Sittong
Situated on three steps on the slope of hill, Sittong displays an array of tea and flower gardens all-round the year and flaunts beautiful orange orchards during winter. Nested on the lap of hills the box like houses offers a view worth remembering. Organic farming is very popular here.
Descending down the slope of hills, Mahananda sanctuary is situated here. At the entrance of the village Riyang River gushes down over the rocky river bed below the concrete bridge.
Small houses with colorful flower gardens Sittong are a picturesque village surrounded by tea gardens. During winters the orchards are filled with oranges which adds to the natural beauty of the. After lunch take a stroll along the hilly paths and ascending a little reach the Sittong View point. Enjoy the view of Sittong nested on the lap of hills, with the sun rays embracing the small village. Visit the 120-year-old church located near the viewpoint. Once made of woods, the church was damaged due to fire and was re-built with concrete. Flocked by various species of birds, the adjoining forests are paradise for bird watchers.
Adventure lovers can trek down the banks of Riyang and walk through the forest to LephaJhora, a waterfall cascading step by step. Inhabited by the Lepchas, the place offers many homestays for spending some quality time with nature. The hospitality and the tasty cuisines made from organic farming makes the stay memorable. Situated 5km from Sittong, Namthing Pokhri is famous for Himalayan Salamander which being a prehistoric species is claimed to be living fossil.
Lepcha Mud Gomfa is situated in the close vicinity. The 350-year-old Gomfa houses many historic events related to the Lepchas. The Gomfa underwent severe damages during the 2011 earthquake and needs renovation.
Suggested Itinerary for You:
DAY 1: – Reach NJP for Kolkata by train/bus. We will head towards a beautiful holiday destination – Sittong. After lunch we will visit Mongpu. The renowned bungalow of Rabindranath Tagore is situated here. Kabiguru used to spend some leisure time here and the memories are still showcased in the bungalow. Dinner and night stay at Sittong.
DAY 2: – After breakfast we will explore Sittong and its locality. Situated at the verge of a forest, Mahananda Sanctuary is flocked by various species of birds. Feel the chirping of birds with the silence of the forest in background and visit the Lepcha Falls. Then we will move to Middle Sittong. We will visit Turuk Village, NathingPokhri, Lepcha Mud Gomfa, Ahaldara and then head towards our next destination Mahaldiram. Cold winds hustling through your warmers and the snowcapped Kanchenjunga welcoming you, Mahaldiram offers you a scenic landscape. After lunch visit NarbulamaGomfa and tea gardens. Watch the variations of shades of the sun’s rays on Kanchenjunga in the late afternoon. Dinner and night stay at Mahaldiram.
DAY 3: – Start your day afresh with the beautiful sunrise, provided the weather is clear, catch a view of the sun kissed Kanchenjunga. After breakfast we will bid adieu to Mahaldiram and head towards another off-beat destination – Chimni, a small villlage. After lunch take a stroll in the small village. In the evening enjoy some leisure time with snacks. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 4: – After breakfast we will visit Margaritas Deck and enjoy some coffee with the view of Kurseong city nested on the lap of hills While returning we will visit the Bengal Safari Park. After lunch return to NJP.
Sightseeing in Sittong:
The Sittong area is very famous for its orange cultivation, during the winter months the entire area turns orange with its orange gardens. Tourists find the gardens and its produce highly attractive.
Within the Sittong Khasmahal area, you may visit the Sittong church, there was a very old bamboo church here which has now been constructed into a brick and mortar building. The place is nicely located with a view of the surrounding hills.
There is a very old Monastery at the Upper Sittong area made mostly of Bamboo and Mud, this monastery and the ground next to it is an ideal place to view the Kanchenjunga range at its full glory. Jogighat at lower sittong is a bridge over the Riyang river. This is a common picnic spot for the locals, tourists may also find the small stream and the bridge ideal spot for rejuvenating the soul.
Birding in Sittong :
The area is very famous for birds; a large variety of birds can be found here. The Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is nearby so is the now famous birding hotspot of Latpanchar. All the birds that can be seen at Latpanchar including the nesting of Rufus necked hornbill can be seen at Sittong as well.
Treks and soft adventure:
There are several soft adventure opportunities around Sittong including trekking and camping, several trek routes originate from Sittongand go to a variety of destinations. For example, you can have an hour’s trek to reach the top of the hill, the highest point in the Selphu – Sittong – Latpanchar area, from here you can have a panoramic 360 degrees view covering Dooars, Terai, Kurseong, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim hills, part of Bhutan and Nepal is also visible from here. You can also have a grand view of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Another trek through the forest can take you to Chatakpur, a forest village that has become popular among tourists in recent years. You can also trek to Bagora via Mamring from here. Other trek options include a trek to KurseongviaMajuaandMahaldiram. If you are interested in low altitude treks, this place will give you plenty of choices.
Camping of school groups and others are also organized regularly besides river Riyang, there is a camping ground which has a small waterfall and a climbing rock for practicing.
Best Time to Visit:
The best times to visit Sittong are from March- June, and September- December. Moreover, the whole area has a massive production of oranges in winters so much so that the entire area seems covered in the orange blanket.
How to Reach
Road: From Siliguri 51 kms and 33 kms from Darjeeling.
Railways: Nearest station is NJP (57 kms from Sittong).
Air:Bagdogra Airport (60 kms from Sittong).