Mirik Travel Guide

Set on a splendid backdrop of Mount Kangchendzonga, Mirik is just the perfect foil for a lazy retreat above the clouds. Situated at an average altitude of 4905 feet above the sea level, the tiny hill station surrounded by beautiful tea plantations and orange orchards offers a grand view of the Great Himalayan Mountain Ranges. The spectacular views of sunrise and sunset are the added bonus. Day's first ray of light striking the snow-capped Khangchendzonga can be an unforgettable experience for the wanderlusts.

Nestled between Siliguri and Darjeeling, this low-profile hill station located close to the Indo-Nepal border has a charm of romanticism attached to it. Not surprisingly, it is considered as an excellent honeymoon destination in the Eastern part of India. It is a quiet gateway that remains off the radar for most of the casual vacationers. The quality that sets Mirik apart from other hill stations lies in its quaintness - its unhurried pace of life. Being a far less crowded retreat compared to Darjeeling and Gangtok, Mirik is steadily becoming a favorite hill-side retreat for the solitude-loving Bengali travellers.

Mirik at a Glance:

Attractions: Mountain, Tea Estate, Lake, Monastery.
Location: Kurseong Subdivision, Darjeeling District.
State: West Bengal.
Average Altitute: 1495 m (4905 ft).
Summer Temperature: Max. 29 °C :: Min 15 °C.
Winter Temperature: Max - 13 °C :: Min 2 °C.
Average Annual Rainfall: 280 cm.
Places of Interest Around Mirik: Kurseong, Darjeeling.
Language Spoken: Bengali, Gorkha, Hindi & English.

Best Time to Visit Mirik:

Mirik can be visited throughout the year. Tourists travel to Mirik during summer days to relieve themselves from the scorching heat of plains. The temperature during May-July summer season ranges between 22 to 30 degree Celsius.

Winter season, too, is equally favorite with the visitors as it offers an opportunity to catch the beautiful sunrise on the backdrop of majestic Khangchendzonga clad in a shawl of white snow. Temperature drops drastically in winter season and the mercury level often falls below 5 degree Celsius.

Monsoon days are usually pleasant with the minimum and maximum temperate ranging between 15 to 25 degree Celsius respectively. The town receives high rainfall during monsoon and it enhances Mirik's greenery.

Getting There:

By Road:

Mirik is situated at a distance of 52 KM from Siliguri city and 49 KM from the popular Darjeeling town. Local buses ply between Mirik and both these places. You can take a bus to Mirik from the Tenzing Norgay bus terminus at Siliguri at regular intervals. But from Darjeeling, the frequency of buses is a tad lower than what you would expect. If you are on a tight budget, then bus should be your most preferred mode of transport. Siliguri-Mirik or Darjeeling-Mirik bus journey would not cost you more than INR 70.

Most of the tourists, however, prefer travelling to Mirik by taxi/cab. These are un-metered taxis, so there is no fixed charges. You need to bargain hard with the taxi drivers for a better deal. A Tata Indica taxi would cost you around INR 800 for a drop to Mirik from Siliguri.

Last, but not the least, you can also hop in to a shared taxi. It is an affordable alternative where the passengers share the total cost of the journey. Given below are the shared taxi routes and their approximate fares -

From	To	Distance	Approx Fare
Siliguri	Mirik	52 KM	INR 100
Darjeeling	Mirik	49 KM	INR 100
Kurseong	Mirik	37 KM	INR 90
Sonada	Mirik	48 KM	INR 120
Kalimpong	Mirik	114 KM	INR 220

By Train:

New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is a major railway junction that is well connected with all the major cities in India. You can book your railway tickets on any express/mail train going towards any of the North-Eastern states and alight at the New Jalpaiguri station. From Kolkata (Howrah Junction), it takes around 9 hours to reach New Jalpaiguri by train.

By Air:

Bagdogra Airport (IXB), located 52 KM away from Mirik, is the nearest airport. If you are unable to find any direct flight to Bagdogra from your place, then you can travel to Kolkata first and then catch a flight to Bagdogra. IndiGo operates 2 daily scheduled flights on Airbus-320 aircraft, while SpiceJet too has a Boeing-737 operating in the Kolkata-Bagdogra route. Besides, Indian Airlines and Jet Airways operate daily flights on ATR-42 and ATR-72 twin turboprop air crafts between Kolkata and Bagdogra airport.

Tourist Attractions:

Sumendu Lake:

The focal point of all tourist activity at Mirik is the picturesque Samendu Lake located amidst lush green environs. There is an 80 feet long arch foot-bridge over the lake that connects one bank of the lake to another. You can walk over the arching footbridge and crossover to the Western bank of the lake.

Boating on the Sumendu Lake, with the view of Kangchenjunga on the far horizon, is a huge hit among the tourists. Both the paddle-boats and row-boats are available. You can also take a horse ride on the valley around the lake. The Singla Devi Mandir situated on the west bank of the lake is a place worth visiting.

Ramneety Dara and Kawlay Dara:

Ramneety Dara and Kawlay Dara are couple of view points that offer splendid views of Mount Kangchendzonga and the valley underneath. If you are an early-riser, then don't forget to catch a glimpse of the spectacular sunrise from Ramneety Dara view point. The orange-red fire-ball popping out from behind the mountain peak is indeed a sight to behold. Kawlay Dara, on the other hand, can be your best bet at Mirik to enjoy the colorful spectrum of sunset.

Bokar Gompa:
Bokar Ngedon Chokhor Ling Monastery, more popularly just the Bokar Gompa, is a Buddhist Monastery situated on top of a hillock on the way to Rameetay Dara. The distinctive Tibetan architecture of this monastery, decorated in red-&-yellow paints, is visible from all corners of the town. Deosay Dara, the place where the monastery is located at, is a 20 minutes climb from the Mirik town and it offers a hawk-eye view of the entire Mirik and its surrounding areas.

Sunrise Point:

Sunrise Point is a must visit place in Mirik. A 20 minutes hike on foot can lead you to this view point which is famous for the scenic views of sunrise. You can be amazed to see the colorful reflection on Kangchendzonga on the Northern side as the sun rises in the East. The distant plains of North Bengal can also be seen from here.

Rai Dhap:

Besides being the main water source of Mirik, it is a lovely picnic spot on a tranquil surrounding. Angling is a popular activity at this place. You can rent the fishing equipment from the Tourist Center located there. So are you going to try your hand at fishing?

Tingling View Point:

If you would like to catch a panoramic view of the tea gardens around Mirik town, then Tingling View Point is the way to go. It is a very popular photo-shooting point.

Don Bosco Church:

The Church is situated near the Don Bosco School compound. Located on a cliff view point, the Don Bosco Church is not only one of the bigger Catholic churches around Darjeeling, but it is also the most beautiful of them all.

Jorpokhri:

Jorpokhri is a small hamlet on the way to Ghum from Mirik. This tiny place on situated on top of a hill has two beautiful lakes surrounded by green forest cover and offers magnificent views of Mount Kanchenjunga. This place is the natural habitat of Himalayan Salamanders - a lizard like animal which can't be found anywhere else in the world.

Mirik-Sandakphu, Mirik-Phalut & Mirik-Kurseong Trek:

Mirik offers ample opportunities for the trekking enthusiasts. Couple of popular short-haul trekking trails are Mirik to Sandakphu and Mirik to Phalut. You can also trek up to Kurseong through the valleys and forests of Mirik. The Kurseong trek is a mid-distance route that can be covered in approximately 7-8 hours. It is advisable to take a local guide along.

Reliable Hotels at Mirik:

Although there is not as many options as you can expect at the likes of Darjeeling or Gangtok, Mirik does have a decent set of hotels and guest houses to accommodate you during your trip. Moreover, a good number of local residents are offering home-stay service for the tourists - which is cheaper as well as very homely. Given below are a few reliable staying options at Mirik.

No	Hotel	Location	Minimum Tariff	Contact
1	Mirik Tourist Lodge	SH-12, Mirik	INR 750	(+91) 98329 13617
2	Hotel Blue Lagoon	Krishna Nagar, Mirik	INR 1000	(+91) 77973 82052
3	Rangbhang Homestay	Mirik Town	INR 1250	(+91) 98329 13617
4	The Park Hotel	Lakeside, Mirik	INR 1500	(+91) 98007 07039
5	Treks-in-Mirik	Mirik Town	INR 2000	(+91) 98329 13617

Mirik's lazy elegance, quaint ambiance, tea plantations, orange orchards and warm hospitality make it an appealing retreat for tourists who are looking for a relaxed vacation. Rest assured, Mirik's colorful vistats will enthrall you with its panoramic views of the Great Himalayan Mountain Ranges.

Regards,
Deb