Tandrabong or Tendrabong near Kalimpong

North more than 15 km driving distance away from Kalimpong, Tandrabong is a sleepy settlement. Nestled adjacent to Neora Valley National, it is the land of Lepchas where nature's serenity, luxuriant alpine forest, and mesmerizing view of the mighty Himalayan ranges including Kanchenjunga can be enjoyed. One of the finest offbeat destinations in the Kalimpong District of West Bengal, Tandrabong or Tendrabong proves to be a fascinating summer retreat for travelers who want to escape the overcrowded tourist sites and the intense heat of the plain.

Attractions in Tandrabong

A secluded village of its own kind, Tandrabong offers some of the finest attractions to its visitors. Some of the worth mentioning attractions that bewitch the travelers are:

• The view of the Himalayan range including the third highest peak in the world, Kanchenjunga.
• The colorful Himalayan Birds, orchids, beautiful blooming flowers, and the rare giant butterflies.
• The surrounding lush green vegetation and the hills covered with verdant forest.
• A calm and composed atmosphere of the village with friendly villagers.

Activities to Do

While holidaying in this village, there are several activities travelers can do and enjoy. The most prominent ones are as mentioned below.

• Enjoy a composed nature walk along with the luxuriant pine trees.
• Go for birding through the dense forest while carrying a camera or a binocular.
• Experience and get amazed by seeing the sweeping view of the snow-peaked Kanchenjunga.
• Relish the jaw-dropping view of the sunrise looming over the Himalayan range.
• Plan a sightseeing excursion to Neora Valley National Park, Lava, Rishop, Kolakham, Changey Waterfall, and more.

Places to Visit near Tandrabong

There are several places to visit near Tandrabong. The below-mentioned tourist places are worth exploring.

Neora Valley National Park

This national Park is quite adjacent to the village and was established in the year 1986. Stretching over an area of 88 km2, the Neora Valley National Park is one of the richest forests of the region full of wildlife. It is quite renowned for its huge population of Red Panda. Apart from this cute-looking creature, other wild animals like the Indian leopard, Asiatic Black Bear, Sloth Bear, Sambar Deer, Clouded leopard, and more can be seen in this forest of rhododendron, bamboo, oak, ferns, sal, etc.

Lava and Rishop

At an elevation 2350 feet above sea level, Lava is an alluring place to visit. Travelers will get to see a beautiful monastery here which is named Kagyu Thekchen Ling Monastery. This Buddhist monastery looks surprisingly beautiful with its colorful paintings, Tibetan-style architecture, and breathtaking view of the surroundings. The viewpoint Lava offers an intense panoramic view of the Himalayan Range for travelers.

Approximately 5km uphill from Lava, Rishop is another pictorial hamlet travelers can visit on the foothills of the Himalayas. Surrounded by the forest of pine trees, the viewpoint of Rishop offers an unearthly panoramic view of the surrounding including the snow-clad Kanchenjunga peak. The view of Blue Mountains in Sikkim, Nathu La, and Jelep La Pass also looks soothing from here.

Kolakham and Changey Waterfall

In recent years, Kolakham has come out as a popular tourist site. The village has an average elevation of 6500 feet above sea level and approximately 12 km distance away from Tendrabong and 8 km from Lava. From this village, the lush green valley and the rolling hills can be seen stretched north. However, in the west, they stretched as far as Kanchenjunga. Kolakham's soothing environment and the panoramic view of the mountains usually attract every visitor.

Changey fall, one of the tourist hotspots in the region is just 5 km further from Kolakham. One of the highest altitudes falls in the region, Changey Falls attracts with its cascading water falling from a great height of 400 meters. The acute calmness of the surrounding with the sound of the waterfall creates an unimaginable context. Sighting of numerous birds is also a common occurrence here. Birds like White Capped Water Redstart, Verditer Flycatcher, Niltava, Blue Fronted Redstart, Grey Treepie, Indian Robin, Blue Whistling Thrush, etc can easily be seen flying here.

How to Reach Tandrabong Village

By Train: NJP is the major railhead near the village. The distance from NJP to Tandrabong is approximately 113 km. From this busiest railway station of North Bengal, it usually takes more than 3 hours.

By Road: Road is the most convenient way to reach directly to this village. One can reach Tendrabong from Kalimpong, Bagdogra Airport, and even from NJP. It takes 1 hour to reach the village from Kalimpong.

By Air: Bagdogra Airport is the nearest one and the distance between them is approximately 100 km via NH 10. It usually takes 4 hours to reach Tandrabong from Bagdogra Airport.

Hotels and Homestays in Tendrabong

Being a small hamlet far away from Kalimpong town, there are no hotels here. Homestays are the only mode of the accommodation offered here run by the local villagers. All the basic amenities travelers usually needs will be provided such as an attached western bathroom, electricity, running water, etc. North Bengal Tourism can help you find the best homestay in the region.

Best Time to Visit Tandrabong

Travelers can enjoy the lush greenery and the serene ambiance of the village throughout the year. The weather stays surprisingly soothing throughout the year. Even though, the temperature drops in winter, it never goes down to an unbearable extent. However, travelers should abstain from visiting there during the season of monsoon as heavy rainfall causes frequent landslides and the road gets muddy and inaccessible.