to blend the vacation with an offbeat stay amidst nature.
As
the name suggests, it once used to be a hamlet of the Lepcha tribes. The word
'Jagat' actually means "the world', so it was the world of the lepchas.In short, Lepchajagat is all about dense forested area full with
pines, oaks and rhododendrons. And all that is combined with magnificent views
of Kanchenjunga peaks, wonderful birdlife and serene tranquility.
So during the day time, you engage with nature in its full bloom,
and when the night falls, you sit next to the fireplace and read a book, hear
the sounds of crickets from the jungle around (that's the only sound you will
hear), or just recapitulate your day's experience as you sip a cup of
Darjeeling tea and relax. There are no shops or other nightlife attractions
around to disturb the quietness that you have been longing for.
there are stairs followed
by a pathway that goes through the dense forest. There is also nature walking
trail that leads to a place called Hawa Ghar (about 1km). This place offers
magnificent view of the peaks. If you are lucky, you can see all five peaks of
Kanchenjunga massif.