SAMTHAR
Samthar is an offbeat tourist destination of Kalimpong sub division in Kalimpong district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Samthar is set at an altitude of 1400 meter (4500 feet) and situated far away from the madding city crowd amidst thick natural vegetation with serene and tranquil ambience all over. The small village of Samthar comprises of lush greenery, numerous streams cutting through the valleys, terraced farmlands, thatched cottages and warm hospitable Lepcha community of Rai, Tamang, Gurung and like people those are mainly into farming as a basic source of livelihood. These local villagers of Samthar mainly practice terraced farming (also known as step cultivation) to produce vegetable through organic process along with cattle breeding. Apart from this with the rising scope of rural tourism in this sector, the local villagers of Samthar gradually started to involve into tourism activities and some of the locals extended their homes in order to cater tourists in homestay type accommodation at Samthar. On a clear day Samthar offers stunning view of the snow-capped Himalayan ranges of Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Siniolchu, Mt. Simvo and Mt. Pandim, Jelepla Pass and parts of Nathula Pass. At every nooks and corner of Samthar village tourists can witness wide species of flowers like Orchid, Rhododendrons, Primula and others. Samthar is fast growing as an offbeat tourist destination of North Bengal region. The village of Smathar is home to wide species of birds and butterflies those are spotted throughout the day. Samthar rejuvenates the mind and soul of every tourist with the breath of fresh air. The surrounding landscape of Samthar soothes the eye with the view of mountain valleys and flowing rivers. The landscape of Samthar is filled with trees such as Oak, Pine and Juniper. The aloofness and the absolute presence of nature is what attract tourists to visit Samthar.
Activities and attractions in and around Samthar:
Samthar being a small village offers tourists with ampule options of sightseeing and local activities to experience and enjoy.
- The most noteworthy activity at Samthar is to sit back on a chair and enjoy the surrounding natural beauty along with the view of the snow-capped Himalayan ranges at the backdrop.
- For adventure seeking travellers Samthar offers few trekking and hiking opportunities from the village. As few short trek routes emerge from Samthar like Samthar to Kalimpong, Samthar to Panbu, Samthar to Upper Lish River, Samthar to Samthar Top, Samthar to Lepcha Valley, Samthar to Teesta Valley.
- Samthar is an ideal location for bird watchers and bird photographers. The dense forested trails of Samthar are the areas to spot these birds in abundance with the help of a local guide.
- For landscape photographers Samthar is also an ideal spot with the with high rising mountain valleys, flowing Himalayan streams, snow-capped Himalayan ranges and lush greenery. The starry studded night sky with the dazzling view of the diamond like lights of Kalimpong town at the backdrop of the dark night at Samthar is also a sight worth capturing.
- At Samthar children can indulge in outdoor activities like cycling, kiting and cultural activities.
- From Samthar tourists can enjoy the view of Reili River flowing though the valleys along with a part of River Teesta basin spreading to the wide horizon.
- From Samthar in a day trip tourists can visit places like Charkhole (8.4 km), Rai Dara View Point (08 km), Panbu Dara View Point (42.2 km), Lolegaon (28.7 km via Reili Road), Dabling View Point (24 km), Nokdara Lake (40.3 km via Rishi Road), Gumba Dara Monastery (31.6 km), Lava View Point (55.8 km), Lava Monastery (31.8 km), Mungpoo Rabindra Museum (28.4 km), Deolo Park (40.5 km via Rishi Road), Teesta Lovers Meet View Point (47 km), Lamahatta (43.4 km), Tinchuley (36.5 km), Runglee Rungliot Tea Estate (31.7 km) and Kalimpong (42 km).
- At Samthar tourists can engage in cultural activities like local festivals, folk dancing and local music. One can also immerse in the rich cultural heritage and traditional customs of Samthar.
- Samthar Monastery is another tourist attraction in Samthar lies amidst natural surroundings. At Samthar Monastery tourists can witness the intricate architecture and immerse oneself into the peaceful atmosphere to gain insights of old Buddhist traditions.
- On a leisure day tourists can opt for a village trail of Samthar and meet the local people and get deep insights of their daily lifestyle. One can also lay hands with the local villagers at Samthar in organic farming activities.
- The local cuisines of Samthar village which are mostly traditional Tibetan or Nepali dishes are worth tasting. These local cuisines are mostly prepared from organic produce which are grown the farmlands of Samthar.
- In the evening at Samthar tourists can opt for a camp fire or Bar-B-Cue with local music which is performed by the local residents of Samthar village.
- There are very few orange orchards available at Samthar which are also worth visiting, but winter will be the perfect time to witness these oranges in full bloom.
How to Reach:
By Air: Bagdogra Airport is the nearest airport to Samthar located at a distance of 70 km away via NH 10. Bagdogra Airport is well connected by regular flight services with Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi. From Bagdogra Airport by hired vehicles tourists can reach Samthar.
By Train: New Jalpaiguri Railway Station or NJP is the nearest rail head to Samthar located at a distance of 65.5 km via NH 10. NJP railway station is well connected by regular railway networks with Kolkata and other major cities of India. From NJP railway station by hired vehicles tourists can reach Samthar. Apart from that Samthar can also be reached from New Mal Junction located at a distance of 72.8 km via NH 17 and NH 10. The route from New Mal Junction to Samthar is via Odlabari and it takes about 2.5 hours to reach.
By Road: Samthar is well connected by good motor-able road services with Siliguri (65 km) and other known tourist destinations like Kalimpong (42 km), Darjeeling (56.3 km via Mungpoo), Kurseong (91.6 km via Matigara – Kurseong Road). By road the nearest route to reach Samthar is via Kalijhora and Panbu which is a drive of 2.5 hours. Another route to reach Samthar is from Siliguri upto Kalimpong which is a journey of about 2.5 hours. From Kalimpong upto Lava (a journey of another 30 minutes) and from Lava a driving distance of 24 km will reach at Samthar village.
Best time to visit:
Samthar can be visited throughout the year, but it is advisable to avoid the monsoon season due to messy road condition. Samthar experiences a mild temperature during summers which makes Samthar ideal to escape the scorching heat of the plains. Winters at Samthar are quiet chilly with clear sky. Winters at Samthar are ideal to witness the majestic Himalayan ranges of Mt. Kanchenjunga and is also the ideal time for maximum bird activity. During spring time tourists can witness wide species of flowers blooming all through the village of Samthar making the village more vibrant and colourful.
MOUNT CARMEL HOMESTAY
Mount Carmel Homestay is a budget friendly homestay available at Samthar. Mount Carmel Homestay offers tourists with eco-friendly, cosy and comfortable accommodation. The staffs of Mount Carmel Homestay are very courteous and of very warm welcoming nature and are always keen on helping our guests as far as possible. Mount Carmel Homestay offers tourists with home cooked organic meals which are mostly grown in the homestay backyards. All rooms of Mount Carmel Homestay offers breath-taking view of the snow-capped Himalayan ranges along with surrounding views. Mount Carmel Homestay has well-appointed rooms with all sorts of modern amenities available. Rooms of Mount Carmel Homestay are clean and hygienic.
Amenities available:
Well wooden furnished rooms
Attached washrooms with western toilets
In house dinning facility
Arrangement of pick and drop facility
Arrangement of local sightseeing
24 hours running hot and cold water
Geyser facility available
Wall to wall carpet in all rooms
Tariff:
INR @ 1500/- per day per person (both food and lodging included)
Meals include: Morning tea, breakfast, lunch, evening tea, snacks and dinner.
HOW TO BOOK: Call us at 9831311606 , 9830381306, to get the current availability status or use the query form furnished below with all you travel queries and submit, we will call/ contact you directly.
Or, you may also directly book from our Kolkata office at: 8C Shanti Ghosh Street, Kolkata – 700003. Nearest Landmark: Manindra Chandra College and Shyambazar Metro Railway Station (Gate No: 3).
