Visit to Kolakham – An Offbeat Place in North Bengal, India

Offbeat places attract me a lot, especially because it is devoid of crowds and the serenity is what I desire in a break. It gives an opportunity to unwind myself and rejuvenate my mind. This summer vacation was hence special, spending time with my family in Kolakham – an offbeat place in North Bengal.

About Kolakham – an Offbeat Place in North Bengal

It is very tough to introduce Kolakham in one or two sentences, such is its tranquility and inherent beauty. It is still unexplored and considered a hidden gem. Perched at a height of 6500 feet, this Himalayan village is situated inside the vibrant Neora Valley National Park. The reason for mentioning it vibrant is not that it is flocked by visitors but because of its abundant natural bio-diversity, and the meandering forest trails. Another unique part of Kolakham is you can watch the breathtaking views of the magnificent Kanchenjunga. This is was one of the reasons behind planning for this trip. Besides, if you are a birdwatcher then you have plenty of opportunities to capture pictures of birds. The place is also ideal for trekkers and hikers, ample paths and trails available to scale up the mountains and traverse through the valleys and plains.

The Enchanting Landscape

The solitude which lies in each and every corner of this place is unparalleled. And that’s why travelers and tranquil-seekers like me term its as Kolakham – an offbeat place where nature has wrapped itself in all forms. The greenery around is amazing, with bright mountain flowers enhancing its charm. The colours and freshness in them are a soothing treat to the eyes. The feeling in the vicinity of the amazing view of Mother nature is inexplicable. It seemed I could have spent days at this beautiful place. The morning welcomes with the melodious chirping of the birds and you can feel the pure breeze spreading an captivating aura all around. Nights are amazing too, the quietness around is mystical with the ocaasional sound of the rustling leaves and the wild insects. You must not miss a stroll in the evening to engulf this experience.

A Haven for Enjoying Multitude of Activities

Well though I have mentioned Kolakham – an offbeat place, but it has numerous things to offer when it comes to activities. If you love to spend time in leisure, then you can easily do so watching the peaks of Kanchenjunga from any view point or a homestay or a resort. Along with it, you can spend time hoping around the nearby lanes, tasting the freshly cooked street foods or the fresh fruits around. Meeting the local folks around is also a good way to know about the people, their habitat and their language.

If you love exploring places adjacent to Kolakham, then you can hire a vehicle and roam around. Changey Falls, Dubling, Rishop, Lava and Lolegaon are the most common places where you can find a lot of tourists. A ride across the Neora Valley National park is also a good option. You can spend 2 to 3 days traveling across all these places.

For birdwatchers, the place is quite ideal. It is a haven for birds like Satyr Tragopan, Kalij Pheasant, laughingthrushes, flycatchers, finches, and bulbuls. But you need to know the exact time and place for watching them. Early morning is the best time to wake up and walk around the quiet village trails. If you want to find more of them, then the best is to venture inside the Neora valley park or the forest area.

People like me who love stargazing, nights in Kolakham are ideal for it. The clear sky and zero pollution make it idear for stargazing. So do not miss out the chance of witnessing the stars, moon and the planets entertain your eyes. I was truly delighted and my son too, who has an immense love of astronomy.

For adventure enthusiasts, Kolakham is ideal for hiking, trekking and rock climbing too. So you can pack your gears during your trip and go out for an adventure across the mountains and the forests. The lush greenery will welcome you and keep you energized and charged up throughout the journey.

Stay at Kolakham

As I mentioned Kolakham – an offbeat place, it is equally important to select a good place to stay. The reason being the views must be appropriate from the homestay or the resort, else the stay is not worth. Waking up in the morning, watching the sun rays and the view of the Kanchenjunga are a specialty of the place. So I had to spend some time searching for the appropriate accommodation for our stay. Though expensive compared to the usual homestays, but enjoyed my stay. Our stay was Evri Hotel and Resorts, a premium resort with rooms providing awesome views of nature and equipped with modern amenities. The resort has its own in-house dining facilities, excellent room service, free wifi, free parking facilities and delectable food. They even have a travel desk where you can book a vehicle and plan for your trip to the nearby destinations. The owner is courteous and the staff is well-mannered and friendly.

How to Reach Kolakham

By Air: Bagdogra is the nearest airport, about 117 km from Kolakham by car.

By Train: Nearest station is New Jalpaiguri or NJP, about 114 km from Kolakham by car.

By Road: If you prefer driving then it is best to start from Kalimpong via Lava and then reach Kolakham.

The roads are quite bumpy due to the forest area so you need to prepare yourself accordingly. Well, you might wonder why visit a place with such bumpy roads. A kind reminder of my quote, Kolakham – an offbeat place. The animals, the birds and the nature will vanish once they feel that it is a residential area draped with concrete roads and pavements. So the forest department has requested to keep it this way and the travelers, villagers and the owners of resorts and homestays respect the request.

Best Time to Visit Kolakham

The best time to visit Kolakham is during autum and winter in the months of October to December or during spring from March till May. I took the second option – May.

Hope you enjoyed reading about Kolakham and my visit to the place. More episodes upcoming, so keep a watch on the website.

Cheers !!!!!