Bermiok – Hotel Silent Valley

BERMIOK

Bermiok is a lesser known destination in the western part of Sikkim. Before visiting this place one needs to know few things about Bermiok. Hee Bermiok village is located in West Sikkim and is bounded by Hee River in the West, Kalez River in the North, Rangeet River in the East and Samdong Reserve Forest in the South. Hee- Bermiok is the village mainly in habited by the old Sikkimese tribes. For those who love to spend one or two days within the absolute calmness on the lap of mother nature for them Bermiok can be an ideal option. Bermiok is situate at an elevation of about 5000 feet and is guarded by hills on all sides. Bermiok offers a breathtaking view of Mt Kanchenjunga along with Mt. Kabru, Mt. Rathong, Mt. Kumbhakarna, Mt. Koktang and others. From Bermiok one can witness the awesome view of Sunrise and Sunset to the far horizon. Bermiok is also an ideal option for bird photographers and landscape photographers. Bermiok is home to numerous Himalayan birds, one can spot Yellow Necked Woodpecker, Great Flameback Woodpecker, Yurasian Tree Sparrow, Blue Whistling Thrush, Green Backed Tit, Slaty Backed Forktail, Grey Treepie, Common Green Magpie, Plumbius Water Redstart and Waige Tailed Pigeon. Near the Syringa Falls from the hill top to the far bottom Black Eagle and Serpent Eagle are seen. To reach the Syringa Falls one needs to step down a route of 2 hours. The Syringa falls remains full of water throughout the year. The area is not one single tourist destination but a cluster of tourist destinations each of which has its pride of place on its own right. The villages of the region are mostly set on the northern side of a long East-West spanning ridge that rises from the Rangit River and continues west till it breaks into a number of smaller ridges before entering Nepal through the Singalila Range. To the immediate north is another ridge on which the famous tourist town of Pelling is situated. Further North is the Kanchenjunga Massif. Bermiok showcases its best at its annual Heritage & Tourism Festival. Organized by the Hee-Bermiok Tourism Development and Heritage Conservation Society, the festival not only witnesses a tremendous response from the local gentry but receives an equally warm response from foreign and domestic tourists. Bermiok mainly surrounded by small hamlets of Lepcha tribals and their culture, tradition and life style are still well preserved. Besides this, a fairly large number of Gurungs, Rais and other communities are also living together in peace and harmony. This area has got significant historical, cultural, natural and religious importance.

Things to do and see: Around Bermiok the local places of visit includes Lepcha Jouse, Poison Lake, Monastery, Manghim Temple, Syringa Falls that comes down from a height of 300 feet, Hee-Khola Water Garden, Rabindranath Bhawan. Bermiok has the options of short treks; there is a nearest monastery that is worth visiting, on the way one gets to see numerous species of wild strawberries and Orchids. One can go around for a village walk and get to know about the daily life of the locals. Here is also a village foot trail that leads to these places via Martam village and Phagudara. Tourists can also witness the world’s largest prayer wheel and a water park in nearby Hee Gaon with swimming pools and gazebos. Hee Water Garden is located at the bank of Hee-Khola & admired for the biggest Mani Chukar of the world which is the Buddhist prayer wheel rotated by the current of water. The main attractions from Hee-Bermiok are mountain biking, nature walk, visit to villages, Sirijanga Yuma Mangheem, Sirijanga holy cave at Martam, Mahatma Sirijanga Statue and Study Center, Chhayatal Lake (reflecting the image of the Sirijanga statue), Phang Dorji Falls (Ban Jhankri Falls), Himalayan Botanical Garden Hee Goucharam, Hee Khola Water Garden, Red Panda Gate.

How to reach: Bermiok lies within a distance of about 140 km from New Jalpaiguri Railway station. From Siliguri by shared or hired cars via Melli, Jorethang, Soreng and Kaluk and from Pelling by the route of Dentam one can reach Bermiok. From Siliguri it takes around 5 hours to reach Bermiok.