Lepcha Jagat
Lepcha Jagat has its own charm. Located at an altitude of 2000 meters and very close to Darjeeling, this small settlement is the place we read about in a romance novel. Filled with thick oak, fir and rhododendron trees, Lepcha Jagat is the place to find peace and tranquillity. It's a place where the stressed and tired souls of the city seek refuge in nature for several days. Lepchayagat is one of Kolkata's famous weekend destinations. At least for the people of Calcutta and Bengal, I no longer call Lepcha Jagat eccentric. Now famous as a weekend vacation from Kolkata, it is visited by many visitors throughout the year. Just 18km from the city of Darjeeling may also be a reason for its popularity.
Despite the influx of tourists, Lepcha Jagat continues to be a beautiful and desirable place for vacation-loving Bengali. For others visiting Darjeeling, it is advisable to visit Lepcha Jagat and stay there for a few days. I'm sure you will come back with wonderful memories.
Lepcha Jagat-The World of Lepcha
The village is also known locally as Lepcha Basti. Literally, Lepcha Jagat means "the world of Lepcha" (Jagat means the world). As the name implies, the place was once occupied primarily by the Lepcha people. Today, most of the area is a forest reserve. Lepcha Jagat Village itself is very small in some homes. There were no local markets nearby, and the main market was 4 km in Sukhiapokhri. This is the beauty of the place. Recently explored, Lepchajagat was hidden from the world and provided the best place to overflow your thoughts.
The tall trees offer loneliness, and the cold wind on their cheek helps them happy. The scent of the mist is likewise. The mist comes suddenly and you can not see them much more, and it disappears quickly. Takamatsu and Fir Tree welcome to Migrate to this world.
What can you do in Lepchajagat?
As I said, Lepchajagat is about peace and nature. The entire region is surrounded by pine, oak and Rhododendron forest. And along with humble nature, you will also bring the magnificent view of Mt. Kanchenjhungha. These forests have different Himalayan birds. The chirping of birds is one of the sounds that can be heard continuously with Lepchajagat. In other words, Lepchajagat is a place where you can easily relax and enjoy nature.
In the morning you can stroll through the villages and forests and hear the birds singing. Those who are very interested in birds can also keep an eye out for these little Himalayan birds. In the evening, you can sit by the fireplace, drink warm Darjeeling tea and read a book. There are no unpleasant sounds such as car horns and there is no pollution. The only sound you hear at night is the cricket hum. There are no shops or markets here, and no nightlife attractions. Lepchajagat is a great place to spend time with nature and yourself. WBFDC Forest Lodge is in a great location. From the terrace, you can see the snow-covered mountain peaks. There is also a staircase leading from the forest lodge garden to the forest. Hawa Ghar: This is a scenic spot where you can see all five mountains of the Kanchenjungha massif on a sunny day. It is about 1 km from Forest Lodge to Hawa Ghar and can be easily reached on foot.
Ghoom rock:
This is another place you can visit in Lepcha Jagat. Located approximately 1.5km above the Forest Lodge at an altitude of 7900 feet, it offers stunning views of the snow-capped peaks and surrounding valleys. It's also an ideal place to watch the sunrise.
Attractions near Lepcha Jagat
There are some interesting places to visit here. Both Goom and Darjeeling are very close and can be visited from here.
1. Jorpokhri
Jorpokhri is a small settlement on a hill at an altitude of 7400 feet. It is just 5 km from Lepcha Jagat. This place is named after the village's most famous attraction, the Twin Lakes. "Jor" means two and "Pokhri" means lake. The environment of the twin lakes is very beautiful. The area belongs to the Centar Forest Reserve and is full of trees such as fir, birch and oak. Yorpokuri is another wonderful natural retreat that can be visited from Lepcha Jagat. On Lake Yorpokuri, you can see the rare Himalayan salamanders, especially during the monsoon season.
2. Ghoom Monastery
Ghoom is just 10 km from Lepcha Jagat. Known as the Yiga Choeling Monastery, it is one of the oldest monasteries in the Darjeeling region. This monastery is also known as the Old Ghoom Monastery. The monastery is said to have the oldest Buddha statue in the area. The statue is believed to have been made of clay brought from Tibet! The monastery offers the best views of the Kanchenjunga Mountains. On a clear day, you can take a breather with a panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains. Another monastery, Samtenchorin Monastery, is nearby. You can visit these two monasteries. Ghoom station is also an interesting place to visit.
3. Pashupati Market
Pashupati Market is a well-known border marketplace positioned 15 km from Lepchajagat on the India-Nepal border. The marketplace is pretty well-known to a few of the locals and is understood for the sale of hiking and trekking gear, wintry weather wears, shoes, luggage and backpacks and lots of different things. However, in case you desire to shop for something from the Pashupati Market, make sure to test the products properly, especially the branded ones, lest you're given a faux product. Only Indians are allowed to go into the marketplace with legitimate ID proof.
4. Maneybhanjan
Maneybhanjan is an old fashioned Himalayan hamlet and additionally the bottom camp for the Sandakphu trek. The area is around 11 km from Sandakphu.
5. Mirik
Mirik is set 30 km from Lepchajagat after crossing Pashupati Market. It is some other stunning vacation spot well-known for the Sumendu Lake (Mirik lake) surrounded via way of means of the pine forests.
How to reach Lepchajagat?
Prepaid taxis are available from NJP or Bagdogra to Lepcha Jagat. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach NJP / Bagdogra (on the regular route Hill Cart Road via Ghoom). Alternatively, you can get a shared jeep from NJP or Siliguri to Darjeeling. You need to get off at Ghum.
From there you need to take another shared Jeep and get dropped off near the lodge on the main road. The WBFDC lodge is within walking distance there.