Experiential Stay-cations in the Mountains of West Bengal and Sikkim

An ideal vacation is quite a subjective concept. For some, it may be all about relishing in the best of luxuries and for another lot, it could be more than just an escape from the monotonous schedule. The general idea of vacations did not have much scope for experimentation for a long time.

But now, due to varied circumstances, opportunities of remote work and the urge to discover a meaningful lifestyle, the idea of stay-cations have come to a limelight, which allows people to shift base for a longer duration compared to a regular vacation and even continue to work from the new home. Specially, in the post-covid world, the idea of a stay-cation can emerge as a great means to find inspiration while working as well as rejuvenate in a serene setup.

The hills of West Bengal and Sikkim with its pristine pine forests, vast tea gardens and incredible views of the Himalayan mountain ranges offer many experiential living options which may sound too good to be true. These stays are a destination in itself where along with enjoying your retreat you could also engage in farming, learning about permaculture and experience organic living. All you need to do is pack your bags, choose one of these destinations and set off for a much needed experience.

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Listed below are five such places from the hills of West Bengal and Sikkim which could be your next stay-cation!

PALIGHAR – KALIMPONG

Just about 30 minutes of drive from Kalimpong, lies Palighar in terrace farmlands of Echhey village. The nearest airport and railway stations are Bagdogra and New Jalpaiguri respectively, both situated at a distance of about 3.5 hours from Palighar.

Palighar is a farm-stay that boasts of 3 acres of farmland and its own perennial source of water. Refer to the featured image on the top to have a glimpse of the farm at Palighar. Offering scenic views of the mountains and valleys, Palighar is a perfect place where you could stay, indulge in nature therapy and farming activities, learn to cook Nepali dishes, enjoy bird watching and go for village hikes. The accommodations are built with traditional building techniques, aimed at safeguarding and promoting Nepali heritage and customs. The beautiful outdoor lounge and farmlands are all you need to get a slice of rustic living. During your stay in Palighar, you can also savour some lip smacking Nepali cuisines.

Apart from the town of Kalimpong, there are many beautiful hamlets nearbyh like Lava, Lolegaon, Rishop and Kolakham that are worth a visit to witness unparallel views of Kanchendzonga.

Click here to read more about Palighar and their vision.

 

BAASBARI FARMS – BIJANBARI, DARJEELING

Baasbari Farms, located in Bijanbari is by all means a perfect example of eco tourism. A drive of approximately 1.5 hours from Darjeeling or 3 hours from Siliguri would reach you to Baasbari, the first of its kind in its vicinity.

If you’re planning to shift base to the mountains for a long stay but want to avoid the crowd and opt for a relaxed ambience, Baasbari is the place you’re looking for.

A complete plastic free zone, Baasbari houses sustainably built bamboo units, tents for accommodation and on-site solid waste management, making it a green stay in a real sense. You have access to the entire 10 acres of space, the kitchen in case you want to cook your own meals, gorgeous forest trails to take leisurely walks and all of it surrounded by the mountains!

Baasbari is a place that would re define your idea of WFH, with plethora of other activities like riverside camping, mountain biking, trekking etc to indulge in and help you connect to nature in a way you never did.

Find out more about Baasbari Farms here and check them out on Instagram to have a virtual tour of the property.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDRVty0pz3i/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

TIEEDI FOREST GARDEN – 8 MILE, DARJEELING

Situated 20 kms away from Darjeeling, TIEEDI is a forest garden revived on a neglected acre of land, now bustling with life. The principle of TIEEDI is finding solutions within the problem.

With options of shared and private accommodations within a natural forest, TIEEDI is a gem of a place to experience minimalist living. You even have the option to earn your meals by volunteering in their ongoing projects, a win win! You can expect great conversations with fellow travelers and the hosts, organic meals and cultural exchange in this space that will surely add to your knowledge about nature, sustainable living and permaculture.

Their zero waste store and cafe are a add on to this beautiful place. All you need to do is land at Bagdogra and take a drive of 2.5 hours to 8 mile, Sonada to reach this incredible setting. You won’t be disappointed if you choose TIEEDI as your next staycation.

Read more about the projects, workshops and volunteering opportunities with TIEEDI here.

View this post on Instagram

Minal sets chess board.⁣ ⁣ Looks around at the motley group of folks engrossed in mundane discussions of natural buildings.⁣ ⁣ His fingers itch.⁣ ⁣ He even plays the pawn of the king two places forward as his first move.⁣ ⁣ Looks around.⁣ ⁣ Folks still engrossed in the same mundane topic of cob walls vs straw bale walls vs bamboo walls.⁣ ⁣ Vara notices the chess board laid out invitingly and requests for a game with him.⁣ ⁣ Minal's eyes light up. Well, we think it does coz when he smiles we don't see his eyes anymore.⁣ ⁣ About 12 moves and 3 minutes later we hear a shriek 'CHECK MATE! YAAYYY!'⁣ ⁣ The eyes light up …. and vanish again.⁣ ⁣ Poor Vara, she didn't know what hit her! She couldn't protect her Russian chess reputation against the onslaught of this boy who prefers endless games of chess…over Pubzzzzzs.⁣ ⁣ #MinalChronicles⁣ #TieediGames⁣ #tieedishortstories⁣ ⁣

A post shared by Tieedi Forest Garden (@tieedi_forest_garden) on

SAMAGHANG COTTAGE – KEWZING, SOUTH SIKKIM

Samaghang Cottage in Kewzing is a lovely home stay full of warmth and out of the world hospitality. Kewzing is a small hamlet in South Sikkim, 10 kms from Ravangla, best known for community tourism.

It takes about 4 hours to reach Kewzing from Bagdogra Airport or New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, or 30 minutes from Ravangla, the nearest town.

With cardamom plantations, in house orchards and tea gardens spread all around the property, Samaghang Cottage has a homely environment, where the family of the host would treat you as their own. You can view the snow clad peaks of Mt. Pandim and Mt. Narsing right from the balcony in the property. The outdoor seating space and the fireplace are a bonus. Bird watching, nature walks, visit to the nearby monasteries like Kewzing Monastery, Bon Monastery and Doling Monastery are few things that will keep you engaged.

They provide options of monthly stays and the WiFi is a savior that would allow you to carry out work from this little paradise.

Click here to find out more about Samaghang Cottage and send your booking queries.

ESHAB HOMESTAY AND COTTAGES – SRIBADAM, WEST SIKKIM

Eshab Homestay and Cottages is the only homestay in the village of Sribadam in West Sikkim that offers a dwelling right in the lap of nature. Sribadam is located at a distance of 25kms from Jorethang which is the nearest town, 35kms from Pelling and 115 kms from Bagdogra.

The cottages are situated in the mountain village away from the hustle and bustle of its touristy counterparts. The cottages are built in Sikkimese style and are well equipped with modern amenities to make your stay comfortable.

For the adrenaline junkies, hiking and mountain biking through the pristine and green valleys are some activities that can be taken up while staying in Sribadam. The area is surrounded by Himalayan ranges, streams, waterfalls and two Buddhist monasteries You could even join the locals to learn about the process of producing wine, extracting wild honey and trout fishing. The hosts aim at promoting responsible tourism and focus on conserving Sikkimese traditions.

Their  amazing offers on monthly stays will make it difficult for you to not plan a stay-cation to Sribadam.

Now that you have a list of places to choose from, find out what suits you best and start to pack your bags.

The dream of moving to the mountains while working is no more difficult; it’s time now!

If you also wish to experience a trek during your stay-cation, check How to plan your first Himalayan trek and Top 10 Treks in the mighty Himalayas.

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30 Replies to “Experiential Stay-cations in the Mountains of West Bengal and Sikkim”

  1. Beautifully written. Makes me want to plan a trip right away, regardless of when it can pan out.

    1. Thank you Rhea. I’m sure that the situation will ease out soon and you would be able to plan a trip.

  2. Thank you for the info, I will definitely look forward to visit the place.
    Keep up the good work.

    1. More articles are underway. Keep checking this space for more inspiration from the Himalayas.I’m sure you won’t be able to stay back at home after reading them.

  3. This is a fantastic post! I have shared it with my teenage son so we can plan the next getaway after he completes his 10th grade. Hopefully, by then the travel scenes become better.

  4. Oh my God.. these staycations look so much like paradise on Earth, my personal fav from the list is TIEEDI FOREST GARDEN. Totally trying this out when in Himalayas next

  5. Excellent collection…am saving this coz i travel to the northeast and Sikkim region each year…would love to cover these places

    1. These places are the bests of the lot to experience and indulge with nature! I hope you make it there soon.

    1. Keeping the changing scenario, traveling to secluded hamlets makes more sense. I’m sure you’d visit these places one day.

  6. These are all such lovely staycation options! You’ve made a good compilation of all the options. The pics are so beautiful and grand.

  7. This is a list of some really enchanting places to spend time in right in the lap of nature. What I really loved about these places is that they are all so seamlessly integrated with the surroundings. I am sure all of them will provide an immersive experience to cherish for a long time. Some years back we were in Kalimpong and really loved it, hope to go back again.

    1. Very rightly said! They indeed blend in with nature and offer an experience for lifetime. I too hope you get to go back again.

  8. It was like a collection of stars, really difficult to predict which one is more beautiful. I liked the Baasbari homestay, it provides you a world in itself. But few of the places are definitely worth staying in.

  9. All of these look so pretty and beautiful. However I especially loved Tieedi, that staycation looks straight out of a dreamy world, absolutely stunning. I will definitely visit that place when it is safe for travel.

    1. TIEEDI is much more than just a place to stay. It is a dream of building a world that is self sustainable and intertwined with nature. You should definitely make a visit and experience it for yourself.

  10. wow wow wow… there is no other word. If i could, i would explore all these places right now… but also to note that responsible tourism is equally important and Mother Nature has recently told us that.

    1. Very true. We all should take this lesson seriously and mend our ways in future. I am sure you’d get to experience these places soon.

    1. Yes, all these places do seem to have appeared straight out of dreams. You’d get to go soon 🙂

    2. I have visited Darjeeling so many times. never knew such a beautiful property called baasbari exist… after the new normal have to visit darjeeling again just to stay in baasbari

  11. I had no idea West Bengal was oozing with such great destinations for a staycation! Guess I never bothered to look beyond the usual – Darjeeling, Kalimpong etc. But thanks for these wonderful recommendations – I’m far away from WB but it’s good to read about these nonetheless!

    1. Now that you know, you can share the word 🙂
      Who knows, you might land up in this state one day. The list would come handy then.

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