Neora Valley Jungle Camp

Situated atop the hill of Kolakham Village is Neora Valley Jungle Camp, an abode for nature lovers. Neora Valley Jungle Camp is dedicated to protecting wildlife in one of India's lesser-known protected areas. The camp focuses on sustainable development in this remote region. The endangered Red Panda has lost parts of its habitat because bamboo, its main food source, has been replaced by other plants and timber trees. Population growth is also increasing the demand for land. The camp aims to create a community forest reserve to address these issues. Locals are working on reforestation and improving education and entertainment for the youth, who previously used to shoot birds with catapults for fun. Located at 1868 meters in the scenic Kolakham village, on the edge of Neora Valley National Park, the camp features minimal impact on the natural environment.

It combines a local atmosphere with modern amenities. The camp includes three four-bedded rooms, one double-bedded honeymoon cottage, and two comfortable Swiss tents. A well-furnished dining and common area, along with a tea room and library, offers a balance of community and privacy. The buildings are constructed by local artisans using local materials like wood, bamboo, stone, and brick. On clear days, you can see the majestic Mount Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest peak, from the camp. The staff, trained from the nearby Kolakham village, add a local touch to the camp's hospitality for sure. Book Neora Jungle Camp now by contacting North Bengal Tourism.

Amenities of Neora Valley Jungle Camp

Neora Valley Jungle Camp offers a range of modern amenities to ensure a comfortable stay for travellers. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning and benefit from available laundry services to keep their clothes fresh. Free parking space is provided for those travelling by car, and all essential room services are available to make your stay as convenient and hassle-free as possible. Here are all the amenities provided in short-

• Free Breakfast is provided.
• Laundry Service is available.
• Free Parking Space is there.
• All the Room Services are provided.

Cuisine

Here at Neora Jungle Camp, fresh and organic ingredients from nearby farms are used to make traditional Nepali dishes. Upon request, continental and Indian dishes are also made here so if you prefer Bengali foods, there is no problem at all.

Activities to Do

There are a plethora of outdoor activities one can do while staying at Neora Valley Jungle Camp. The major ones are as mentioned below:

Bird watching: In the surrounding forested area of this accommodation, more than 200 species of birds have been spotted. While walking through nearby terraced fields and the magnificent trails from the lodge into the thickly wooded forest, you can spot many birds. You can also plan a birding trip to Neora Valley National Park.

Trekking: Neora Valley National Park is dotted with astounding trails making trekking a favored tourist activity. Neora Valley Trek attracts adventurers and trekkers from far and wide. A village walk is another favoured activity for tourists staying in Neora Valley Jungle Camp. The trekking trails towards Neora Valley National Park are also ideal for bird watching and butterflies.

Village Sightseeing Excursion: Exploring Kolakham village is one of the major things to do. Mostly inhabited by the Rai community, this village welcomes travellers with open arms. You, as a tourist, can visit every house and farm in this village and interact with the ever-smiling villagers and try to learn about their culture and traditions.

Popular Nearby Attractions

While staying at Neora Valley Jungle Camp, you will be able to explore the following nearby attractions.

Neora Valley National Park

Formed in 1986 is Neora Valley National Park, the land of the elegant Red Panda. Sprawled over an area of 89km, Neora Valley National Park is blessed with verdant ecology which ranges from subtropical forest to alpine forestry. It is one of the last virgin lands to be found in the Eastern Himalayan. Dotted with a dense forest of rhododendrons, bamboo, fern, and sal Neora Valley National Park is known for housing a vast collection of exquisite wildlife in Dooars. Along with housing animals like wild boar, barking deer, sloth bear, and civet, there have been reports about spotting rare endangered animals like a clouded leopard. Neora Valley National holds a wide variety of colourful Wild Orchids. In different elevations from 600 feet to 10,000 feet, you will get to see different kinds of vibrant wild orchids. Particularly in Neora Valley National Park, orchids like the genus, Bulbophyllum, Cymbidium, Coelogyne, Dendrobium, Eira, Gastrochilus, and Pleione can be found in abundance.

The thickly wooded forest of Neora has attracted adventurers and wildlife explorers from far and wide. And with its growing popularity, locals have opted for eco-tourism. Apart from the villagers themselves, the community tourism project was started by the Forest Department of West Bengal, the travel trade, a population planning NGO, various bird-watching groups, and a few private agencies. There are many places to stay in Neora Valley National Park, but Neora Valley Jungle Camp maintained by Help Tourism is the most preferred place to stay for most of the tourists.

Lava

Located 5km from Kolakham is Lava an offbeat destination in Kalimpong District. Perched at an elevation of 7700ft Lava is one of the few places in this region which receive snowfall during the winter season. Located in the periphery of Neora Valley, Lava is famous for being the gateway towards Neora Valley National Park. Located atop a hill is the prime attraction of Lava, the Lava Monastery. The tranquil ambience and pictorial view from Lava Monastery have made it a famous sightseeing place of Kolakham. In Lava, visitors can also find a Nature Interpretation Centre where all the records about the flora and fauna of Neora Valley NP are kept.

Rishop

Situated 2km from Kolakham is Rishop another offbeat destination of North Bengal. Rishop is a quaint mountain hamlet that caught the attention of travellers with its mesmerizing vista of Mt Kanchenjunga. There is a sunrise point called Jhandi Dara in Rishop which offers the panoramic vista of the snow-clad Himalayas and Mahananda River Valley. Witnessing the sunrise over Mt Kanchenjunga from Rishop is one of the must-do things while staying in Neora Valley Jungle Camp.

Changey Waterfall

While staying at this resort, you can also explore Changey Waterfall, just a few kilometres distance away. It is one of the wonders of nature surging amidst the valley of Kalimpong. Trekking enthusiasts usually prefer to visit the waterfall by trekking. The route toward Changey Falls is full of ups and downs since it is not well maintained. However, the breathtaking view during your journey can compensate for the rough road. In short, trekking to Changey Falls brings immense joy as you will be delighted by witnessing a lot of diverse landscapes, flora, and fauna.

Sustainable Tourism and Conservation Efforts

Neora Valley Jungle Camp, also called Kolakham Eco Hut, focuses on eco-tourism and conservation. Local villagers take part in self-help groups that offer jobs like craft-making and organic farming. The camp has helped build a local school through volunteerism and works on tree-planting projects to restore the Red Panda's habitat. They also run educational programs, like the Save Wildlife Awareness Programme (SWAP), to teach local young people about wildlife conservation.

Neora Valley Jungle Camp Room Rates

The room rates at Neora Valley Jungle Camp, effective from April 1, 2023, vary by room type and meal plan. For Double Cottages, the rate is ₹6000 under MAP and ₹7000 AP. Attic Cottages are priced at ₹7000 (MAP) and ₹8000 (AP), while the Niltava Attic Cottage costs ₹7500 (MAP) and ₹8500 (AP). An extra person above 6 years old costs ₹1800 (MAP) and ₹2300 (AP). Evening snacks are available at an additional cost, and GST will be applied to all rates mentioned here. (Please note that the price mentioned here is subject to change at any time. Contact North Bengal Tourism for up-to-date room rates).

How to Reach the Lodge

Kolakham is the nearest to Neora Jungle Camp. The closest railway station to Kolakham is NJP. The distance between Kolakham and NJP is 108km and the closest airport to Kolakham is in Bagdogra. The distance between Kolakham and Bagdogra is 115km. Visitors can easily reach Kolakham by hiring a taxi from the respective junction. Or they can also take a shared taxi to Kalimpong as the distance between Kalimpong and Kolakham is only 36km. Then from Kalimpong, visitors can hire a taxi to reach Neora Valley Jungle Camp quite easily and without any hassle.

How to Book Neora Valley Jungle Camp

Booking at Neora Valley Jungle Camp is quite easy and convenient. However, as it is not a government resort, the rooms' demands are quite high. To book a room at a reasonable price or to enquire about the room availability at this resort, contact North Bengal Tourism at this number +91 81455-84286 or click on the enquire now button mentioned above. Alternatively, you can book a complete Lava Tour Package that includes this accommodation. By doing so, you'll avoid the hassle of planning the entire tour on your own.