In one of his books, Ruskin Bond says, “It is always the same with mountains. Once you have lived with them for any time, you belong to them. There is no escape.” To us, it’s just the case. So every year, we keep on searching for new places in the hills where we can escape for a few days. Burmaik, near Kalimpong, was one of the places we carefully selected from the paraphernalia of North Bengal Tourism spots.

We halted in Burmaik for around three days and experienced gradual detoxification from the madding city environment.

Reaching Burmaik from Darjeeling:

It took around 3 to 3 ½ hours to reach Burmaik from Darjeeling via Rishi Road. We encountered a plethora of homestays in a scenic place and feared that we might have to put up in that crowded place. But then we found out THE place called Ramdhura. It is further downslope from Burmaik.

As our cab climbed slowly up to Burmaik, turning left and not advancing towards Algarah, a pristine silence greeted us. The crickets sang as we took the stairs to Pranay Golay’s Magnolia Homestay.

Staying experience in Burmaik, a new destination of North Bengal Tourism:

The homestay owner, Pranay Ji, quickly welcomed us and asked us to settle in our rooms before the sunset. His request made us curious. But once we settled down on the upstairs verandah with our teas, we saw one of the most beautiful sunsets in our lives. The vermillion-tinged sky played with the clouds as the sun decided to hide under the cloudy shrouds. The purple, orange and bluish-gray hues rioted all over the sky, protesting.

By then, our stomachs growled too. We had plates of instant noodles and retired to our rooms for evening Adda.

Also Read: Food Crawl in Darjeeling

During dinner time, Pranay Ji served hot chicken curry and rotis. The curry did not have any hint of chillies. Therefore, we could share it with our kids. The food was delicious, no doubt. While serving, he talked about his carefully nurtured farm around the homestay building, where he grew green cardamoms, turmeric, black pepper, seasonal vegetables, a few fruits, and flowers and orchids. He kept a small coop of hens, too.

The following day, we took a round in the farm. Pranay Ji appeared to be an extremely hardworking person. His helps had gone away to their homes for Diwali leave, but he ensured that the homestay and farm premises were spic and span every day. We often saw him either with a broomstick or a floor mop roaming around, cleaning. Even the hen-coop was extremely clean, which is unusual given the hens’ biological habits.

Flowering plants bordered the farm. The seasonal flowers smiled from their places, exuding warmth and vibrance. We saw a brilliant example of indigenous engineering in a water conduit channeling the water from a natural cascade to an open reservoir at about a slope of 45 degrees downhill. Pranay Ji said that he channeled the water for the watering needs. The conduit gave an aesthetic significance to the homestay also. The vacationers can hear the sound of the falling water anytime during the day or night just from their respective rooms! Long after this stay, when I write this travelogue here, I can still visualise the neatly kept farm, the orchid plants decorating the walls and an array of red chilli pickle bottles seated upon the front balcony basking in the sun.

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We headed for a walk around the place and hiked up to a place from where we could see the Teesta River. A nearly motorable road lined the Manchu Forest around. We slowly walked on that road admiring the tranquility around. Our masks were off for the first time during this vacation. We felt free and seeped in as much clean air as possible. Unfortunately, we couldn’t reach the viewpoint as three of our hikers were getting tired. The two were our kids and the third one was me. Though the temperature was never less than 12 degrees, I always felt a bone-chilling cold during my stay. That feeling of chill limited my senses from inhaling the natural beauty. Maybe my body constitution needs a rejig.

Anyways, coming back to the homestay – the balcony is the star attraction of this homestay. One can while away one’s time just by sitting there and looking up at the sky, counting the stars or gazing at the hills that border West Bengal and Sikkim.

A visit to the Cinchona Plantation and Teesta View Point on our way to Kolakham, another destination in North Bengal Tourism:

It was thoughtful of Pranay Ji to pack a half bottle of milk as we headed out towards Kolakham for our next part of the tour. We would be staying at Kolakham for two more days before returning to Kolkata. He also gifted us a packet of fresh turmeric and two seasonal flowering plants.

We bade him goodbye with a promise to revisit his homestay during Spring. On our way to Kolakham, we stopped at the Jalsha Bungalow to observe the Government-owned Cinchona Plantation. Before Jalsha Bungalow, we got to see a Teesta View Point, where Teesta appeared like a braided stream with sandbanks on alternating curves of the river.

The Cinchona Plantation is a fantastic place, a wonderful natural setting altogether. It was placid green with the heritage Jalsha Bungalow in the middle. We got to know from the Security Staff that the West Bengal Tourism Department allows booking options for staying at the Bungalow premises. We’ll try that next time.

Address and Contact Details of Magnolia Homestay:

Owner: Pranay Golay

Contact Number: 9382131929, 7427990227

Golay Niwas

Kalimpong, Burmaik,

School dhura Burmaik,

West Bengal 734301

The post Burmaik – a rendezvous with tranquility in North Bengal Tourism appeared first on KolkataFusion.

Picturesque Darjeeling’s Food Scene – The best choice for the foodies exploring North Bengal Tourism

Darjeeling, a part of the North Bengal Tourism, undoubtedly offers one of the most spectacular views of the Kanchenjunga peak, but the food scene there is pretty interesting. There are very few travel destinations where you get outstanding qualities of fusion cuisine. Be it the continental food reminding of its colonial past, Nepali cuisine, Oriental spread along with the quintessential Bengali Alu Posto, Bhaat and Daal, or shuddh shakahari platter (Jain Cuisine) –  Darjeeling food trips would offer you all.

Since visiting Darjeeling has become our yearly ritual, we sample food in different eateries. However, we could try out only four places this year because we stayed in Darjeeling for a couple of days before heading to Barmaik.

On reaching Darjeeling, we had lunch in Glenary’s, dinner back in our hotel Alice Villa, next day’s breakfast in Hot Stimulating Café, lunch in Park Hotel, and dinner again at the same place. Yes!! That’s Darjeeling! And these are just a handful of the best restaurants in Darjeeling. We had a brunch in Keventer’s on the last day before moving out to our next destination. Let’s talk about each of these astounding eateries in Darjeeling.

1. Glenary’s (A must visit spot in the North Bengal Tourism for the Gourmets)

The Glenary’s was established by an Italian named Vado during the Colonial Era. It might have been one of the most popular eating places along with the Keventer’s where the British used to go back then. Later it was bought by the Edwards Family and rechristened to Glenary’s.

The family worked to preserve the colonial heritage of this eatery and divided it into three units – a restaurant upstairs, a bakery on the ground floor and a pub in the basement. The seating arrangements are aesthetically made with a view of Kanchenjunga on clearer days. It appears as if you have time travelled and entered a British eatery during the pre-independence days.

We had our lunch here after a tiring train journey. The glasses of fresh lime soda and chilled beer refreshed our senses. We had ordered Fried Fish and French fries for the kids along with steamed rice with chicken, veggies and mushroom, roasted pork, bread and beef cutlets for us. Our children instantly liked the Fried Fish because they had no hints of chillies and the upper coat was as thin as possible with a fat chunk of the delicate fish piece underneath.

The steamed rice with chicken, veggies and mushrooms was quite an interesting revelation for us. It presented a healthy main dish with subtle flavours but incredibly delectable – a near cousin to the chicken pishpash may be.

The Roasted Pork and Beef Cutlet were beautiful delights to our taste buds. The meats were tender, well done with measured spices in it.

On our way back to our hotel, we bought Apple Pie, Blueberry Cheesecakes, a brownie and chocolates from the famed Glenary’s bakery to treat ourselves during the evening.

2. Hot Stimulating Café

(This discovery has made this cafe one of the personal favourites amongst the best restaurants in Darjeeling)

The following day, we went out for a walk around the Darjeeling Mall and Observatory Hill. We had a plan to try out the new eatery (lesser-known) near the Shrubbery Nightingale Park in Richmond Hill before moving to the Darjeeling Zoo.

We all were quite hungry as we reached the Café. The uphill walk made us yearn more and more for a hearty breakfast. However, we felt at home on entering this quaint café. It is run by a Tibetan, Yapla Rumba and his family. He said that his ancestors settled in Darjeeling long back, even before the Chinese invasion of Tibet. He treated us to homemade sausages, home-baked burger sandwiches, soupy noodles (no, not Thukpa) and delicious piping hot coffees.

The open-air seating arrangements helped us soak the warm sun while silently appreciating the green hills lying afar. The family maintained a small garden with blooming colourful flowers swaying their heads with every cool breeze swiping through them.

The Hot Stimulating Café also organizes Tibetan Momo cooking classes for interested travellers. After the lessons, they encourage the travellers to help them make the Momos for practical experience. So we promised them to be their Momo disciples on our next trip before walking towards the Zoo.

Recommended Read: An Accidental Sojourn in Darjeeling

3. The Park Restaurant (A place of authentic Thai food in North Bengal Tourism):

The Zoo walk made me pretty weary, if not all, of my party. The kids were ever energetic. I needed a place to sit down for an hour and be lazy (being lazy feels like being me, can’t help it). But it was not possible till we reached The Park Restaurant. We had to buy a few woolens from the Chauk Bazar before settling down in the restaurant.

The Park Restaurant was established back in 1993 by a local named Deep. The place specializes in Thai and Chinese cuisine. We had ordered Raw Papaya Salad, Dry Chilli Chicken, Crispy Chicken, Chicken Hakka Noodles after the beverages of Fresh Lime Soda, Chilled Beer, and Long Island Tea. Unfortunately, we were restricted to venture out on sampling other specialties because of the inability of our children to eat hot and spicy food.

To me, personally, the Raw Papaya Salad was the clear winner. The rich tanginess of the salad balanced by the crispiness of the peanuts were absolute delights to the food lover in me.

A word of caution here – The Park Restaurant seemed a bit pricy, so, if looking for budget eating options, this one can be left out unless you are eager to sample proper Thai food more than the other Oriental dishes in this restaurant.

4. Keventer’s:

I understand that Keventer’s or Kev’s has a rich heritage in serving the British gentry in the past. And it’s one of the best restaurants in Darjeeling that boasts of well-prepared continental cuisine, basically cold cuts, but it failed to satisfy me. Also, the crowd of patrons hankering for the open space with limited seating arrangements outside was a major put-off for me (Call us the extremely highbrow and obnoxious people, who can’t mingle with ‘tourist’ crowds, but that’s how we, the Kolkatafusion people are as travellers. We accept our vice. So, now Peace!).

I missed ‘Boney’s’ all along. The food was okayish, if not good, although not promptly served. The kids had Cheese Omelette and Scrambled Eggs along with fruit juice for their breakfast. We had chicken salami sandwich burgers, toasts, and a mixed platter of fried portions of bacon, sausages, hams and salamis. The hot chocolate was well done, though!

5. Alice Villa:

To all our food adventures during mornings and afternoons, Alice Villa, our abode for this time’s Darjeeling visit, offered solace to our tired digestive systems. We invariably ordered soul comforting food like Rice or Roti, Daal, Daal Fries, Mixed Vegetable Curries and Potato Fries (simple Alu Bhaja) for the dinners. We also sampled the famous Alice Villa pudding, but we didn’t like it much, maybe because the sweetness is on the higher side.

Although we wanted to sample food in Penang Restaurant, Kunga Restaurant, and Boney’s, we couldn’t cover much. However, we didn’t return empty-handed from our yearly food pilgrimage in Darjeeling and that memory would keep us upbeat for another year till we visit again.

The post Food Crawl in Darjeeling – A rare treasure of the North Bengal Tourism appeared first on KolkataFusion.

In this article, we would be providing you with the details of the different travel locations of the Dooars of North Bengal.

A part of North Bengal Tourism- Dooars

1. JALDAPARA NATIONAL PARK

Jaldapara National Park, situated on the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas along the bank of river Torsa, is famous for its Asiatic One-Horned Rhino. The National Park characterized by an extensive grassland is also a homeland for many species like Asiatic Elephants, Swamp Deers, Gaur(Indian Bison) and a great number of birds.

The main attraction of Jaldapara is the elephant safari conducted for spotting the wildlife. Besides, jeep safaris are also organized inside the jungle. The best place to stay here is the Hollong Tourist Lodge of WBFDC. Among private accommodations, The Mystic Forest is a perfect stay. The nearest tourist spot is Madarihat.

A detour in Chilapata: The dense woods on the eastern part of Torsa river, known as Chilapata Forest, is also a part of the Jaldapara Forest. It’s one of the good options for a day tour from the Jaldapara. Chilapata Forest serves as the elephant corridor between Buxa Tiger Reserve and Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. The jeep safaris through this dense forest is a lifetime experience, not be missed if you are travelling in Dooars.

2. GORUMARA NATIONAL PARK, CHAPRAMARI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, LATAGURI & MURTI

Gorumara National Park is perhaps the most popular zone of the North Bengal Tourism, a jungle lover would ever vouch for. It is well known for its diversified flora and fauna which includes Indian Bison, elephants, One-Horned Rhinos, leopards, deers, etc. Amidst the dense forests of Sal and Shimul, the watchtowers are great spots for watching the animals. A jeep safari is also available at the buffer zones of the jungle.

The nearest stay is either in Murti or Lataguri. Good lodging choices in close proximity to the forest are – The Reserve Gorumara or The Chapramari Wilderness Camp.

Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the oldest forests in Dooars, is an extension of the Gorumara National Park, bifurcated by the Murti River.

On the banks of the Murti river, Murti is one of the finest tourist spots. The crystal clear water of Murti, along with the surrounding picturesque landscape, is a perfect place to relax one’s mind and soul.

The best accommodation at Murti is the Murti Tourist Lodge of WBTDCL and Banani Lodge of WBFDC. Or you can also opt for the privately-owned Murti Tourist Lodge.

Lataguri is a small tourist village situated at the confluence of Murti and Jaldhaka river in the midst of thick deciduous forest and a quaint landscape. It is just 25 kms drive from the fringe of Gorumara National Park.

Out of the several resorts at Lataguri we recommend the Tuskers Den Forest Resort the most.

Recommended Read: Offbeat travel destinations of North Bengal – Palmajua and Chatakpur

3. NEORA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Maintaining its unique biodiversity, Neora Valley is perhaps the only forest in the Eastern Himalayas that has a few virgin forest patches that are yet to be explored by humans.

The jungle family includes Himalayan Thar, Tiger, Goral, Himalayan Black Bear, Clouded Leopard as well as the endangered species of  Red Panda. The valley is bliss for bird watchers. Here you’ll find birds like Redstart, Whistling Thrush, Golden Headed Black Finch, Niltava.

There are two routes to reach Neora Valley. One is through Kolakham, a forest village situated about 10 km from Lava. Another one is through Samsing, mostly availed by trekkers who enjoy camping and trekking in the forest trails. Forest permits are available both at Lava and Samsing. The best place to stay here is the Neora Valley Jungle Camp.  

4. SAMSING, SUNTALEKHOLA AND ROCKY ISLAND

Samsing is one of the greatest tourist attractions of the North Bengal Tourism. It has a majestic view of the lush green tea gardens, hilly slopes, orange orchards, cinnamon plantations. And the trickling sound of the Murti River adds to it charm . Situated at a distance of only 17 kms from Chalsa, you can experience a beautiful drive to Samsing through the unending stretches of tea gardens like Samsing Tea Garden, Chalsa Tea Garden etc.

There are several homestays at Samsing, which offer a good and cozy stay. Among the private hotels, Samsing Backwoods Adventure Camping offers a cozy stay at a reasonable tariff.

Rocky Island – Located at a distance of merely 3 km from Samsing, is a campsite located at the banks of river Murti. It is an upcoming eco-tourism destination in North Bengal offering opportunities like camping activities, rock climbing, river bank trekking, etc.

Suntalekhola – Just 4kms from Samsing, Suntalekhole is famous for its thrilling stay at the WBFDC lodge. The mysterious dense forests, the ghostly silence & the remote location – everything is just too thrilling. Apart from the government stay, the Mayjhora Homestay offers a comfortable homely environment amidst the locals.

HOW TO REACH DOOARS:

The only airport in this belt is the Bagdogra Airport. From here, prepaid taxis are available for any part of the Dooars area.

By train, the most preferred station will be the New Mal Junction, as it is located right at the Dooars belt. But very few trains are available for this station, like Kanchankanya Express from Kolkata. The next best option is the New Jalpaiguri station, from where pre-paid cabs are available.

IDEAL TRAVEL PLAN TO DOOARS

Ideally, you can plan for a 7 to 8 days visit to the Dooars, to enjoy and explore the unique and rare beauties of North Bengal Tourism. We suggest the following travel plan:

• Reach New Mal Junction by Kanchankanya Express
• From New Mal Junction, book a cab to Gorumara and halt there for 2 days.
• Next, you can visit the Neora Valley via Kolakham . You can also spend a night at Kolakham.
• Early next morning, travel to Samsing, Rocky Island and Suntalekhola. Among these, you should consider a halt at Suntalekhola for 2 days stay if you get a booking at the WBFDC forest resort to absorb in the sights and sounds of the beautiful place.
•  After enjoying the tranquility of Suntalekhola, you can go on for a 2 days stay at Murti ,which is in close proximity to Jaldapara and Chapramari forests.

Although all types of North Indian and South Indian foods are available here due to the tremendous development of tourism but don’t miss the local dishes like momos, dry fish pickles and bamboo shoots. And when you are in the land of tea gardens, do not dare to miss a steaming cup of the aromatic Darjeeling tea.

The best time to visit Dooars is October to March.

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