CHATAKPUR – A Paradise hilltop in Darjeeling District
Chatakpur- An Offbeat Place Near Darjeeling
Chatakpur is a tiny village at a altitude of 7887 feet in Darjeeling District, West Bengal. It is located inside the dense Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary in Darjeeling Hill. This village is bounded by the Mount Kanchenjunga range in the North and the river Relly Khola in the south. Though it exists since pre-independence this beautiful village has only 19 households and around 100 people only.
This village promotes organic farming of vegetables in greenhouses. Medicinal herbs are also grown and the locals sustain their livelihood through these.
The forest is also home to a number of lovely colorful birds like Blue Magpie, Bulbul, Verditer, Flycatcher, Pipit, long-tail shrike, Warbler, prinia, etc. It is a great place for the bird.
How to reach Chatakpur from Njp :
From Njp Station or Bagdogra airport to Chatakpur distance is around 70 km via matigara kurseong road. It takes time 2.5 hours by car. Cab fare from NJP or Bagdogra to Chatakpur Rs.3000 to 3500 because no direct transportation available is there. It’s only 7 km from Sonada. It’s only 26km from Darjeeling and 17 km from Jorebungalow, Ghoom.
if you go as a solo traveler or want to go with a sharing basis then from Njp to Sonada(those Buses/Taxi going from Njp to Darjeeling) then book a taxi from there. Many Homestays will arrange the sharing basis car service from Sonada.
Things to do:
Kanchenjunga range will be with you all along on a clear day. So, many new trek routes are also very adventurous.
- 2 to 3 hours trek through dense forest to tiger hill is amazing.
- 1-hour trek to Sonada is best for amateur trekkers.
- Campfire.
You can enjoy the sunrise and the golden beauty of the Kanchenjunga even sitting in your room. You will surely have a similar taste of Sunrise here avoiding the noisiest and heavily crowded concrete structures of tiger hill.
If you more know more about Offbeat places in Near Darjeeling like
Where To Stay :
There are few homestays in Chatakpur. You can also find farm stays and guest houses here. It was a buzzing tourist spot during the pre-Covid period.
Some of the Homestays you could contact directly to stay during your visit to Chatakpur:
Homestays~
• Phurba Homestay- 9547580375
• Humro Homestay- 7908676763
• Puja Homestay- 9732411902
• Amar Rai Barsey- 7319469170
• Kulling Homestay- 7029315796
• Eco Village Dhanmaya Niwas (Lower Chatakpur)- 8967936712
• Akriti Homestay- 9933104230
• Chetan Homestay- 6297938870
• Prem Homestay- 8101893469
• P. Sherpa Homestay- 9732676645
Places To Visit in Chatakpur
•Tiger Hills- Located in Darjeeling, Tiger Hills has a panoramic view of Mt. Everest and the Kanchenjunga range. In a distance, along with Teesta, the Mahananda river flows. Balason River and Mechi River also meanders down the south.
•Senchal Lake- Located at an altitude of 8,160 ft, this hill also has one of the highest golf courses in the world. Senchal is a favorite picnic spot. A tourist lodge at Senchal provides accommodation to tourists. It is also a part of the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary.
•Tieddi– This is a humble endeavor to rediscover nature at its best. You will find just that once you visit this place. Tieddi also has handcrafted abodes amidst forest gardens for working local. It will be a blissful place to stay at.
•Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary-It is one of the oldest wildlife sanctuaries in India. Senchal covers an area of 38.6 km2. The elevation ranges from 1,500 to 2,600m.
It provides a habitat for barking deer, wild boar, Himalayan black bear, Indian leopard, jungle cat, rhesus monkey, Assam macaque, a Himalayan flying squirrel. The sanctuary is also rich in birdlife. The two Senchal lakes supply drinking water to the town of Darjeeling.
•Tiger Hills Sunrise Observatory- You will get an amazing view of the world’s highest mountain ranges from here. Watch the sunrise from this point as it will be the most memorable part of your journey.
•Runglee Rungliot Tea Factory– It is one of the oldest and popular tea districts in Darjeeling. This place is a must-visit.
Chatakpur Sightseeing
•Kala Pokhri Lake- This is a village named after a local lake with dark waters. It will be situated along the route of Manebhanjan to Sandakphu. “Pokhri” means Lake, and “Kala” means Dark in Nepali. Even though an offbeat tourist spot, this lake is a mesmerizing delight. It is surrounded by Nepali flags and Pahari flowers. Kala Pokhri is a beautiful village.
Tourists often frequent here to visit this black water lake. It is a sacred lake flowing at a height of 3170 meters. You will spot this place en-route Chatakpur Tiger Hills, during your trek.
Temperature in Chatakpur :
The temperature in Chatakpur ranges from around 17° to -4°C during winter. It stays sunny during the summer. Watching Sunrise from Chatakpur is better than watching it from Tiger hill though. This hilltop paradise heartily welcomes you to feel nature’s unseen beauty.
Written by : Riddhi Bhattacharya and Soumik Koley (Travelofina Travel Stories).
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