Is Mirik Good For A Solo Traveler?

[LydiaJJ]

Looking at places where you can stay at a hill station I came across Mirik, which looks amazing. Then I started noticing it is often touted as a honeymoon destination, or a great destination for couples. Is it likely to be awkward for a single female traveler?

 

[Chahal]

Mirik just like any other destination gets a lot of solo travelers both male and female. There are plenty of places to see in and around Mirik that would keep you busy for many days. Solo or with partners or friends, there's room for every one. Have a look at Mirik travel guide in the destination guides section to see what Mirik has to offer.

 

[briannagodess]

Hello there! Welcome to the forum!

Mirik is a serene tourist destination around the district of Darjeeling in West Bengal. It is about 49 kms away from Darjeeling. Despite being touted as a honeymoon destination, along with Darjeeling, I'm sure solo travellers will have fun exploring the region as well. Especially for solo travellers wanting to have some peace and quite, the little town of Mirik is very suitable for them.

Here are some of the best tourist attractions in Mirik, which are perfect for any type of traveller:

Lake

• Sumendu Lake - This lake is about 1.5 kms long and also has a 3.5 kms long walkway, very much ideal for strolling around. The depth of the lake is around 3 feet to 26 feet. On the Western bank of the lake, the Singha Devi Mandir can be found. The lake is surrounded by a garden on its one side and on the other side, there are pine trees surrounding it. You can do various activities here like boating in the lake or feeding the fish with some bread. You can also try horse riding. Make sure not to visit the lake around monsoon season as it can get muddy.

Viewpoints

• Rameetay Dara and Deosi Dara - Both these points are very nearby the Sumendu Lake that's why I combined them in one spot. These are best visited during sunset or sunrise as they offer views of the plains and snow clad mountains of Mirik.

• Tingling View Point - This is about 8 kms away from the main road of Mirik. The name was derived from the tea estate below named Tingling Tea Estate. From the view point, you get to see panoramic views of the tea estates, including the Sourenee Tea Estate. At the base of the viewing point, there's a shop selling freshly package teas from Sourenee Tea Estate. There's also an eatery just below the view point.

Religious

• Bokar Monastery - This is about 2.5 kms from the Sumendu Lake. This monastery was founded by Kyabje Bokar Tulku Rinpoche in 1984 but he passed away already. Now, the monastery is under the management of Khenpo Lodro Donyo Rinpoche. The monastery is the home to about 500 monks dedicated to studying Shakyamuni Buddhism.

• Single Devi Mandir or Debisthan - This is a Hindu temple complex located on a hillock in the Dhupi Forest. It is on the Western bank of the Sumendu Lake. The temple is dedicated to the Goddess Singha Devi. But you can also find other idols inside the temple, namely of: Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesha.

• Don Bosco Church - This church is right next to the Don Bosco School in Mirik. It was established in the year 1982 and is a Roman Catholic church.

Gardens

• Tea Gardens - I have mentioned a few tea estates before, the Sourenee Tea Estate and the Tingling Tea Estate. Another one is the Thurbo Tea Estate, about 2 kms away from the Surendu Lake. You can have a tour of the tea estate and watch how tea is processed in here.

• Orange Orchards - Mirik is the largest supplier of oranges in the whole West Bengal state. Some of them are: Mirik Basti, Soureni Basti and Murmah Basti.

• Orchid Garden - One of the most expensive orchids in the world grow in the gardens of Mirik, this is the Cymbidium Orchids. You can visit Darjeeling Gardens Pvt. Ltd. in Rao Mate to see these orchids.

Shopping

• Pashupati Nagar - This is about 11 kms from Mirik and is a town bordering Nepal. Here you can find imported electronic gadgets, perfumes, jackets and cosmetics. They're incredibly cheap but I cannot assure you of their quality.

Others

• Rai Dhap - This is a popular picnic grounds in Mirik. This is also where the main water supply of Mirik is sourced from.

• Swiss Cottage - If you're looking for an accommodation in Mirik, try out the Swiss Cottage. It is an exotic lodging as it's situated at the highest peak of Mirik. It offers amazing views of the mountains and the plains below.

There you go. As you can see, Mirik has more to offer than just a honeymoon destination for couples. If you're an offbeat adventurer, then visiting Mirik is a must. Have fun!